There is always a reason why a muscle feels tight. We can perceive tightness all through our body for a number of reasons, however very often this is not due to the muscle actually being physical tightened or shortened.
🔸WEAKNESS of certain muscles means they often cannot tolerate our daily activities or sport/exercise of choice as well as they should. This weakness leads to chronic overload, and an ongoing feeling of tightness.
🔹SEDENTARY behaviours and extended periods of not moving e.g. sitting at a desk or driving can cause a lack of blood flow and a feeling of tightness. Our bodies feel best when we are moving regularly.
🔸SENSITISATION of our nervous system can occur due to multiple lifestyle factors such as stress, fatigue, illness, diet, mental health and other psychosocial issues. These factors can all directly increase the feeling/perception of tightness.
Stretching and self-release work can provide short-term benefits as far as decreasing the perception of muscle tightness, however getting to the underlying reason and addressing that is preferable to achieve a long-term solution.
Chris Bryceson
B. Health Sciences (Physio), APAM
CB Physiotherapy