Dealing with stress-induced muscular complaints

Muscular complaints are the most common physical sign of stress.  Most of these only last for a short time and are low intensity for most people, but in others they can be long-lasting and therefore have major implications for basic functioning. They are the most frequent reason for sick leave and even disability.

Muscular stress may manifest itself in any of these ways:

• Back pain

• Headaches from muscle contraction

• Tight muscles

• Jaw pain

• Shakiness or difficulty sitting still

Suffering from any of these can interfere with work, family life, and simple activities of daily life. The human body has more than 690 separate muscles. People often take them for granted, expecting good performance day in and day out.

In human biology, a substance called noradrenalin alerts the muscles to tense up in preparation for action, this is called the “fight or flight” response. Tense muscles get set to act quickly in response to threat or danger.

Of course, in modern life we do not really need to flight nor flee and the stress is not physical, it is more likely to be social or economic. This sequence of events could lead on to other problems:

• You may remain “on guard” in a tensed posture that lasts, and unable to make the major muscles relax. The literal “pain in the neck” tightness across your upper back and furrows across your forehead can bring on a tension headache.

• Tension in the jaw can be caused by clenched teeth or a fixed smile.

• In a chain reaction, muscle tension can then lead to other parts of the body; your heart rate speeding up and digestion slowing down.

• When the major muscles relax, other parts of the body can calm down, but the human mind can remember and imagine danger and can keep the body tense for hours or days, so sometimes this doesn’t happen.

Understanding the relationship between stress and your muscles can help you tend to the special needs of this important organ system. The good news is that these straightforward interventions can make big difference in healing and protecting your muscles.

• good nutrition

• frequent exercise

• strength training

• flexibility through stretching 

NEXT STEP

Take a Personal Stress Diagnostic Quiz today to find out whether stress has manifested any physical symptoms in your life.