Most common reason for tight muscles are poor posture or emotional stress.  Poor posture when lying, sitting or standing cause a load or tension on the muscles. When the muscle is loaded it naturally tries to resist by contracting to overcome the demand, over a period of time the effects of the load have an effect on the muscles and this overactive response to load becomes a learned behaviour and the muscles will stay contracted when the load is removed, this then leads onto joints being affected because the muscles help provide use with everyday movement and restricts the joints this then leads to a decrease in flexibility and limit movement

Poor posture is a common cause of tight muscles. Posture is the position of the body when standing, sitting and lying down. The body is made to stay aligned with a straight and relaxed spine, supported muscle. If posture changes the alignment of the body is affected. Poor posture causes stress on certain muscles resulting in tight muscles and a muscle imbalance.

Tight muscles can be the result of muscle imbalance. Muscle imbalance can cause postural changes, restricted movement and pain. Muscle balance is the relationship between tone, strength and length of muscles around a joint. If there is a lack of balance within the muscles it can cause dysfunction in the relationship of how muscles work together and cause imbalance.

Overuse of certain muscles can contribute to tight muscles. Repetitive movements in occupation or exercise can cause small tears or injuries in the muscle tissue. The repeated activity does not give sufficient time for healing and the muscles response to any injury is to tighten up as a form of protection from further injury.

The effects of stress can create physical responses in the body leading to tight muscles. Different types of stress can affect how muscles respond. After intense exercise muscles become tight as there has been a physical demand. Blood flow is reduced in tight muscles causing soreness. Emotional stress also can activate an unconscious reflex in the body. Stress causes muscles to contract leading to tight muscles

Inflexibility in the muscles can restrict movement around joints causing surrounding muscles to tighten. Inflexible muscles are prone to tightness as they do not reach end of range. Inflexibility can lead to serious injuries such as muscles strains and tears.

Massage helps reduce tight muscles by increasing temperature of soft tissues, increasing blood circulation, breaking down adhesions and decreasing tone. Massage helps treat muscle hypertonicity in the muscles. Hypertonicity in the muscles reduces blood flow and results in muscle tightness. Muscles tighten after exercise, after repetitive motion or long periods of inactivity. Muscle tightness can be treated with a range of massage techniques.

Massage helps reduce tight muscles by increasing temperature of soft tissues. Massage stimulates an increase of temperature by friction against the skin. Friction causes an increase of blood flow to the muscle and temperature to increase. When temperature increases the muscle, fibres relax and loosen allowing more movement

Massage helps relieve tightness in the muscles by increasing blood circulation to the muscles. Restoring circulation to the muscles increases new blood cells to the area stimulating the healing process. Massage relaxes the muscles, separating and loosening muscles fibres. The muscles are elongated and stretched which releases tension and allows more movement.

Massage reduces tightness by applying pressure to knots and breaking adhesions. Pressure points can be used to force out knots in the muscle. Knots and adhesions are formed from a build-up of waste products or high tension in the muscle. Massage breaks down the knots and adhesions and help realign the fibres back to normal form. Relieving knots and adhesions decreases tightness

Massage helps to decrease tone in the muscles. Massage increases temperature in the soft tissues and stimulates a relaxation response. A relaxation response in the body produces inhibitory messages from the nervous system. Inhibitory messages produce an opposite effect from excitatory messages. Inhibitory messages send relaxing messages to the muscles that decreases tone.

Book you massage now with the FWX Sports Therapy team – Contact Chris on 01926 859 488 or email enquiries@fitness-worx.com