Stress is in everyone's life. A little stress never hurt anyone - it makes us more alert, more attentive and even better performers. But living under too much stress for too long can have serious consequences.

Too much stress is bad for your health in every way - it's not good for your muscles, your brain or any other organ. In this article, we will discuss the negative effects of stress on muscles.

Muscles and stress

Think back to a time when we were working flat out on a project because we were on a tight deadline. How did we sit at the table? With our backs hunched, shoulders hunched, jaws clenched.

This leads to chronic muscle tension in the muscles. Over time, pain also sets in, which becomes a permanent feature of our lives. Despite the pharmaceutical industry's attempts to push a myriad of muscle-relaxing ointments on us, the truth is that they are unlikely to relieve the pain. Another argument against the various 'miracle cures' is that physical therapy is often needed precisely because of chronic stress and tension.

This problem is also known as anxiety muscle tension. Symptoms may include twitching, constant pain and muscle spasms. The severity of the symptoms depends on the person, and while some people experience it as a simple inconvenience, for others the pain can be crippling.

Why does stress have physical symptoms?

Stress has different effects on different tissues. Generally speaking, stress puts the body into "emergency mode" and as a consequence the production of stress hormones (cortisol) is triggered. These hormones travel with the blood to the targeted organs and stimulate their function. This is our body's way of protecting us from potential danger (which in the modern world is often just a simple public appearance). The muscles also receive the necessary dose of cortisol.

Stress hormones cause muscles to tense up and get ready to run or fight. This is extremely useful when there is a real threat. However, if our stress levels are chronically high, it means that our muscles are always on standby, which is very bad for the muscles and even for the whole body. Muscle tension should only last for a short period, certainly not for days, weeks or even years.

While our muscles are tense, little blood gets to them. Normally (when our muscles are relaxed), enough blood gets to the muscles. This blood cleans the muscles of accumulated lactic acid and other harmful substances. However, constant tension limits blood flow and also the range of movement. As a result, our muscles lose flexibility and become less mobile. As our muscles cannot perform as they normally would, the onus falls on the joints and ligaments. Joints and ligaments are very sensitive, so all the extra work can easily cause pain or even injury.

But this is only a small part of the negative effects of stress. As we are under stress for longer and longer, the number of negative consequences increases.

In summary, chronic stress is associated with limited range of motion and pain. This pain can occur in the neck, the back or in various joints. What starts out as a minor inconvenience can, without treatment, lead to even simple movements such as getting out of bed becoming a serious challenge.

How can we manage stress and the pain that comes with it?

The first and most important step is to reduce stress. This can be achieved by:

• Sleep. The easiest way to reduce cortisol levels is to lead a healthy lifestyle. Getting 6-8 hours of sleep a day is an essential part of this. While we sleep, our body rests and cortisol levels fall. The body also regenerates during sleep.
• A healthy diet. Certain foods, such as berries and chocolate with high cocoa content, contribute to the release of endorphins (happiness hormones). These happy hormones reduce cortisol levels while also improving well-being. Various herbal teas can also help a lot.
• Massage therapy. It reduces stress and relaxes muscles at the same time. Proper stimulation of muscle tissues helps to relax and reduce tension.

If we can't eliminate stress from our lives, we don't have to live with pain. There are some excellent exercises that can alleviate or even eliminate pain. Pilates is one such example. Pilates consists of low-intensity exercises that focus on breathing and stretching the muscles. Good exercise reduces stress, but Pilates does more than that. It works the muscles in a way that relaxes them. Regular Pilates can reduce pain and increase range of motion.

Finally...

Stress is a serious problem that should not be overlooked. If, even with the right lifestyle, you feel that you're starting to have problems, it's crucial to take time to relax. Work and chores will wait - it's health and well-being that really matters.