Ideally, our muscles should be able to stretch well beyond their normal resting length, to allow us a wide range of movement. Unfortunately, there are a few reasons why muscle flexibility may be reduced, causing us to feel like we have tight, tense muscles. 

Reasons for tense muscles

Inactivity

Muscles need to be taken through their full range of motion regularly in order to maintain flexibility. If you have an inactive lifestyle, then you will lose muscle flexibility, as well as joint mobility. This will restrict your movement and make your muscles feel tight.

Scar tissue from injury or overuse

When muscles are injured, scar tissue forms as part of the healing process. This is less flexible than normal muscle tissue.

Overuse and repetitive movement patterns can also cause scar tissue and therefore loss of flexibility, due to micro damage to muscle fibres.

Not allowing muscles to relax

If muscles are held in a state of partial contraction for long periods due to stress or bad posture habits, it eventually becomes difficult to relax them. When this happens, the muscles feel tense and tight the whole time and movement can be restricted.

Recent training

If you work muscles that have been inactive for a long time, or if you train harder than you usually do, a day or two later you’ll probably experience sore, tense muscles.

Is it better to massage or stretch tense muscles?

This depends on what is the cause of your tension. If your muscles are lacking flexibility due to inactivity, then stretching will help to lengthen them. If you’re muscle tension is due to not being able to relax and “let go”, then both stretching and massage can help. Long term tension, scar tissue and post exercise soreness all benefit more from massage than stretching.

Massage for tense muscles

Deep tissue massage and hot stone massage will both help to relieve muscle tension. If you would like to book a massage session, then fill out the enquiry form and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can with available appointments, alternatively contact me using any of the contact details below the form:

Phone: 07835 346476
E-mail: hello@bodybenefits.uk
Facebook: bodybenefitsessex