The human body responds to stress by contracting the muscles
of the back, shoulders, and neck. As we worry, concentrate, hurry,
make a mistake, or have a confrontation, that stress is expressed
in our muscles.
Over time, this almost constant contraction forms tender or painful knots
in the muscles called trigger points. The resulting imbalance
in the muscles leads to subluxation of the spine. The nerves become
irritated by the change in the position and motion of the vertebrae
due to the change in the size and angle of the foramen, between
the bones through which the nerves exit. The small guiding joints
or facets also become irritated from the subluxation and
now the joint capsules, ligaments, and muscles become inflamed.
Finally, the subluxation and surrounding inflammation result
in sufficient nerve irritation to cause pain and muscle spasm.
The loss of the strength, endurance, and coordination of the
muscles puts us at risk of spinal sprain/strain under times of
increased physical or postural stress.