There are many theories out there as to why you may have tight muscles

Overuse, sitting for long periods, not stretching, even weight training has been suggested as a possible cause.

First of all let’s clarify what tightness is.

Tightness is a sensation.  It is not usually qualified with any objective measure. “My hamstrings feel tight” is a very common phrase used by those who exercise and many who don’t.  Feelings are, by their very nature subjective and not always an accurate representation of what is actually going on.  I remember a client telling me her hamstrings felt tight as she pulled one leg towards her chest.  She had about 170 degrees of hip flexion with a straight leg, about twice as much as me and my hamstrings felt just fine.

Assuming there is a measurable difference in range of movement between one side of your body and the other, what does this represent?  Why would some muscles decide to tighten?

Your muscles are controlled by your central nervous system (CNS) they can’t contract unless it says so.  What is the primary goal of your CNS?  Your safety and survival.

Is muscle tightness a mistake therefore?  Absolutely not.

Think about a joint of your body, your knee for example.  It is held in a stable position primarily by the muscles that act upon on it.  Imagine these as guy ropes that hold a tent stable.  If for some reason one of these ropes becomes overloaded and stops working as a result then the other ropes must be tightened to keep the tent from blowing away.

Your CNS applies the same principle when managing the stability of your joints. If a muscle or group of muscles become inhibited as a result of overload or trauma, then your CNS increases the tension in other muscles acting on that joint to keep you safe.

Tightness is both deliberate and ingenious.

The next time you notice a difference in range of movement between one side of your body and the other, try very gently pushing in the direction that seems restricted against a fixed object.  Use 10% of your available effort and push for 6 secs.  Repeat the process 6 times and you will usually see your range of movement improve and the tightness disappear as you gently encourage muscles to work again.

Paul Argent BSc (Hons) MATs RTS
Human-Movement