muscle tension
Contracted tissue state
Muscle tension is the state of partial contraction in muscles, whether from physical exertion, stress, or unconscious holding.
Some tension is normal—muscles maintain baseline tone even at rest.
Excess tension causes stiffness and discomfort: I carry all my stress as muscle tension in my shoulders.
Massage and stretching help release it.
- tremblingInvoluntary shaking motion
- fight or flightThreat-triggered physiological state
- overexertionHarmful excess of effort
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- strainExcessive stretching force
stress · nerve compression · knots · fatigue · clenching · sleep deprivation · coiled · inflammation · trigger points · massage therapy · deep tissue · contracture · stress relief · hypertonic · yoga · physical trauma · dehydration · sweating
- Body Careposture, breathing exercises, warm-up, cool-down, injury prevention
- stressstress, chronic stress, acute stress, strain, stressor
- bodily sensationspain, ache, tingling, burning, numbness
- body ailmentsback pain, neck pain, joint pain, sciatica, headaches
- body painache, aches, pain, pang, throb
- body reactionssweating, blushing, shiver, goosebumps, twitch
muscular state
muscle tensionmuscle relaxation
Softening of contracted fibers
relaxation · laxity · flaccidity · looseness · hypotonia