Your Path to Healthy Living and a Healthy Life

Stress, Muscle Tension and the Lymphatic System

   As we get older, flexible and strong muscles are important for a healthy and active life.  This is true for several reasons: to help prevent falls, to promote adequate blood flow so nutrients and energy get to vital organs and systems, to avoid muscle fatigue and to stimulate a consistent flow of lymphatic fluid.  

   A child has flexible, supple muscles that allow him to move freely, quickly and efficiently.  Adults tend to have tighter muscles.  A tight muscle is weaker and more susceptible to injury.  During a stress response, muscles tighten preparing the individual for action.  Chronic stress generally lead to chronically tight muscles, which is one of the most common stress related complaints.  This can result in neck, back or shoulder pain.  A healthy muscle relaxes and contracts hundreds of times a day.  With each contraction waste material is removed and nutrients are delivered. 

   Stressed muscles tighten and clamp off tiny vessels that carry blood and nutrients.  Without proper flow of blood, muscles becomes starved of nutrients and "poisoned" by their own metabolic waste products.  The result is muscle tension and pain which can lead to trigger points in the muscles and even muscle atrophy. 

   In addition to the muscles themselves, consider the systems that rely on muscle action for proper function.  The respiratory and cardiovascular systems are dependent on proper muscular function.  If the muscles that assist these systems are not working properly, every cell of the body is negatively affected. 

   The lymphatic system, one of the body's waste disposal system, requires muscle contraction to function properly.  As a muscle contracts lymph fluid is pumped along the lymph vessels and eventually back to the circulatory system.  The lymphatic system collects toxins and excess lymph fluid from body tissues.  If the muscles are not being use or are unable to contract efficiently, lymph doesn’t gets pumped. 

   When lymph fluid isn’t moving properly it can build up in the body tissues.  When this happens edema or fluid retention occurs.  Part of the lymphatic system’s job is to defend the body against viruses, bacteria and fungi.  Lymphocytes in nodes along the network of lymph vessels fight off these invaders and keep the body healthy and disease free.  Poor movement of the lymph fluid leads to swollen lymph nodes from lymph congestion.

   Muscle tension can interfere with proper function of the body and lead to many symptoms that affect our quality of life.  Incorporate techniques like meditation to manage the release of stress hormones and to relax the body.  Tai chi, chi gong and yoga are excellent for destressing the mind and body and are fantastic for taking the tension out of your muscles.