Body Stress in The Whole Body

BODY STRESS IN THE WHOLE BODY

The human body is a magnificent biomechanical “machine”. It consists of 206 bones held together with roughly 640 muscles and supported by approximately 60 km of nerves serving as the communication pathways to the muscles and 78 organs. To make it even more special, this system has the capability to heal and restore itself and best of all it is extremely adaptable and durable.

From the day we are born, it is in constant use, from the ribcage expanding with every breath to the muscles going into action to keep us upright with the first attempt to stand up as a baby and then with every step we take thereafter. With the earth’s gravity pulling on the body, the muscles are never completely at ease,  so regardless of whether you are doing an intense physical activity or just lounging on the couch, the body is in use and over time this constant activity can lead to overuse, causing muscle tension in a specific area, or over various parts of the body due to the body adapting to locked-in tension.

In Body Stress Release we look at various types of overloads that can cause body stress in the whole body and locked-in muscle tension. There is the mechanical or physical overload – this is what we do with and to the body daily; emotional overload from mental stress, trauma and depression, which can also manifest as a physical reaction in the body; chemical stress – which comes from the environment, in what we eat, drink, inhale, and absorb on the skin and can cause a variety of symptoms.

Overloading the body with stresses is a vicious cycle. It starts with muscles tightening up to protect an overloaded area, which then causes muscle spasms, cramps and sometimes even numbness. Due to these tight muscles, there is pressure on the nerves leading to possible nervous system issues and pain. The nervous system issues may lead to lack of sleep which causes further fatigue and tiredness. There may also be a mental emotional overload that can increase feelings of negativity and depression and because the body’s response to emotional tension and trauma is to lock in more tension, the cycle starts again. But what exactly are the various overload factors and what impact do they have on the whole body:

PHYSICAL OVERLOAD

Physical overload is what we do with the body itself, it can build up over time due to poor posture or because of an incident. For example, as a baby you had a difficult birth where tongs or a vacuum pump was used and in the process the neck muscles were strained. Over the years life happened and now you are in a job spending 1-2 hours driving in traffic and at least 8 hours behind your computer and your neck is killing you as you suffer from muscle spasms, headaches and numbness in the arms while sleeping. To get the muscles to relax, we hit the gym, focussing on making the muscles stronger and then the repetitive strain injury (RSI) may occur. In addition, physical trauma may also cause stress to be locked in the body from sources such as operations, breaks and fractures, falls, car accidents, whiplash, childbirth and possibly an epidural injection. Often the body, during these types of sudden shocks or impacts, may go into a protective mode, locks in tension and then fails to release it in the recovery process. We often see clients who suffer long-term symptoms after some of these traumatic events.

TIREDNESS AND FATIGUE (EXHAUSTION)

Often the stresses of modern society do not allow our bodies sufficient recovery time and we often live in a near permanent state of stress-overload. Clients often complain of whole body tiredness and fatigue, while some even suffer from exhaustion. This is often due to stressed and tight muscles needing energy to keep them in this protective state, thus leaving little extra time for other normal activities. The overall tiredness may disrupt your sleep and you could wake up feeling exhausted. Often, after only a few sessions of Body Stress Release, clients frequently say they feel much more energised and sleep much better as energy is returned to the body from the released previously-locked-in muscle tension throughout the whole body.

MUSCLE SPASMS AND MUSCLE CRAMPS:

As muscles tighten up over time and become less pliable, clients often complain of a lack of mobility, muscle spasms and muscle cramps. This often occurs through our sedentary lifestyles, sitting too much or a lack of mobility and exercise in our daily routines. Sitting on the floor and getting up is not as easy as it used to be and putting on those socks may also be a strain. The main issues we see in our practice are shoulder cramps and shoulder spasms and often calf cramps waking people from deep sleep.

NUMBNESS

Generally, we see body numbness in body extremities – arm or hand or leg numbness, often due to referred signals from locked-in tension in the spine. Body Stress Release Practitioners see two types of numbness in general.  Firstly, clients complaining of numbness that goes away again, such as arms going numb at night when you sleep and then areas of numbness on the body. Locked-in tension causes muscles to expand and interrupt nerve pathways. A lack of sensation or numbness is for us a key indicator of body stress.

DISC HERNIATION

Disc herniations are diagnosed by doctors and it is common in the lower back and the neck area. Clients often come to us with reports from doctors of these diagnoses. A disc herniation can happen over time as the muscles continue to pull the vertebra together, or with a physical trauma incident such as a fall or accident. The bulging disc causes pressure on the nerve, causing possible pain in the location of the hernia or referred nervous system issues such as numbness in the legs. Often clients come for Body Stress Release prior to considering possible disc herniation operations and have success, where released tension in the spine pulls the disc herniation back into place.

SCOLIOSIS

Scoliosis, where the spine twists and curves to the sides, may occur pre or post birth. The body sees this as a structural weakness and the muscles in the surrounding area tighten up to protect and support this weakness. In pre-birth or congenital scoliosis, the whole body develops differently to compensate for the structural difference. Scoliosis also has an impact on posture as you may be slightly off-centre and the muscles compensate to keep you upright and moving, leading to possibly more body stress. Body Stress Release has assisted a number of clients in reducing the effects of scoliosis by reducing the spinal curvature and reducing the resultant pain from scoliosis.

FIBROMYALGIA

Fibromyalgia is a condition that causes pain all over the body, (also referred to as widespread pain), sleep problems, fatigue and often emotional stress and mental stress. There is no clear cause of why the person is experiencing pain and often the pain moves around the body. The continuous discomfort affects quality of life and may contribute to feelings of depression. We have worked with many clients over the years who often find relief from their symptoms through regular sessions of Body Stress Release.

MENTAL OR EMOTIONAL OVERLOAD

Mental or Emotional Overload is what happens to us when things are sometimes just too big to deal with or comprehend. Emotional stress can build up over time due to day to day responsibilities or concerns or due to a trauma, like losing a loved one or being diagnosed with a serious illness, such as cancer. We should not underestimate the impact of mental stress in experiencing pain and fatigue continuously. With the body’s natural response to protect itself, the emotional tension is noted in muscle spasms around the neck, shoulders and chest area and nervous system issues in the body. Body Stress Release is a gentle and relaxing technique that relies on the body’s natural ability to release tension and heal itself. Many of our clients suffering mental or emotional stress find the technique very effective, over time, at reducing these stresses.

TRAUMA

Trauma is experienced differently by everyone. What one person experiences as trauma may not be a traumatic experience for another. Working daily in a fast-paced world might be energising for some and cause complete exhaustion in others. Traumas may range from physical traumas such as a bad car accident to more subtle, but no less severe, emotional traumas such as the loss of a child. These types of trauma may often result in locked-in tension in muscles and muscle groups. By releasing these physical tensions, the client’s trauma may be mitigated to more manageable levels.

NERVOUS SYSTEM ISSUES

Nervous system issues may occur with tight muscles causing pressure on the nerves and can arise due to locked-in tension in muscles, resulting in many issues such as bowel problems, constipation, heartburn, indigestion, acid reflux, and other organ problems. Clients experiencing emotional overload often complain of migraines, headaches, eye complaints and often dizziness. With muscle spasms in the neck area clients may experience carpal tunnel syndrome pains, arm stiffness and wrist and hand pain. The spinal cord passes about 95% of brain nerve signals to the rest of the body, so stress in the back and spine may result in numerous aches, pains, body sensations and body dysfunction in the muscles and organs. Body Stress Release could assist in relieving many of these issues.

DEPRESSION

Depression affects how we feel, think and behave in our daily lives and we see many clients on depression medication in our practices. When our quality of life is affected by pain or fatigue, feelings of depression are quite common as we just do not have the energy to participate in daily activities, which could take the joy out of living. We see many clients suffering from depression, and as Body Stress Release is a complementary technique we are able to provide Body Stress Release sessions alongside doctor’s prescribed medication. Some of our clients do come off medications of this nature while having Body Stress Release sessions, but under the full control of their doctors.

POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD)

This is an emotional overload commonly associated with people from war zones and areas of natural disaster but can be triggered by any traumatic event such as a home invasion, armed robbery or hijacking. Each person processes trauma differently and whether we experience an actual trauma or observe it, the emotional overload can trigger a PTSD response. First responders, ‘Blue Light Services’ and relief workers may also be prone to this type of stress, and often Body Stress Release Practitioners work to complement other medical treatments such as counselling and doctor’s medications.

Chemical stress occurs when the body responds to a trigger from outside which then overloads the body, causing migraines, headaches, blurred vision, acute neck pains, sinus reactions and nausea when exposed to these chemical triggers. Our world is filled with chemicals and they are difficult to avoid, but avoidance as much as possible by using natural products can reduce the exposure risk.

CHEMICAL OVERLOAD

Triggers may be a sweet drink or eating a particular food or even a person’s perfume which can cause the chemical headache. A Body Stress Release Practitioner knows and understands these types of stress very well and may assist clients by administering appropriate releases. Practitioners are also experienced at spotting these stresses when a client details their case history during the first Body Stress Release session.

BODY STRESS IN THE HEAD

The head is susceptible to all three sources of stress to the body, mechanical, emotional, and chemical stress.

Mechanical stressors to the head may be from bad sitting posture, excessive use of cell phones with the head bent forward, maybe a bad sleeping posture, and most commonly, through overuse of computers and especially laptops. The neck bent forward for an extended period often results in severe stress to the body. Alternatively, the neck and head can be physically traumatised through injury from bumps to the head or from whiplash caused by car accidents or falls. Many of the chemicals in our food chain, water supply, contact substances such as lotions and make-up and from chemical fragrances may cause chemical stress reactions such as blurred vision, intense neck pain, severe unexplained headaches, or migraines, a sinus problem, such as itching, post-nasal drip and other irritations. Emotional stresses from work or home life may also manifest in the head. Worry and anxiety from a wide variety of life-style factors may cause locked in stress to the body, resulting in frequent and persistent headaches, general fatigue, and malaise, tight or stiff jaws, and a tight neck or stiff neck. Our body’s natural protective mechanism is to hunch and tighten the supporting shoulder muscles which causes the neck to also tighten in this regard. Modern lifestyle is constantly placing the shoulders, neck and head at risk from stress and locked in tension.

HEADACHES AND MIGRAINES

The head, the main sensory centre of the body, not only does our thinking but the emotional brain resides here too. Our sight, hearing, taste and sense of smell all provide our body with vital information on the outside world as control functions and as feedback to our wellbeing and health status. The head is heavy, about 8 kilograms and is supported by our neck which is always at work, with neck muscles in tension and actively keeping our head upright and operational. Only at night is this vital support structure ‘at rest’ and recovering. The neck is also a conduit for the spine and the sensitive and vulnerable cervical vertebrae, which also supply nerve functions back onto the head, to control the jaw, lips, eyes, etc.

Pain in the body is a key indicator that something is wrong or not quite right and headaches in all their levels of intensity and frequency are a very frequent symptom we are able to assist with. You will read of headache cases where a woman had a severe headache for 30 years, and over a few weeks of BSR became pain free. Many clients come diagnosed by their doctor with migraines, and again BSR is often able to assist in alleviating locked-in stress as the root cause and Body Stress Release can become an active part of managing migraine pain. In the sessions the practitioner never diagnoses any medical complaint, and it is often difficult to determine the root cause of headaches. Through the release of locked-in tension in the cervical spine often we have success with headaches and migraine release. Migraines can be particularly debilitating and regular sessions of Body Stress Release may often mitigate and better manage the level and frequency of migraines. In the case studies we have compiled you will find many success stories concerning headaches and migraines.

NECK PAIN, NECK STIFFNESS, OR TIGHT NECK

Modern life is attacking our necks! How often, while using computer and communication devices, do you stretch or twist your neck to try to relieve a stiff neck or tight neck only to find that the vertebra in the neck clicks or cracks? Often these and other issues in the head might be associated with a car accident or injury from whiplash which has caused trauma to the neck muscles. Often this protective stored tension does not reveal itself on X-Rays or scans. A normally healthy neck may well be causing severe neck pain or neck tightness or neck stiffness. In every session your practitioner will do releases on the neck region as we recognise its importance and susceptibility to stress. Often clients may awaken with a stiff neck resulting from poor sleep posture or by the end of a hard day go home with a tight neck or neck stiffness, causing the neck to have reduced mobility. Any excessive neck clicking or neck joint cracking may also be a sign of stored tension, causing undue muscle contraction to protect the neck from further damage.

SINUS PROBLEMS

The nasal cavity and sinus are key in breathing and regulating pressure inside the head. A painful sinus or post-nasal drip may be a sign of stored physical tension or a symptom of some type of chemical stress. The nasal membrane is delicate and susceptible to airborne bacteria, viruses and chemical fragrances; repeated infection in this area may be caused by reduced control of nerve functions caused by locked-in tension. Often Body Stress Release is able to assist with reducing nasal problems such as post-nasal drip, sinus pressure and sinus pain.

JAW PAIN AND JAW STIFFNESS

Our jaw is often a site for tension and stress, resulting in a tight jaw or jaw stiffness and occasionally jaw pains. Nerves feeding and controlling the jaw comes from a nerve supply in the cervical area of the neck. We have identified this area as a key source of potential for stored tension and your practitioner will work on this area during each session. Often stress in this area comes from poor sitting positions and bad computer posture or emotional stress and anxiety. Within the first three sessions clients are likely to receive some relief from their jaw tension, sometimes it takes a little longer.

BODY STRESS IN THE UPPER TORSO

The upper torso, is also referred to as the ribcage area, with a complex set of muscles for the shoulder blades which assist with the movement of the arms and neck. On the front, there is the collarbone with the chest muscles supporting arm movement, but also assists in breathing. Within the upper torso resides important organs such as the lungs, the heart and the diaphragm. The tightening of muscles in the upper spine and rib cage can cause pain and discomfort in the upper torso and possible referred pain to other muscles and organs inside the body. As body stress in tightened muscles interrupts nerve communication, the effect may result in organ disfunction.

Tension in the upper torso can build up over time due to poor posture, like slouching before the computer or not having your car seat set correctly and driving for hours a day. Even bending to pick up your child incorrectly, or carrying heavy bags over one shoulder, can cause strain in the upper torso. Often, we have clients complaining of a tight chest or chest pain after having the flu or COVID due to the constant coughing and straining the chest and upper back muscles as well as the diaphragm.

Common complaints of body stress (locked-in muscle tension) or muscle overload in the upper torso region could be expressed as chest pain, rib pain, diaphragm pain commonly combined with indigestion, heartburn and sometimes IBS while the mention of a tight chest is also quite common.

DIAPHRAGM PAIN OR DIAPHRAGM SENSATIONS

The diaphragm muscle is not only important for breathing but also plays a key role in keeping the body upright and in balance. In Body Stress Release we also consider it a muscle strongly influenced by emotional stress. Clients working in high stress environments often complain about diaphragm pain and even heartburn or indigestion. A tight diaphragm can also manifest as stomach aches which are often the way children express their discomfort. In babies, mothers often describe the baby struggling with bloating, colic, and flatulence if there is a tight diaphragm.

HEARTBURN AND INDIGESTION

With a tight diaphragm there may be pressure on the oesophagus, stimulating stomach acid being produced which might contribute to heartburn. In babies the tightness of the diaphragm might create acid reflux or may present as symptoms of colic. Indigestion is often expressed as a diaphragm sensation in children. BSR Practitioners are trained to release diaphragm tension in adults and can also work on very young babies from about two weeks old, should they experience these symptoms. Childbirth, naturally or by C-Section may result in body stress in babies.

IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME (IBS)

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a medically diagnosed condition we see in many clients often referred to us by doctors. Due to muscle tightness in the upper torso, the function of some organs can be affected, be it due to pressure in the nerves supporting the organs or due to poor body posture. With pressure on the nerves, the functioning of an organ can be overactive or underactive, thus with the colon, clients may suffer from diarrhoea (overactive organ) or constipation or IBS (underactive organ). Sitting in a slouched posture or hunched posture due to muscle tension in the upper torso, you minimise the torso cavity by squeezing the organs into each other and limiting the natural movement of the organs, possibly contributing to IBS.

CHEST PAIN

Due to the continuous use of the arms, the chest muscles may become overloaded with locked-in tension, causing possible chest pain due to the pressure on the brachial plexus nerve. Doing heavy garden work or overdoing it in the gym may cause a sport’s injury in the chest muscles causing possible chest pain. Chest pain is mentioned often in the flu season or post-COVID with all the coughing and unusual sleeping postures. Chest pains may also be the result of intense or prolonged emotional stress and your practitioner can test for and release stress locked into the chest area.

RIB PAIN

The ribcage is continually active due to breathing and can be overloaded by something as small as a sneeze or doing that warm up exercise too vigorously. The intercostal muscle area is a complex array of multi-directional muscles supporting and allowing the ribs to flex while breathing. At times of overstress, they may tighten to protect the area of overload, causing rib discomfort or rib pain. The nerves supporting the lungs and organs run along the ribcage and referred pain or discomfort might be experienced – further causing heartburn, indigestion and bloating amongst other things.

BODY STRESS IN THE ARMS

The arms are our dexterity limbs that do most of our daily work, from brushing our teeth, making breakfast, steering the car, and doing our daily work. We use our arms constantly, they are relatively light, quick to move, and attached by a complex set of muscles to the upper torso, shoulder and neck area. The range of movement of our arms is part of the reason humans developed so quickly. The range of motion allowed us to hunt and make tools, etc. and work and travel effectively. Today however, with industrialisation and technology advancements, we have lost much of the everyday movement and range of our arms. We see clients with a range of issues, especially in the shoulder joint area such as shoulder pain, shoulder stiffness and shoulder immobility including frozen shoulders. We also see other issues lower down the arms such as tennis elbow, elbow stiffness, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and hand pain and wrist pain.

The Body Stress Release technique has a primary focus to address issues relating to the spine and locked-in tension. We find working alongside the spine, during every BSR session, that we possibly manage to influence the working of the whole body. To that end, working next to the spine in the neck and shoulder area, influences the Brachial Plexus nerve which controls and affects all the sensations in both arms. Many of the issues described by clients are radiated pain or transferred sensations originating from locked-in tension in the neck and shoulder area.

As our body is symmetrical, often issues may relate to both arms. As one arm or shoulder locks in tension, so it might affect the other arm or neck area causing neck pain or neck tension. This is especially so with computer workers who often spend 8 hours per day straining arm muscles, neck muscles and shoulder muscles. As practitioners we can test and release individual muscles and by this method can trace lines of tension connected across sets of muscles in the neck and shoulder area. In cases where we are not able to release tension in the neck area to influence the arms, the practitioner will work directly on the arms and at the site of the actual pain or sensation.

There are two primary causes of locked-in tension in the arms – mechanical under-use and mechanical overuse. Under-use of our arms has been a progressive trend in society as the very many devices, in the workplace, home and outdoors, allow us to do things more easily, with reduced activity and mobility. In moving from the typewriter to the computer, the telephone to the cell phone and hand-whisk to the food processor, all made life easier but prevented our muscles in the arms and shoulder from becoming strong and very mobile. In essence, we have weaker and more vulnerable arms to complete long term repetitive tasks such as computer work, driving and exercise.

Often to compensate for our lack of strength and mobility, we exercise in a variety of activities such as gym, weightlifting, walking, swimming and cycling. With an underdevelopment and sometimes a lack of warming up or preparation of muscles by building them for the exercise in particular – we see locked-in tension arising from an overuse in the arm and shoulder areas. Overuse can also result in issues described as tennis elbow and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, resulting from possible overexertion, poor exercise techniques or poorly fitted equipment such as cycles.

ARM SENSATIONS

We see clients suffering from a variety of complaints in our practices such as arm pain, arm numbness, stiff arms, burning arm sensations, cold arms, or frozen arms. These types of sensation are often radiated sensations travelling down the Brachial Plexus Nerve, from its origin in the cervical or neck area and branching out as the nerve supply spreads out down the length of the arm. Locked in tension often causes an interruption of the nerve pathways, hence these types of sensations. Through a series of body stress releases (Body Stress Release sessions), tailored to the client’s case history, these sensations may dissipate as muscles relax and return to their optimal state.

SHOULDER PAIN

Shoulder pain in general relates to the muscles holding the ball and socket joint in place and in the shoulder blade (or scapula). The shoulder joint and blade are meant to be the most dexterous and mobile joint in the body, but often shoulder pain results from the over use or under use already explained. Shoulder pain takes many forms and can be dull creeping aches to sharp stabbing pains through arm movement. These can often be reduced with Body Stress Release and sometimes linked to suggested computer station changes in posture and operation to reduce mechanical stress from sustained use.

SHOULDER STIFFNESS

Shoulder Stiffness often results from prolonged mechanical use, often linked to poor posture positions in the workplace, such as at computers or even whilst sleeping. We spend about 8 hours per day asleep, that’s around a third of our life, and a poor posture during sleep can lead to tension building up. Clients often report waking with stiff shoulders or immobile shoulders and this may be caused by this mechanical stress. A good mattress and pillow positioning can alleviate this, and linked to good sleeping posture, can also assist clients in having a better night’s sleep. Our practitioners work to both release locked-in stress and advise on simple lifestyle changes to reduce day-to-day stresses.

FROZEN SHOULDER

A frozen shoulder often exhibits three main symptoms – shoulder pain, shoulder stiffness and shoulder immobility. A frozen shoulder may result from other medical issues such as a stroke, diabetes, or a mastectomy. Traumas to the body from operations or illnesses such as these may lock in tension. Body Stress Release in these situations, and over a period, may gradually reduce the symptoms of a frozen shoulder and return it to a more natural pain free mobile state.

ARM STIFFNESS

Arm stiffness usually exhibits stiffness down the entire length of the arm from the shoulder joint to the elbow joint and may include a painful condition called Tennis Elbow. Tennis elbow is associated with both the overload and overuse of the elbow, resulting in pain in the connecting tendons, and not only associated with athletes as the name suggests. Often locked-in tension and pain are protective measures the body uses to signal issues. In releasing stress and tension, our practitioners monitor and record progress of all these indicators on a client record card.

CARPEL TUNNEL SYNDROME

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is often diagnosed by doctors and our clients come to our BSR practices with these diagnoses. Body Stress Release is a complementary technique and non-therapeutic, so we cannot diagnose or treat medical complaints. We do however take this information, as reported by our clients, to focus on areas of concern such as the wrist pain associated with CTS. CTS usually exhibits as intense wrist pain which may be referred pain from the spine, shoulder, or elbow tension. CTS may result in the need for operations, and we recommend coming for Body Stress Release before scheduling operations, as often the symptoms may clear after some sessions. We have case studies of clients avoiding planned CTS operations after a few BSR sessions, wrist pain having been caused by locked-in tension.

BODY STRESS IN THE LOWER TORSO

The lower back can be considered as the foundation of the spine. Just the acts of lying down, sitting or standing can put pressure on the lower back, as both the deep muscles and the superficial muscles tighten to support our skeletons.
Any overload of physical, emotional, or even chemical stresses can cause these muscles to tighten in a defensive mode. Just think of what we put our bodies through on a daily basis, never mind the falls and accidents that we have all experienced at some stage or another of our lives.
The defensive tightening of muscles is a necessary response to the stress overload, but it should be temporary, and not become a chronic ‘splinting’ of the spine.
The aim of Body Stress Release is to stimulate those protective layers of muscles to relax back to their normal tone and function. At this point communication is restored and the brain recognises the site of irritation, thus facilitating our miraculous in-built abilities to self-heal.
Unfortunately, due to the busy pace of modern life, as well as our inability to recognise when our bodies are signalling that we are in these stress overload situations, the muscles do not relax and it becomes a chronic holding pattern of deep muscle tension. Each day we add to this tension by overloading our bodies at work, home and at leisure.

The lower back has many important nerves that innervate the lower back itself, as well as the nerves that travel into the hips, buttocks and legs. There are also connections to the abdominal organs via the autonomic nervous system. Irritation due to pressure on these nerves can cause the organs to be either overactive or underactive.

If the sensory nerves are placed under pressure due to either intense or long-term deep muscle contraction, then they can be stimulated to cause abnormal sensation ranging from pain to pins and needles or numbness. If the motor nerves are irritated by pressure, then the muscle groups that they innervate may become over-active, causing spasms or cramps. The opposite of this would be muscles that are flaccid or do not have their normal function or strength.

The most common effect of body stress (locked-in muscle tension) in the lower back region would be effects like lower back pain, digestive problems, constipation, diarrhoea, flatulence, stomach aches or stomach cramps, groin pain, menstrual pain, bladder infections and bloating.

LOWER BACK PAIN

Everyone suffers from lower back pain at some point of their lives. If the body has not been able to deal with the original site of irritation, then this lower back pain is likely to be constant or recur at regular intervals. It is stated that more workdays are lost due to lower back pain than any other reason. As the lower back muscles tighten over time, lower back pain may not be the only effect. Frequently the nerves that exit the lower back could get irritated, contributing to effects like sciatica and groin pain. The lower back pain is unlikely to settle until the origin of the problem is addressed, and this involves the easing of the protective muscle action around the lumbar spine with the help of a Body Stress Release Practitioner.

GROIN PAIN

Groin pain can be debilitating, and it can cause such discomfort that walking can be difficult. The cause of groin pain could be referred from the lower back as this is where the nerves that supply the groin region originate. As the body responds to an overload of either physical or mechanical stress in the lower back, or mental or emotional stress, or even chemical stress, the muscles around the spine tighten in a protective manner. This can then irritate the nerves due to pressure and cause the nerve to be stimulated. This can cause local pain or a referred pain, depending on where the irritated nerves travel to. Often this will result in groin pain or sciatica type effects. The groin pain is unlikely to settle until the origin of the problem has been addressed, and the protective muscles in the lower back are stimulated to let go of their protective state, thus taking the pressure off the nerves.

DIGESTIVE PROBLEMS

The digestive system is innervated by the Autonomic Nervous System. Body stress (stored muscle tension) in the lower back can irritate these nerves as the muscles tighten in response to a stress overload. Digestive problems can arise as the irritated nerves can either cause the digestive tract to be under or overactive. If the irritated nerve supply effect causes underactivity, then the digestive problems could manifest as constipation. If the irritated nerve supply effect causes overactivity, then the digestive problems could manifest as diarrhoea.

The digestive problems could potentially continue indefinitely until the origin of the problem is addressed, which is often the lower back.
Additionally, the digestive problems may arise as a result of exposure to chemical stresses. These are substances which we either eat, drink, inhale or absorb due to contact with our skin. Examples of these may be gluten or lactose intolerances. If a person who has an intolerance  consumes these substances, it may lead to digestive problems as well as lower back pain due to bloating of the digestive tract. It is important to be aware of the negative effects the stress overloads can have on our bodies. Along with this, a balanced, healthy diet is a good way to avoid digestive problems.

FLATULENCE

The digestive system is innervated by the Autonomic Nervous System. As the muscles alongside the spine tighten in response to a stress overload, the connections to the digestive system may be affected. Flatulence can arise as the irritated nerves can cause the digestive tract to be either over or underactive, and digestion may not occur at the desired rate, causing a build-up of gas.

Additionally, the flatulence may arise as a result of exposure to chemical stresses. These are substances which we either eat, drink, inhale or absorb due to contact with our skin. Examples of these may be gluten or lactose intolerances. If a person who has an intolerance consumes these, it may lead to flatulence as well as lower back pain due to bloating of the digestive tract. It is important to be aware of the negative effects the stress overloads can have on our bodies. Along with this, a balanced, healthy diet is a good way to avoid flatulence.

MENSTRUAL PAIN

It is quite common to experience menstrual pain as well as lower back pain during menstruation. There is a direct link between the uterus and the lower back via the utero sacral ligaments which explains why it is not unusual to experience menstrual pain or lower back pain during menstruation. As the uterus swells during the menstrual cycle, pressure is exerted on the lower back via the utero sacral ligaments and this can cause lower back pain. Lower back tension could also place pressure on the uterus, causing menstrual pain.

BLADDER INFECTION

Bladder infection could occur when body stress (stored muscle tension) in the lower back disrupts the nerve supply to the bladder and thus normal functioning can be compromised. Additionally, the bladder infection is likely to recur if nerve communication is not restored as the immune system is not able to function optimally. Often the symptoms of bladder infection will be accompanied by lower back stiffness. It is advisable to be checked for body stress at the very first signs of bladder infection, as the worst can often be avoided.

CONSTIPATION

Body stress (stored muscle tension) in the lower back can irritate the nerve supply to the digestive tract. If the nerves are under stimulated it could result in constipation as the colon would not be functioning optimally. If the constipation does not seem to have a medical cause, or if it does not improve with medication, then it may well improve as the muscle tension eases with Body Stress Release. Constipation may also be the result of a poor diet or chemical stresses from what the person is ingesting and their system is unable to effectively digest these foods.

STOMACH ACHES

The digestive system is innervated by the Autonomic Nervous System. These nerves can be affected by pressure in the lower back as the muscles tighten in response to a stress overload. Stomach aches can arise as the irritated nerves can either cause the digestive tract to be under or overactive, or it can disrupt the communication from the nerves resulting in sub optimal functioning. If the irritated nerve supply effect causes underactivity, then the stomach pain could manifest as constipation. If the irritated nerve supply effect causes overactivity, then stomach pain could manifest as diarrhoea. The stomach pain could potentially continue indefinitely until the origin of the problem is addressed, which is often pressure in the lower back due to body stress (stored muscle tension).

Additionally, the stomach aches may arise as a result of exposure to chemical stresses. These are substances which we either eat, drink, inhale or absorb due to contact with our skin. Examples of these may be gluten or lactose intolerances. If a person who has an intolerance consumes these, it may lead to stomach pain as well as lower back pain due to bloating of the digestive tract. It is important to be aware of the negative effects the stress overloads can have on our bodies. Along with this, a balanced, healthy diet is a good way to avoid stomach pain.

BLOATING

The digestive system is innervated by the Autonomic Nervous System. As the muscles alongside the spine tighten in response to a stress overload, the connections to the digestive system may be affected. Bloating can arise as the irritated nerves can cause the digestive tract to be over or underactive, and digestion may not occur at the desired rate, causing a build-up of gas.

Additionally, the bloating may arise as a result of exposure to chemical stresses. These are substances which we either eat, drink, inhale or absorb due to contact with our skin. Examples of these may be gluten or lactose intolerances. If a person who has an intolerance consumes these, it may lead to bloating as well as lower back pain due to pressure on the lower back. It is important to be aware of the negative effects the stress overloads can have on our bodies. Along with this, a balanced, healthy diet is a good way to avoid bloating.

BODY STRESS IN THE LEGS

The legs are our mobility limbs, they move us from A to B and all points in between. They are also our supporting limbs, carrying the whole weight of our body up the legs to the pelvis and though the spine to the rest of the body. Long ago we were on our feet constantly, working in the fields or hunting for food, and as being made to move, they were well exercised. Sadly, today we are more sedentary, we sit more at work, driving to and from work and at home in front of the TV. We get less day-to-day generic living exercise than previously and now find ourselves going to the gym and the like to improve muscles and core strength.

As limbs, the legs are at the end of a nervous system originating from the brain and ending like a root system at the feet. Our lower backs are of primary importance to leg health as the Sciatic nerve originates from the L3 vertebrae in the lower back. Our modern lifestyles have too much sitting and the sedentary nature of much of our work may result in poor posture and issues with the lower back, pelvis, and legs due to locked-in tension possibly affecting the sciatic nerve.

The Body Stress Release technique has a primary focus to address issues relating to the spine and locked-in tension. We find, while working on the spine during each session, there is the most chance to affect the working of the whole body. To that end, working on the spine in the lower back area, influences the Sciatic nerve which controls and affects all the sensations in both legs. Many of the issues described by clients are radiated pain or transferred sensations originating from locked-in tension in the lower back area.

As our body is symmetrical, issues relate to both legs as one leg or hip locks in tension so it might affect the other leg causing hip pain or leg tension. This is especially so with computer workers who often spend 8 hours per day sitting down and therefore under-using the leg muscles and thus compromising the lower back. As practitioners we can test and release individual muscles and by this method we can trace lines of tension connected across sets of muscles in the lower back, pelvis, hip, and leg areas. In cases where we are not able to release tension in the lower back to affect the legs, the practitioner will work directly on the hips, legs, knees, or feet at the site of the actual pain or sensation.

SCIATICA

Sciatica (as diagnosed by doctors) or intense shooting sciatic pain is a top-10 issue we see in our Body Stress Release practices. Often it is related to locked-in tension in the lower back, pelvis and buttock area. The sciatic nerve is a large bundle of nerves originating from the lower back spine and passing under the gluteus maximus muscles in the buttock area. It is about the width of your little finger and often affected by locked-in tension in other muscles in that area. With our technique we are able to determine which muscles store locked-in tension, possibly causing sciatic pain, and we aim to try to effectively release the tension affecting the length of the sciatic nerve.

HIP PAIN

Hip pain often results from a lack of core strength in the pelvis muscles resulting in hip pain and hip stiffness. It can also originate from the lower back and sciatic nerve, since issues in the lower back often cause hip pain and hip stiffness. Practitioners test and work to determine which muscles may be in tension and release these to ease muscle tightness and locked-in tension. Hips do sometimes degenerate from excessive wear and BSR Practitioners often see clients as part of their post hip-operation recovery process and in conjunction with physiotherapy programs

ILIOTIBIAL BAND (ITB) ISSUES

The Iliotibial Band is a thick band of tissue that runs down the outside of your thigh. It extends all the way from your hip bone to the top of your shinbone on each leg. When you bend and extend your leg, this band moves over the outer lower edge of your thighbone. ITB pains, and ITB issues are often seen in runners and cyclists, and in conjunction with knee-pains and knee issues from overuse or poor running postures. Body stress may be present in the ITB due to a variety of other daily factors and poor postures and practitioners can test and release stress in the ITB.

KNEE PAIN & KNEE STIFFNESS

The knee joint is one of the most basic, and simple, one-directional hinge joints in the body. That said, it takes all the body weight and a great deal of general and impact stress from daily movement. It is a complex arrangement of muscles and tendons that keep the knee joint rigid and which are prone to stress, from carrying too much weight, overuse and underuse, poor sitting posture and poor standing posture, etc. Practitioners have stress tests and releases for this joint that could help relieve issues associated with knee pain & knee stiffness.

LEG SENSATIONS

Our clients often complain of a variety of leg complaints such as leg pains, tired legs, weak legs, heavy legs or restless legs. These sensations we record in terms of when they occur during the day, how often they occur, and the level of sensation intensity. In this way we baseline what could sometimes be difficult to determine and describe problems, often to quite debilitating levels. As practitioners are not qualified to diagnose medical issues, we work to define client sensations – how they feel, and how they recover are defined largely by our clients. By releasing stress in the lower back and legs, often the sensations of leg pains, tired legs, weak legs, heavy legs or restless legs reduce over time, and often during the initial three sessions we recommend.

CALF PAINS

Calf Pains are very common and often associated with dehydration and lack of magnesium in the body. Your practitioner will most likely ask you about these while taking a full case history. Calf pains, calf spasms, and calf cramps may also be caused by body stress either in the muscles in the calf or radiated down the sciatic nerve and leg nervous system. Practitioners work initially in the lower back to influence the sciatic nerves but can test and release in any part of the body to locate and release stress, such as in the lower leg muscles and calf muscles.

FOOT PAINS, FOOT STIFFNESS, ANKLE ISSUES

The foot and ankle are where all our body weight is displaced to the ground. It is where our human ‘rubber meets the road’! Foot pain, foot stiffness and ankle issues are often, but not solely, caused by radiated pains stemming from locked-in body stress further up the leg. Our practitioners often have success in releasing stress in the lower back to relieve foot issues but can work on the muscles in the ankle and foot area to locate and release stress.