When people feel tightness in their shoulders, tension in their neck, or soreness in their lower back, the first thought is often: “I must have pulled a muscle.” While muscles can certainly strain or spasm, most ongoing muscle tension and pain isn’t really a muscle problem at all—it’s a nerve problem.
Let’s break this down.
Muscles Don’t Work on Their Own—They’re Controlled by Nerves
Your muscles don’t have a mind of their own. They contract, relax, and coordinate because your nervous system tells them to. The communication highway runs from your brain, down your spinal cord, and out through the nerves that branch into every muscle in your body.
When this system is functioning properly, muscles fire in balance—keeping your spine, posture, and movement aligned and pain-free.
But when a vertebra shifts out of its proper alignment (vertebral subluxation), it can interfere with nerve communication. This disruption often causes the muscles around that area to spasm, tighten, or weaken.
The Cycle of Nerve Interference and Muscle Pain
Here’s how it usually plays out:
- Subluxation occurs – A spinal bone misaligns due to stress, posture, or injury.
- Nerve interference follows – The nerve messages traveling through that area are distorted or irritated.
- Muscles react – Some muscles tighten and spasm to protect the area, while others weaken or fatigue.
- You feel pain and tension – What seems like a “muscle problem” is actually your nervous system signaling imbalance.
That’s why stretching, massage, or rest may help temporarily, but the tightness often returns—it’s not the root issue.
Why Correcting Subluxations Matters More Than Chasing Muscle Pain
When chiropractic adjustments restore proper spinal alignment, nerve interference is removed. This allows your muscles to:
- Relax naturally rather than staying locked in tension.
- Regain proper tone and balance so one side isn’t overcompensating for the other.
- Support healthy posture and movement without constant strain.
In other words, when the nerves function properly, the muscles follow.
Stop Treating the Symptom, Start Correcting the Cause
If you’ve been thinking your muscle tension is “just a muscle thing,” it may actually be your body’s way of telling you there’s a deeper issue in your spine and nervous system.
At The Foundation Chiropractic, we use the Gonstead Method—a precise, hands-on system designed to find and correct vertebral subluxations at their source. Rather than chasing muscle pain, we correct the cause so your body can heal, move, and function the way it was designed.
If you’re in the Worcester or Newton area and struggling with recurring muscle tightness or pain, schedule an evaluation with us. Don’t just stretch it out—get to the source and let your nervous system restore true balance.
In health,
Dr. Rob
