Muscle Guarding

Are you a stomach gripper? A butt gripper? Do you hold tension in your shoulders? Your pelvic floor? Are you always aware that you don’t want your stomach to “show”? Muscles are meant to contract and relax. Relaxation results in an increase in blood flow, allowing for the optimal clearance of waste and the delivery of oxygen and nutrients. Contraction results in a decrease in blood flow and an impaired clearance of waste. A contraction of only 60% of maximum has been shown to stop blood flow into and out of the muscle completely. A constant increase in muscle tension means that the muscle is always to some extent working; there is a continuous increase in energy consumption and production of waste occurring at a time of diminished blood flow. No skeletal or voluntary muscle is meant to be turned on all the time or even most of the time. So consistently holding your abdominal muscles to “work on your core” and to reduce a part of the body you find suboptimal isn’t good for your muscles long term. It can increase the pressure on the pelvic floor, cause areas of segmental overactivation called trigger points, even decrease intestinal motility and more. All of our muscles need to contract and relax to stay healthy. Notice which parts of your body you hold tension in. Is it your abdomen, glutes, pelvic floor, or shoulders. Check in with these areas several times a day (or even every hour). You have made a habit of holding these areas but over time you can also make a habit to relax them. Remember holding muscles does not make them strong fully contracting and relaxing with proper rest periods can. For more information go to my website pelvicforward.com or contact me at [email protected].