Just about every older client I see – those over 60 years of age say – will be experiencing muscular pain and stiffness. A very large percentage of these people see this as a natural part of ageing. “I’m just getting old” they’ll often say.
Are they right to be so pessimistic? Do those who are older need to expect muscular pain and stiffness? Does it “come with the territory” and if so, can anything be done about it?
Are they right to be so pessimistic? Do those who are older need to expect muscular pain and stiffness? Does it “come with the territory” and if so, can anything be done about it?
Well, it is true that older people are more susceptible to pathological conditions which can cause muscular pain and stiffness. But these things aren’t all that common. For the most part, senior citizens feel sore and find movements difficult for the same reasons as everyone else – they’ve just had longer to adapt to them.
Let me explain. Muscles usually ache and restrict movement because they are tense. Individual muscle cells contract all the time, that’s what causes muscles to shorten, pulling two bones closer together and producing movement. But tense muscles don’t fully relax and this produces pain and limits range of motion across a joint.
There are lots of reasons why muscles stay tense – see my earlier blog “Why Do Muscles Ache?”, February, 2013. Usually, this tension dissipates but sometimes it doesn’t. In these chronic situations tension remains and our bodies adapt.
Let me explain. Muscles usually ache and restrict movement because they are tense. Individual muscle cells contract all the time, that’s what causes muscles to shorten, pulling two bones closer together and producing movement. But tense muscles don’t fully relax and this produces pain and limits range of motion across a joint.
There are lots of reasons why muscles stay tense – see my earlier blog “Why Do Muscles Ache?”, February, 2013. Usually, this tension dissipates but sometimes it doesn’t. In these chronic situations tension remains and our bodies adapt.
Now, this is where ageing comes in. Older people often have had areas of chronic muscular tension for longer than those who are younger. Their connective tissue, known as fascia, will have reacted to this by becoming denser, more fibrous and more prone to sticking or adhering to adjacent tissue. If this goes on long enough, these adaptive changes may severely inhibit movement and add to the pain and stiffness associated with muscular tension.
Sounds bad right? Well, yes it can be pretty uncomfortable and limiting that’s for sure. But not irreversible. Fascia is remains malleable even into very old age. Techniques for releasing dry, fibrotic connective tissue may have to be adapted for the elderly but a competent therapist should be able to do this to relieve pain and promote greater movement. At any age.
Sounds bad right? Well, yes it can be pretty uncomfortable and limiting that’s for sure. But not irreversible. Fascia is remains malleable even into very old age. Techniques for releasing dry, fibrotic connective tissue may have to be adapted for the elderly but a competent therapist should be able to do this to relieve pain and promote greater movement. At any age.
RSS Feed
