Stress is a normal part of life, and it can take many forms including emotional, physical, and psychological stress. It is widely known that stress can take its toll on your body so it should come as no surprise that it can exacerbate musculoskeletal conditions and even be the root cause.

While MSKs are commonly linked to sudden and irregular movements and awkward postures, there’s an increasing body of research that suggest psychological factors such as work demands, job control and social support at work are also independent risk factors. Stress related changed in the body such as increased muscle tension can make people more susceptible to musculoskeletal problems; or people might change their behaviour (for example less breaks to meet a deadline) which in turn affects their health.

Common Conditions and Treatment

One of the more common conditions that we see in our clinics as a result of stress, is tension headaches. Tension headaches are caused by a tightening of the muscles in the head, face and neck and they can be triggered by emotional stress. Have you ever clenched your teeth together when you’ve been angry or upset? Doing this repeatedly can contribute to tension headaches.

While you might not be able to get rid of the source for the stress itself, there are a few ways to help alleviate stress related musculoskeletal pain. Regular exercise can help release the tension in the muscles as well as improve your overall wellbeing. You could also practice some stress management techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, and cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT).

At Sano Physiotherapy, we offer expert care for musculoskeletal conditions, and we use a variety of techniques to help you reach your goal and improve your quality of life. Not only do we care about your physical health, we make sure to pay attention to your emotional well-being and explore any and all reasons that could be contributing to your pain.