Muscle Manipulation

What Happens When My Muscles Are Manipulated?

To understand how massage or soft tissue techniques work, we first need to grasp how muscles function—and what happens when they don't.

How Muscles Work

Muscles contract or relax in response to nerve signals—either consciously (e.g. lifting your arm) or reflexively (e.g. keeping your head upright). They naturally maintain a level of tension, or tone, which helps support posture and is regulated by the body’s internal balance systems (homeostasis).

How Things Go Wrong

When posture is poor—like constantly leaning your head forward at a computer—neck muscles work overtime to support your head. At first, the body sends pain signals, but if ignored, it adapts. Muscle tone increases, feedback is overridden, and this new, overworked state becomes the body’s "normal."

This adaptation isn’t harmless. Constant contraction reduces blood flow, limits oxygen and nutrient delivery, and prevents the removal of waste. The muscle essentially behaves like it’s stuck in a tight band or "tourniquet." Over time, this creates further contraction, low-level inflammation, and sticky fluid buildup that causes adhesion's —muscle fibres sticking together—making the muscle tight, weak, and often painful.

Eventually, the muscle may spasm or shut down altogether as a protective response.

What Massage Does

When a muscle is manipulated through massage:

  1. Blood Flow Increases
    More oxygen and nutrients reach the muscle, aiding repair.

  2. Waste is Flushed Out
    Pressure and movement help remove toxins and reduce irritation and sensitivity.

  3. Nerve Feedback is Reset
    The body remembers its ideal muscle tone. Massage stimulates nerve signals that guide the muscle back to this healthy state—whether it’s too tight or too loose.

  4. Adhesions Break Down
    Physical manipulation separates stuck muscle fibres, restoring flexibility and function.

The Bigger Picture

As muscles return to normal, pain decreases and surrounding muscles re-balance. This reduces strain on joints and bones, like the pelvis or shoulders, helping the body heal more effectively.