Mechanical Stress

The body is designed to withstand a certain amount of physical force – bumps, jerks and falls, but if the mechanical stress goes beyond the body’s limit of adaptability, the effects may become stored as body stress. The causes may be sudden and violent, such as a car accident, a severe fall, or lifting a heavy object incorrectly.

Or, there may be a gradual accumulation of milder mechanical stress, e.g. habitually sitting incorrectly, or doing inappropriate exercises.

We can reduce mechanical stress by improving our posture, by sitting, bending and lifting correctly, and avoiding potentially harmful exercises. Obviously it is helpful to pursue moderate and sensible forms of exercise to strengthen muscles, i.e. a brisk walk for 20 to 30 minutes every day.

Mental/Emotional Stress

These include fear of the future, financial worries, competition in the work-place, disintegrating family relationships. At times we experience sudden violent emotions, such as anger or shock, or we undergo milder but ongoing forms of mental strain, e.g. anxiety, depression and resentment. We may become aware of the physical effect of emotional pressures, as the diaphragm, jaw, neck and shoulders tighten in a defensive posture, to armour us against the onslaught of life’s stresses.

To reduce emotional/mental stress in our lives, we need to learn to consciously relax when we feel ourselves becoming tense. It is also advisable to seek out whatever activities and techniques help us, as individuals, to approach emotional balance and inner peace, i.e. meditating.

Chemical Stress

Exposure to harmful chemicals may severely irritate the nervous system, causing the neck muscles to tighten.

The sources of chemical stress include pollutants in the air, insecticides and certain food additives and preservatives, colorants, artificial growth hormones. Harmful chemicals may be consumed, inhaled, or even absorbed when contacting the skin. Examples of chemical stress are severe headaches and nausea, to name but two.

Amanda Fourie
M.B.S.R.A. (S.A.)
B.S.R. Practitioner

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