Once guarding or protecting a structural weakness begins, the compensation becomes habit. Compensating is imbalance. Body imbalance grows over time. Like continuing to drive with a flat tire, the farther you drive with a flat, the more damage you will do to the car (rim, the car's alignment). Imagine driving on the flat for 10 years. What would happen to the rest of the car?
Some people have trouble relaxing their muscles. Their muscles are nearly constantly in use. Muscles such as the heart were designed for this, but not our wrist extensors. Chronic pain results from the overuse of these muscles. When I pick up their arm to work on it, the arm is not heavy and relaxed. No, they move it into place for me. I cannot coax the muscles to separate and ease the restrictions out of fascia because the muscles are engaged. We must use our mind to rule our bodies. We must become aware of our bodies and where they are holding tension and keeping back the breath.
Photo by Kunal Shinde on Unsplash