04/21/2026
A runner I see told me this week his hamstrings are always tight.
He hasn't been able to touch his toes in years.
He stretches.
It helps...for a bit.
And that's the frustrating part.
It feels like a flexibility problem...
but most of the time, it isn't.
What's actually going on is this:
Tight muscles are often a protective response from the nervous system.
If the body doesn't feel stable or in control, it creates tension to protect itself.
So you can stretch all you want...
but if the underlying signal doesn't change, the tightness just comes right back.
Often the problem isn't the muscle...it's the message the muscle is getting.
If you're curious about this, feel free to reach out or ask me a question.
