external factors influencing homeostasis - stress
Stress responses on the Muscular System
Stress can cause as much pain as the overexertion caused by strenuous damage to the muscles or repetitive motions. Increased muscle tension is a vital response in the “fight or flight” stress reaction to demand and pressure. Noradrenaline contained within the sympathetic nervous system stimulates the muscles to tense or contract in preparation for defence or action. Tense muscles prepare for an immediate response to any threat or danger from the external environment that threatens the well being of the body. When in response to stress, the muscles are stimulated to contract and hence move faster and have greater strength during an emergency because of this additional stimulation.
Any one of the muscles can become overly fatigued, injured, or develop spasms. Muscle fibers within the muscles are designed to tense and then relax, and can go through this cycle indefinitely. In order to balance the force of contract in two opposing muscles or muscle groups, as one set of muscles contracts, an opposite set are inclined to relax. However, a muscle under sustained tension without an alternating relaxation phase eventually develops spasm and can become quite painful. The sustained tension obtained from emotional stress, poor posture, or certain external environmental factors can act as a barrier preventing the relaxation phase to occur.
Stress can cause as much pain as the overexertion caused by strenuous damage to the muscles or repetitive motions. Increased muscle tension is a vital response in the “fight or flight” stress reaction to demand and pressure. Noradrenaline contained within the sympathetic nervous system stimulates the muscles to tense or contract in preparation for defence or action. Tense muscles prepare for an immediate response to any threat or danger from the external environment that threatens the well being of the body. When in response to stress, the muscles are stimulated to contract and hence move faster and have greater strength during an emergency because of this additional stimulation.
Any one of the muscles can become overly fatigued, injured, or develop spasms. Muscle fibers within the muscles are designed to tense and then relax, and can go through this cycle indefinitely. In order to balance the force of contract in two opposing muscles or muscle groups, as one set of muscles contracts, an opposite set are inclined to relax. However, a muscle under sustained tension without an alternating relaxation phase eventually develops spasm and can become quite painful. The sustained tension obtained from emotional stress, poor posture, or certain external environmental factors can act as a barrier preventing the relaxation phase to occur.