Tight hamstrings? Or tight nerves?

Written by Chiropractor Ben Carruthers

“Tight nerves?” you say, is that a thing? Yes, it really is! The expansive network of nerves all throughout your body, subtly and smoothly glide through their protective sheaths as we move - this is called ‘neurodynamics’. When compressed, the fluidity of movement in the nerve is compromised, causing the surrounding muscles to contract tightly, called tethering.

How do I know if my nerves are tight?

In our clinic, we use a few tests such as the ‘slump’ test to try and determine if tension is muscular or neural. But actually, we often get more information just from a person’s history – for example, conditions like sciatica can often be accompanied by uncomfortable neural tension along the sciatic nerve bundle (pain and tension down the back of the leg).

How can I reduce nerve tension?

Nerve ‘flossing’ exercises are an easy way to restore normal movement and gliding of the nerves, helping to restore function, movement, and decrease pain. Here’s a great nerve glide for leg pain you can do at home to help restore that neural elasticity:

Not all leg pain can be managed with this exercise alone. If you’re experiencing leg pain and unsure what’s causing it, make sure to book an appointment with us to assess, diagnose, and help manage it.