What causes muscle inhibition or weakness?
Factors such as trauma, stress or overuse can contribute to a muscle becoming inhibited. When you exercise, there is a period of exertion and then recovery. It is normal to feel fatigue. When there is trauma, stress or overuse, the muscle may not recover until properly rested. If this is habitual, (i.e., sitting at the computer in an ergonomically unsound position for 12 hours per day, every day for many years) then the result can be muscle inhibition or neurological weakness. The brain detects trauma and basically puts a “dimmer switch” on the overused muscle, decreasing its capability to contract. A sudden trauma can also cause a muscle to become inhibited. A great example is whiplash. When the neck muscles are moved rapidly through their extreme ranges of motion, the body attempts to protect itself by inhibiting the muscles that are rapidly stretched. Due to the trauma, these muscles now become inhibited. The end result is chronic tightness and pain in the muscles of the neck as the
