Exploring the relationship between inflammation and flexibility

By Rob Williams, B.Sc. Kinesiology

There's nothing more satisfying than when your body feels great and is able to move without pain. However, many people struggle daily with joint or muscle pain that limits their ability to do even modest activities.

Typically, pain in the joints or muscles is accompanied by inflammation. The relationship between inflammation and your body's flexibility is incredibly complex. Does poor flexibility cause inflammation, or could prolonged inflammation result in compromised flexibility?

In a healthy knee joint, muscle forces and tensions on the joint remain balanced so it can function optimally. Unbalanced muscle tension, such as from excessive stiffness in one muscle group, may contribute to faulty alignment and premature wear on the joint. This often leads to pain, inflammation and degeneration of the joint structures.

It is important to remember that the body will do its best to protect a painful or inflamed joint. The body's first response to inflammation is swelling. The body further protects the joint through "guarding", where the individual subconsciously avoids putting the joint in unstable positions. This guarding mechanism often results in reduced physical activity and can quickly lead to loss of flexibility.

Each of these scenarios is less than ideal, and many of today's corrective movement practitioners strive to establish functional flexibility in their rehabilitation programs. Being aware of the relationship between flexibility and inflammation is an important step toward a lifetime of physical well-being.

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