07/11/2025
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Today I met with a local movement professional whoβd like to align services for better patient outcomes. Our conversation revealed a common gap in understanding of the strength-tension relationship principle in biomechanics. This prompted a thoughtful discussion that I consider appropriate to share with my own community.
This principle explains that a muscleβs ability to produce force depends on its length at the time of contraction. Muscles are most effective at an optimal resting length, where actin and myosin overlap allows for maximum tension. When a muscle is too shortened or too stretched, this overlap becomes inefficient, resulting in reduced & poor control. In clinical practice, this helps us explain why some muscles appear tight and overactive, but are actually functionally weak; while others are long and underactive, contributing to joint instability or compensation.
These imbalances drive postural dysfunction, pain, and movement inefficiency. Through targeted stretching, strengthening, and neuromuscular re-education, we can restore optimal muscle length and improve structural balance, movement quality, and long-term resilience.
Itβs also important to distinguish this from reciprocal inhibition, which is a neurological reflex where activation of a muscle causes inhibition of its antagonist.
Strength-Tension Relationship = mechanical
Reciprocal Inhibition = neurological
Both are essential to address when working toward true musculoskeletal balance and performance.
