Tension + time leads to disordered function, over time perhaps even a change in structure.

Aspects of Pain

Tension + time changes how things work together. When a muscle sits under tension, it adapts. Its shape and behaviour change, which alters how it coordinates with other muscles and joints. When a bone sits under tension, it adapts too. Over time, that can show up as bony change. In the spine, vertebrae help support the discs by allowing nutrient flow through a structure called the end plate. Changes here can be an early sign that things are no longer organising well. This isn’t about things being broken. It’s about how well things are working together. Function better, feel better. The body is always adapting. That “training effect” is happening whether you direct it or not.

What is Pain?

Pain is a sensory and emotional experience (1). It is not a direct measure of damage. Pain is better understood as part of how your system interprets and responds to what’s happening — physically, psychologically, and socially. Sometimes pain reflects a clear injury. Often, it reflects how well things are currently organised. Pain may show up when there is: Difference – something feels different to what your system expects Dysfunction – parts are not coordinating efficiently Damage – there has been injury – sometimes of the nerves themselves (nociplastic pain) Danger – something is perceived as a threat Trauma – past experiences shaping current responses Tension – holding the armoured spine, often without awareness These are not separate boxes. They overlap and influence each other. Pain doesn’t always mean something is wrong. It often means something has changed.

Pain is More Than Hurt

Pain is not just a signal (nociceptive). It is an experience. It is shaped by what’s happening in your body, your thoughts, your environment, and the demands placed on you. That’s why two people can feel very different things from similar situations.

Continuing Pain (Neuropathic)

Ongoing pain often starts with something physical — but it rarely stays purely physical. Over time, your system adapts to repeated inputs. Movements, postures, thoughts, and responses can all become patterns. Some help. Some don’t. Pain can become part of that pattern. Not because you are broken — but because your system has learned a way of responding. Psychological, physical, and emotional inputs are all processed together in the brain (notably within the anterior cingulate cortex). Separating them out cleanly isn’t how real life works. Add repetition, and things can drift into the background and feel “normal” — even when they are not helping you.

Bringing It Back

The aim is not to chase pain. The aim is to improve how things are working together. Find what’s not organising well → introduce change → see what holds → build from there. Less effort. Better coordination, and a system that copes with your life’s load, more easily.

Reference:

1. International Association for the Study of Pain (2016); Terminology; Pain