Research Corner - Q&A Stretching - Muscle Shakes by Dianne Woodruff | Date Released : 03 Feb 2003 0 comments Print Close Question Why do muscles shake during stretching? Answer Muscles shake (produce a tremor) during stretching due to a reflex contraction (myotatic, lower motor neuron) and also a proprioceptive response (myotactic) that comes from the brain. As soon as a muscle is loaded, its receptors read the intensity and speed of the load. According to Stark (1999), in a stretching context, the load is the first stress placed on a muscle which results in the reflex contraction of that muscle. As soon as the receptors read “overload” the limb tends to shake. If you lessen the load, you also lessen the tremor. In manual or assisted, as well as self-stretches, the tremor is a sign to back off the barrier and work more gradually to achieve a normal resting length. Reference: Stark, Steven (1999). The stark reality of stretching. 4th ed. revised. Richmond, BC: Stark Reality Corp. Back to top About the author: Dianne Woodruff Dianne L. Woodruff holds a PhD in Somatic Education and specializes in body movement and exercise solutions. Her two-volume video series, 3-D WORKOUT, teaches people to use their bodies correctly and restores function lost from sedentary life and work. A Certified Movement Analyst, she wrote her dissertation on Bartenieff Fundamentals of Movement. She has taught in US universities for 30 years, following a career as a professional modern dancer. She developed the anatomy curriculum for Stott Pilates. A Registered Movement Therapist (ISMETA) and a CranioSacral practitioner, Dianne is the owner of Body-in-Motion in Oakville, Ontario, just west of Toronto. Full Author Details Related content Content from Dianne Woodruff There is no related content. Please click here to see more... | Excessive Hip Rotation Dianne Woodruff | Articles Hip Flexion Dianne Woodruff | Articles Pregnancy Flexibility Training Dianne Woodruff | Articles Pubic Symphysis Strength Dianne Woodruff | Articles Hip Abduction Dianne Woodruff | Articles Hip Extension and Back Pain Dianne Woodruff | Articles Movement Patterns Dianne Woodruff | Articles Stretching - Muscle Shakes Dianne Woodruff | Articles Calf Tightness Dianne Woodruff | Articles Abdominal Stability and Mobility Dianne Woodruff | Articles Programming for Breast Cancer Group Exercise Dianne Woodruff | Articles Postural and Phasic Muscles Dianne Woodruff | Articles Please login to leave a comment Comments (0) Back to top