Why Stretching Doesn’t Fix Chronic Back Pain (And What Actually Does)
- Michael Lingenfelter
- Jan 16
- 3 min read
Updated: Jan 16
If stretching really worked, most people dealing with chronic back pain would already be better.
That’s not meant to dismiss stretching. Stretching absolutely has a place.
But for many active adults, daily stretching hasn’t created lasting change—and there’s a reason for that.
In this article, I’ll explain:
Why stretching often feels good but doesn’t hold
What “tightness” actually means in the body
What needs to change for long-term improvement
Why some approaches last while others don’t
The Common Pattern I See With Chronic Back Pain
Most people I work with didn’t hurt their back recently.
They’ve had discomfort, stiffness, or flare-ups for years.
They’re usually:
Active
Disciplined
Consistent with exercise
Stretching every morning and night
And yet the same tightness keeps coming back.
That doesn’t mean they’re doing something wrong.
It means the strategy they’ve been given is incomplete.
Why Stretching Often Stops Working
Stretching works by temporarily reducing muscle tone.
That’s why it feels good.
But here’s the key issue:
Muscles don’t exist to be flexible. They exist to contract and control force.
If a muscle can’t contract well in a specific position, your nervous system doesn’t trust it to protect you. When that trust is missing, the body responds by tightening things back up.
That tightness isn’t stubborn tissue.
It’s protection.
This is why many people experience:
Short-term relief from stretching
Followed by the same tightness returning
And eventually a plateau in flexibility
At that point, stretching becomes something you maintain instead of something that actually changes your situation.
Tight Doesn’t Always Mean Short
One of the biggest misconceptions around chronic back pain is the idea that tight muscles are simply “short” or inflexible.
In reality, tightness often means:
A lack of control
A lack of reliable muscle contraction
Poor force production in specific positions
When a muscle can’t do its job, other muscles step in to help.
That’s compensation.
Over time, compensation becomes your new normal—and that’s when flare-ups feel random and unpredictable.
What Actually Changes Chronic Tightness
The goal isn’t to make muscles longer or stretchier.
The goal is to make them reliable again.
That means restoring the ability to:
Contract
Produce force
Control movement
In very specific ranges
At very specific joints
When muscles regain their role, your body no longer has to guard or protect those positions.
And when guarding goes away, range of motion improves without forcing it.
Why This Approach Holds Long-Term
Lasting change doesn’t come from constantly managing symptoms.
It comes from restoring capacity.
When muscles can do their job again:
Load is distributed more evenly
The nervous system relaxes its protective strategies
Everyday movement stops feeling risky
Random flare-ups become less frequent
This is why the right changes don’t just feel good for a day or two—they hold.
Not because you’re stretching more, but because your system can handle normal life again.
Who This Is For
This approach is a good fit if:
You’ve dealt with back pain for years
You’re active and take care of yourself
You’ve tried stretching, PT, or adjustments
Some things helped, but nothing really held
You want clarity, not a quick fix
If that sounds like you, the next step is simply a conversation.
What Happens During an Exploration Call
During an exploration call, we:
Review your history
Look at how your body moves
Identify where support may be missing
Decide whether this approach makes sense for you
There’s no pressure and no commitment—just clarity.
You can learn more or schedule a call through Central Valley MAT using the link below.
And even if we don’t move forward together, you’ll leave with a better understanding of your body and what it actually needs.
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