What you should know about nerve irritation.

The image (at the link to this article) shows a model of nerves in the low back coloured yellow (they are cut short in this model).

Nerves are like cables that carry electrical information around our bodies.

Crucially, nerves are not elastic and cannot stretch.

For us to move well without pain, our nerves need to glide freely between bones, ligaments and muscles.

Sometimes our nerves do not glide freely and are restricted by grabbing, protecting muscles.

When nerve gliding is restricted it contributes to stiffness, tightness, aches and pains.

You may notice nerve gliding restriction as persisting neck-shoulder tension, tight low back, or tight hamstring (back of thigh) muscles, just to name a few.

For example, have you ever tried stretching muscles, like your hamstring or neck muscles, and no matter how much stretching you do they always go back to being tight?

A common reason is that the tightness is NOT inflexible muscles.

Tightness or inflexibility often comes from muscles grabbing to protect our nerves.

Restricted gliding of nerves is referred to as Nerve Irritation.

There are specific Nerve Gliding Tests that detect Nerve Irritation.


Nerves are the most sensitive parts of our body.

Research* has shown that our nervous systems protect nerve irritation as a priority above all other structures.

I think it makes sense that the nervous system is crucial for controlling the body,

so it's is best to prioritise protecting these structures that carry the nerve signals.

At Youngify we find that one of the most common reasons for persisting aches, stiffness, tightness and pains

is that Nerve Irritation has not been tested and treated.


At Youngify we test for Nerve Irritation in every client

and treat the irritation to get the nerves gliding freely again.

We see this as a priority for effective and long-lasting results.


You can see more information about nerve irritation at this Youngify website page,

Including what you can do to minimise aggravation to nerve irritation.

Youngify website Nerve Irritation page »

Book here if you would like to have your Nerve Gliding tested »

*Hall,T.M. & Elvey, R.L. (1999) Nerve trunk pain: physical diagnosis and treatment. Manual Therapy Masterclass, 4(2), 63-73