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I love this question.

As you may already know, there are many different beliefs regarding this particular issue. Sarno believes that anything you do to send a message to your unconscious that it is a structural issue can be a problem. He argues that even the slightest bit of reinforcement to your brain can hold you back. If the exercise provides some relief (albeit temporary), then part of your brain associates the exercise with a structural problem.

Here’s an anology: My neighbor. Matt, has a fancy new car with a touch screen on the dashboard that tells him all about the cars’ fuel consumption. Two months ago he noticed that his car was going through gas at an extremely rapid rate. He kept filling up the tank, but the gas levels kept dropping. For a long time, he thought that it was the type of gas that he was putting in the car that was the problem: “Regular doesn’t work, so Supreme will fix this…”

After weeks of aggravating confusion, Matt finally took his car to the mechanic. It turns out that the computer system inside the car was malfunctioning and sending the wrong message to the engine. The computer was telling the engine to use the maximum amount of gas, when that wasn’t necessary. If my neighbor continued filling up his car, in theory the car would still run and he and the car could function that way for quite some time. But it wouldn’t fix the problem – and he’d run out of money pretty quickly.

Just like the computer in the car, your brain is sending the wrong signals to your body. Somewhere along the way it malfunctioned, and stretching (like putting more gas in the car) has provided enough relief to keep you going, but it hasn’t fixed the problem.

Here’s my personal belief: You can’t drive the car to the mechanic if there isn’t any gas in it. You have to fill it up to give you that extra push (even if it is for a short time/distance) for the time being. Similarly, stretching, while not the solution to your problem, may make you feel better in the moment, and give you the mental space to continue to work on the reasons why your body is manifesting this TMS pain. But stretching won’t cure your pain. Exercise is an important way to keep your mind and your body healthy, but when it comes time to fix the malfunctioning part of your brain, exercise won’t do anything.

In short, it is completely “safe” for you to continue stretching; this is not a structural problem, therefore it is not possible to exacerbate imagined structural damage. And if stretching is part of your normal health routine, then by all means, continue. But don’t think for a moment that stretching (putting gas in the car) is going to solve the problem with the brain (the computer). If you start thinking that way, then you’ll spend an awful lot of time and money on the wrong solution.

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Any advice or information provided here does not and is not intended to be and should not be taken to constitute specific professional or psychological advice given to any group or individual. This general advice is provided with the guidance that any person who believes that they may be suffering from any medical, psychological, or mindbody condition should seek professional advice from a qualified, registered/licensed physician and/or psychotherapist who has the opportunity to meet with the patient, take a history, possibly examine the patient, review medical and/or mental health records, and provide specific advice and/or treatment based on their experience diagnosing and treating that condition or range of conditions. No general advice provided here should be taken to replace or in any way contradict advice provided by a qualified, registered/licensed physician and/or psychotherapist who has the opportunity to meet with the patient, take a history, possibly examine the patient, review medical and/or mental health records, and provide specific advice and/or treatment based on their experience diagnosing and treating that condition or range of conditions.

The general advice and information provided in this format is for informational purposes only and cannot serve as a way to screen for, identify, or diagnose depression, anxiety, or other psychological conditions. If you feel you may be suffering from any of these conditions please contact a licensed mental health practitioner for an in-person consultation.

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