Sympathetic Autonomic Nervous System Hyperactivity & Mitochondrial Dysfunction Explained

Muscle cramps aren’t merely about dehydration or electrolyte imbalances. There’s something deeper at play. Chronic sympathetic autonomic nervous system hyperactivity and mitochondrial dysfunction.

Sympathetic Nervous System Hyperactivity

When your sympathetic autonomic nervous system (SANS), responsible for your body’s “fight-or-flight” response, is constantly activated, your muscles remain in a heightened state of tension. Because your brain is in a heightened state of tension and is telling your muscles to be that way too. Dumb brain!

Chronic, persistent sympathetic activation leads to:

• Increased muscle fatigue and tension, predisposing muscles to cramping.
• Decreased blood circulation secondary to body wide vasoconstriction and muscle contraction, limiting oxygen and nutrient delivery.
• Inhibition of the parasympathetic autonomic nervous system’s ability to facilitate recovery, exacerbating muscle irritability.
  • Remember, the parasympathetic autonomic nervous system is primarily responsible for dilating arteries, or making the tube bigger so more blood can flow through them.
  • The parasympathetic autonomic nervous system is also primarily responsible for relaxing muscles. Tight muscles themselves do not really affect arterial blood flow. However, tight enough muscles can almost completely, or completely occlude veins. Veins are wimpier than arteries, so muscles can just squish them shut. Little weaklings should work out a little and grow some smooth muscle like the arteries. Lazy bastards!

Recent research, old research, and clinical experience all clearly indicate chronic sympathetic autonomic nervous system hyperactivity leads to chronic chemical and electrical shortening of skeletal muscle tissue, increasing the likelihood of cramps and spasms. One of the primary mechanisms through which this occurs is mitochondrial dysfunction, which just so happens to be one of the 12 hallmarks of aging.

Related Video: 12 Hallmarks of Aging, Epigenetics, Methylation, & How to Improve your Health: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbv1pJ8IrLw&t=13s&pp=0gcJCcEJAYcqIYzv

 

Mitochondrial Dysfunction

Mitochondria are the energy generators of our cells. Recent research estimates adult human beings have around 36 trillion cells. It is widely accepted that many of our cells, like our heart cells, liver cells, muscle cells, or really any type of cell that does a lot of work, can have thousands of mitochondria per cell.

Whatever the number, we have exponentially more mitochondria than we have cells. A single skeletal muscle cell can have thousands of mitochondria. Same with heart cells, liver cells, and many other types of cells that make ATP, the primary energy currency of the brain and body. The only type of human cells that do not have mitochondria are adult red blood cells (RBCs).
In humans, mature red blood cells, erythrocytes, are the only known cells that completely lack mitochondria.

When the mitochondria are compromised it directly and detrimentally impacts muscle function. Dysfunctional mitochondria lead to:

• Reduced ATP energy production by up to 18X. From 36 to 2.
  • With sufficient oxygen mitochondria produce about 36 ATP per molecule of glucose processed in the electron transport chain. Without enough oxygen, instead of 36 ATP, only about 2 ATP are produced. Remember, ATP are the primary energy source muscles use for normal function.
• Elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS), increasing oxidative stress, increasing the likelihood of spontaneous muscle firing, which causes muscle cramps.
• Impaired calcium regulation leading to excess intracellular calcium. Too much calcium in the inside of the cells. Calcium is a critical component of muscle contraction. With too much intracellular calcium, spontaneous, painful muscle contractions, or cramps, are likely to occur.

Studies have consistently demonstrated mitochondrial dysfunction accelerates muscle fatigue and disrupts the delicate neurophysiologic intra and extracellular balance required for normal muscle performance and recovery. One of the many reasons mitochondrial dysfunction is considered one of the twelve hallmarks of aging.

• https://www.livescience.com/health/anatomy/how-many-cells-are-in-the-human-body-new-study-provides-an-answer

The Solution? Autonomic Nervous System-Centered Techniques

Addressing muscle cramps effectively means focusing directly on mitigating sympathetic dominance and supporting mitochondrial health. Techniques such as Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)-centered dry needling, manual therapy, and nutrition effectively:

• Reduces sympathetic hyperactivity, facilitating a balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic sides of the autonomic nervous system seesaw.
• Improves mitochondrial function and health by enhancing muscle oxygenation, nutrient delivery, and cellular. Which improves our overall health.
• Facilitates muscle recovery and growth, reducing and eliminating muscle cramp severity and occurrence.

Autonomic nervous system-centered dry needling, as taught in our comprehensive online & in-person dry needling courses, not only relieves symptoms, but addresses root-cause neurophysiologic dysfunction. Promoting lasting muscle health. An essential component of overall mental and physical healthspan and lifespan

For an in-depth exploration of autonomic nervous system-centered dry needling and its benefits, check out our courses here:

• Online Dry Needling Courses: https://intricateartseminars.com/course/dry-needling-online-ceu-courses/
• In-Person Dry Needling Courses: https://intricateartseminars.com/course/dry-needling/