Are Hormones Making Your Muscles Tight?

Hormones like progesterone do far more than regulate our reproductive systems—they influence how we feel physically, including muscle tone, pain perception, and even strength. When hormone levels fluctuate, they can alter our muscle tone and energy levels, making us feel either stronger and tighter or softer and more fatigued. Here’s how one hormone, progesterone, impacts these sensations.

The Calming, Pain-Reducing Effects of Progesterone

Progesterone’s soothing impact on the nervous system is largely due to its ability to increase gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) production. GABA is a neurotransmitter that quiets nerve activity, reducing pain sensitivity and calming neural excitability. This calming effect lowers muscle tension by decreasing pain perception and helping muscles stay relaxed, which is especially helpful for those who experience chronic pain or muscle tightness.

Why Muscle Fatigue Can Spike

When progesterone levels peak during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle or pregnancy, many women notice a sense of muscle fatigue or even slight weakness. This fatigue can happen as progesterone promotes a relaxed, restful state, allowing muscles to lose some of their typical tension. As a result, activities that require a lot of physical exertion can feel a bit more challenging, and muscles may seem less toned.

Working With Hormone Shifts

Understanding how progesterone affects muscle tone and comfort can make it easier to work with your body rather than against it. Mindfulness practices, stretching, or planning more strenuous activities around energy peaks in the cycle can help you feel your best. Listen to your body and make alterations to accordingly.  Recognising progesterone’s role in your body’s natural rhythm gives you more control over managing muscle tone and comfort day-to-day.

Our hormones support us in complex ways that extend beyond the obvious, and being mindful of their impact on our muscles and body as a whole, can open up new strategies for feeling and performing our best.