Psychosomatic disorders and their impact on the muscular system: Analysis of the phenomenon and practical implications for the physiotherapist

Background
Psychosomatics is a widely used term, but its meaning is not standardized. This concept combines the bidirectional influence of the emotional state and the body. An issue closely related to psychosomatics is stress, which can directly affect mental health, resulting in reactions such as the breakdown of muscle proteins or changes in muscle reactivity. Research has identified muscles that are particularly susceptible to emotional stimuli, such as the facial muscles, trapezius, and diaphragm. Therefore, the patient's therapy should aim at relaxing selected muscles.

Aim
Presentation of views and scientific research results on the influence of specific emotional states on the locomotor system functioning.

Material and methods
With this aim, scientific papers (on psychosomatics, muscle tone, and musculoskeletal physiology) available in PubMed, Pedro, Elsevier, and Springer were analyzed.

Results
The pathophysiological processes of tissues, changes in the functioning of selected muscles, and various therapy models were mentioned, including the cooperation of a physiotherapist with a psychologist.

Conclusions
The problem of psychosomatic disorders, especially those related to psychological stress, although often neglected in the process of physiotherapy planning, seems to be an important factor that may influence the final effectiveness of physiotherapy treatment.