Tissue Tolerance

Tissue tolerance is the ability of a tissue or tissue system to withstand a given load, stress, or activity exposure. Tolerance changes with exposure, increasing with appropriate repeated exposure and decreasing after long periods without exposure. Nerves are treated as adaptive tissues that move, stretch, slide, glide, and can be compressed during normal motion. Joints are also described as adapting to mechanical stress through cycles of compression and relaxation within the joint capsule. Symptoms can appear when activity stress exceeds the current tolerance of muscles, joints, nerves, or other tissues. Physical activity after a long break can cause soreness, knee pain, or other discomfort when tissues are asked to absorb too much too soon. The practical response to nerve sensitivity is load adjustment and progression rather than stopping all activity.