When workouts continue to feel harder than they should, it’s time to look at the underlying, interrelated factors people often miss. Protective tension is working against youWhen alignment and stability are compromised, the nervous system often responds by creating protective tension. In turn, the overall energy cost of exercise rises and makes workouts feel harder than they should. Left unaddressed, chronic under-recovery can progress toward overtraining syndrome, a condition marked by prolonged fatigue, performance decline and nervous system disruption. When these issues stack up, workouts feel harder no matter how consistently you train.