When the nervous system creates excess tension in a muscle to guard against further damage, it's known as?

The correct term for when the nervous system generates excess tension in a muscle as a protective mechanism against potential damage is "muscle guarding." This physiological response occurs when the body anticipates injury, often resulting from pain or a perceived threat to stability. By creating this increased tension, the nervous system aims to stabilize the affected area and prevent further injury, effectively acting as a safeguard for the musculoskeletal system.

While "protective tension" might seem like a plausible term, it is not the commonly used terminology in the field of corrective exercise and rehabilitation literature. Instead, "muscle guarding" is the recognized phrase that accurately describes this involuntary strategy employed by the body to protect itself. Dynamic stability refers more broadly to the ability to maintain postural control during movement, while active contraction is a general term referring to muscle activity but does not specifically address the protective aspect inherent in muscle guarding.