Muscles act in relationship to other muscles in the body. Some have opposing actions and are called antagonists. Others have similar, or synergistic, actions, and are called synergists. When these relationships are disrupted, particularly the synergists, whether due to injury, illness, or emotional states, the resulting imbalance may cause pain and discomfort. As an example, when a muscle that is supposed to act as a synergist to another muscle that is activated, now turns off instead, it leaves the activated muscle on its own to perform the action by itself. This leads to that muscle becoming fatigued, then painful, and eventually damaged. In Touch for Health, the Reactive Muscle technique restores the original relationship, relieving pain and avoiding subsequent or further injury.