Tension myositis syndrome (TMS), also known as tension myoneural syndrome, is a name given by John E. Sarno

John E. Sarno

John E. Sarno is Professor of Clinical Rehabilitation Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, and attending physician at the Howard A. Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, New York University Medical Center. He graduated from The Columbia University College of Physicians and...

 to a condition he describes as characterized by psychosomatic

Psychosomatic illness

Psychosomatic medicine is an interdisciplinary medical field studying the relationships of social, psychological, and behavioral factors on bodily processes and well-being in humans and animals...

 musculoskeletal and nerve symptoms, most notably back pain

Pain

Pain is an unpleasant sensation often caused by intense or damaging stimuli such as stubbing a toe, burning a finger, putting iodine on a cut, and bumping the "funny bone."...

. Sarno, a Professor of Clinical Rehabilitation Medicine at New York University School of Medicine

New York University School of Medicine

The New York University School of Medicine is one of the graduate schools of New York University. Founded in 1841 as the University Medical College, the NYU School of Medicine is one of the foremost medical schools in the United States....

 and Attending Physician at The Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine

Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine

The Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine is the world's first and largest university-affiliated center devoted entirely to inpatient/outpatient care, research and training in rehabilitation medicine. It is part of the NYU Langone Medical Center and operated under the auspices of the...

 at New York University Medical Center, has described TMS in four books, and has stated that the condition may be involved in other pain disorders as well.