06/11/2023
I treat people in pain on a daily basis and I’m always being asked about muscle knots so thought I’d pop up a wee post explaining what they are, how they occur and how massage helps to get rid of them. I tried to make this as short as possible so thanks in advance for reading.
What are muscle knots?
Muscle knots are hard, sensitive areas of muscles that tighten and contract even when the muscle is at rest. These tense muscle fibers can cause pain in other parts of the body when touched. They’re also known as trigger points.
Muscle knots can be caused by:
Overusing or injuring your muscles
Poor posture
Dehydration, unhealthy eating habits, and stress and anxiety may also contribute to muscle knots.
Muscle knots can occur anywhere in the body, but they’re usually found in your back, shoulders, and neck. They often show up in your gluteal muscles, too.
Muscle knots can cause aching sensations and pain in your muscles and joints. When you touch a muscle knot, it may feel swollen, tense, or bumpy. It could also feel tight and contracted, even when you’re trying to relax, and they’re often sensitive to the touch. The affected area may even become inflamed or swollen.
Muscle knots can cause symptoms in areas outside of the muscles, including headaches, toothache, earache, stress, anxiety, and difficulty sleeping.
Treating muscle knots can take time. To get rid of the knots, you’ll need to break up the knotted tissue and calm inflamed nerves.
Massage therapy can treat muscle knots as it increases circulation and improves blood flow. Increasing the blood flow can improve muscle function and help loosen up your muscles subsequently this helps to relieve pain and stiffness.
Keep in mind that one session isn’t usually enough to heal you completely. You’ll likely need to have several frequent sessions. Once you see improvements you can space out your sessions.
There are several types of massage. The type you’ll benefit from most will depend on the severity of your muscle knots and your personal preference.
Swedish massage
This is a gentle massage technique that uses long strokes, kneading, and deep circular movements. Vibration and tapping are also used to aid in relaxation.
Deep tissue massage
This type of massage uses more forceful strokes to release chronic muscle tension. It targets the deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue. It’s often used to treat muscle damage from injuries.