Why Knots?

If you’ve ever gotten a massage, you have probably felt a knot. I would even go so for as to say,even if you haven’t gotten a massage before, you have felt a knot. You just didn’t know it. Most of the questions asked by my clients, are in reference to knots. Normally as I am pressing into the muscle tissue, a client will ask,”What…is…that?”

Well, what is that?

A knot is the shortening of the muscle tissue. This shortening causes the muscle to be in a constantly restricted state.  This of course will cause pain because of the diminished blood flow. To illustrate my point: Imagine a water hose stretched to its full capacity. Then, tie a knot in the middle. Not only is the water hose shortened but the water supply is unable pass through.

 3. Reasons for Knots

1. Repetitive Strain

These days we are all guilty of overly using one particular muscle group or another. Most of us text which exhaust the muscles of the thumb. Most of us type on the computer, which contracts the muscles in the fingers, arms, neck and upper back. Many of us have jobs that call for the same muscular action for hours at a time.

2. Posture

Good posture is key to having healthy muscles. Many of our aches and pains could be avoided if we would sit and stand correctly. Muscles are arranged in the body in a particular order and to serve a particular purpose. When we continue to sit slumped over, we force our muscle to work harder than they are designed too.

3. Activities

Stretching is not just a suggestion. When participating in sports such as: football, basketball, dancing, hockey, soccer, etc; its important to pamper your muscles. These activities expect a lot out of the body. Improper stretching techniques will cause avoidable tightness.

Get Them Out!

Sorry to disappoint you, but knots will not just passively vanish. You have to do something about it. The most common way to treat them is to get a therapeutic massage. It is quite likely that one treatment is not enough. However, you should feel progressively better each time. In between treatments it may be helpful to stretch the area. To reduce pain apply ice. In order to lessen tightness apply heat. And always, always remember to drink a lot of water.