A massage therapy can be beneficial in many ways such as reducing pain, stress and promoting relaxation. Many adults experience pain in the neck, shoulders and back. This pain can occur due to various reasons like stress, poor ergonomics, injury, or any pre-existing conditions they may have. Another important reason pain can occur is due to muscle knots. Muscle knots are hardened areas of the tissue which tighten even when you are at rest. This can cause persistent pain and discomfort.
In this article, we will discuss what muscle knots are and how muscle therapy can help you deal with it.
What are muscle knots?
Muscle knots are hardened and sensitive parts of the muscles that contract even if the muscle is at rest. These knots can cause pain in other areas of the body when touched. Muscle knots are also known as trigger points. Knots can form anywhere in the body; however, they are more common in muscles of the shoulders, neck, hip, and calves.
A knot can be formed between one or more muscles attached to the same bone. The most common reason for knots is muscle overuse for example, running. It can also occur due to any trauma in a certain area of the body. Stress can also be the cause for muscle knots.
How can massage therapy help?
Massage therapy techniques can help in reducing, eliminating, or preventing muscle knots. A massage therapist is trained in identifying where the knots are formed in areas that feel stressed like the back, shoulders, or neck. A therapist will locate this tension and relieve it by applying pressure with their thumb, fingers, or elbows for almost 30 seconds. There will be many techniques a therapist will use to target specific areas that have knots and release the tension.
A therapist will further use strengthening exercises to prevent the knots from occurring again. Massage therapy can help reduce the tightness and pain felt due to muscle knots. Muscle knots can cause pain, discomfort, and interrupt your daily activities. Massage therapy can help you eliminate these knots and prevent them from occurring in the future.
Types of massage therapies to eliminate knots
Here are different types of massage techniques a therapist will use to get rid of muscle knots:
Deep tissue massage
Deep tissue massage involves using slow and firm strokes to get to the deeper layers of the muscles. The amount of pressure used can help break and eliminate muscle knots. This type of massage can help release muscle tension and targets deeper layers of the muscles. Deep tissue massage helps reduce tension and inflammation around the knots promoting better blood flow to these areas.
This message may not be the most relaxing as it involves applying pressure to reach deeper tissues. If you are concerned about pain or discomfort during the therapy, then talk to the massage therapist prior to the massage. The massage therapist can help you figure out what treatment will work best for you.
Trigger point massage
Trigger point therapy involves applying pressure to the knots to help relieve pain and tension. These trigger points can cause pain to other parts of the body. Muscle knots can cause persistent pain around a specific area or can be painful when touched. Trigger point massage uses pressure and release technique to reduce tension around the trigger points and eliminate pain.
Sports massage
Sports massage therapy involves the manipulation of soft muscle tissues to treat knots or injuries that occur due to any sports activities. Muscles can produce lactic acid which can solidify and form into a knot. A sports massage therapy can help get rid of this lactic acid and other waste products from the body. This massage therapy requires a highly skilled therapist who uses proper techniques to manipulate the muscles safely.
Muscle knots can be very painful and reduce the flexibility of the muscles. You can try various methods like stretching or hot and cold therapy to eliminate pain and inflammation caused by these knots. However, you will need the help of a professional to get rid of these muscle knots safely. If you experience pain or discomfort in specific areas and suspect that you have muscle knots, then see a massage therapist. A skilled massage therapist can help you determine where these knots are and come up with a plan to help you recover.
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