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What are knotted muscles?
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There’s a good chance that at one time or another you’ve suffered from the pain of having a knotted muscle. But what exactly does that mean?
To start, muscles are contractile tissues that produce force and allow movement. Muscles function best when they are well-nourished with the proper amount of nutrients and water, when they are stretched often and not overly strained.
Unfortunately, the sudden pain of a muscle clenching into a tight, hard knot can occur no matter how well you take care of them. They are abnormal areas within muscles that literally contract into “knots” and can cause a lot of pain. The medical term for it is myofascial trigger point.
In muscles containing these trigger points, the area becomes extremely tight and a hard nodule can be felt. The nodules themselves are sensitive to the touch and can “trigger” a twitching response from the body if you run your finger perpendicular to the direction of the muscle (the reason why some people get ticklish during a massage).
Muscle knots can happen spontaneously and with little provocation, or gradually under increased pressure and stress. So far, it has been difficult to pin-point exactly how and why our muscles tend to get these knots. But what we do know is that muscles are not designed for continuous work and pressure so when in distress these sensitive areas may form.
Applying heat to the area, taking an anti-inflammatory medication (such as ibuprofen) and massaging it gently can all help alleviate pressure and discomfort. While regular stretching and exercise can also help reduce pressure on the body’s muscles and lessen one’s chances of developing these knots.
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