What’s that ‘knot’ I’m feeling?
Hey everyone! It’s Anthony, the Remedial Massage Therapist at My Sports Chiropractor Kingsgrove. I thought I’d share a bit of my understanding on the phenomenon we call ‘knots’ in our muscles. I’m sure everyone at some point experiences that weird stubborn spot that feels tense and irritating at the same time. Many people walk into the clinic mentioning they have ‘knots’ somewhere, commonly found with poor posture or high levels of physical activities. If you’re experiencing this or have some level of curiosity, stay and have a quick read to gain a better understanding on it.
Myofascial Trigger Points (MTrP)
These ‘knots’ that you’re experiencing are better termed as ‘Myofascial Trigger Points’ (MTrP), a small nodule along a tight band of muscle. These Myofascial Trigger Points can cause;
a) muscle weakness
b) tension
c) limited range of motion
d) sorness
Trigger can present in two different states;
a) active
b) latent
Upon touch or palpation, these nodules can be painful if firm pressure is applied. These spots can also produces radiating pain in a certain manner called a ‘pain referral pattern’. A common example of a Myofascial Trigger Point is when you apply pressure with your fingers around the back of neck area under the skull, a slight pull radiating from the back of the head towards the front can be produced. This trigger point can be found with those who have a history of headaches, but not always. Myofascial trigger points can be considered ‘latent’ when they are not producing any pain or sense of tightness, until become ‘activated’ once firm pressure has been applied.
How do we get rid of Myofascial Trigger Points?
Once we’ve found a Myofascial Trigger Point, using a massage ball such as ours can help! Once you have a ball, you apply firm pressure for a minute or until the soreness subsides. Remember, it is common to feel pain radiate out towards another area. An example has been shown.
However, if you’re looking to have professional help with your trigger point, they can be treated with the following modalites offered at our clinic by any of our practitioners at My Sports Chiropractor.
– Trigger Point Therapy
– Deep Tissue Massage
– Dry Needling
– Shockwave Therapy
So if you’re experiencing some sort of tension or discomfort because of these stubborn spots, give our awesome receptionist Nicolle at 0435 819 286, or e-mail us at ‘info@mysportschiropractor.com.au’ so that we can get you feeling better! Alternatively, you can also book an appointment online!
Shah J.P, Thaker N., Heimur J., Aredo J.V., Sikdar S., Gerber L.H., Myofascial Trigger POints THen and Now: A Historical and Scientific Perspective, July 2015, PubMed Central, doi:10.1016, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4508225/
Muggenborg F., Carletti E., Dennett L., Oliveira-Souza A., Mohamed N., Licht G., Piekartz H., Armijo-Olivo S., Effectiveness of Manual Trigger Point Therapy In Patients with Myofascial TTrigger Points in the Orofacial Region – A Systematic Review, Jan 2023, PubMed, doi:10.3390/life13020336, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9965624/
