Muscle knots, or myofascial trigger points, are related to a host of ailments that cause recurring pain and discomfort. Mainstream and alternative treatments provide relief from muscle knots. Regular yoga sessions are often encouraged as a...
Muscle knots, also referred to as myofascial trigger points, are described as abnormal areas in the muscle, according to Seth Rosenbaum, M.D. Muscle knots often form when the muscle is experiencing a spasm. A muscle spasm occurs when a muscle is...
Muscle knots in your back can be painful, especially if they are big and aren't going away. Some knots may cause mild discomfort, while others may affect your ability to sleep, work and move. According to a 2002 article published in the journal...
Muscle knots and aches occur for many reasons: long or intense workouts, sitting too long and improperly at an office desk, daily chores such as cleaning the house, lifting heavy objects or working in the yard. Once you feel pain, it is best to...
Although lack of exercise, stress, poor posture and repetitive work habits could all be culprits in neck muscle knotting, you might consider your nutritional intake as well. With the decline of vitamin and mineral content in foods due to growing...
Your shoulder area consists of many muscles involved in stabilizing the shoulder girdle. Muscle spasms in your shoulder area are painful and may refer pain to other parts of your body, such as your neck, arms, head and hands. The knotted muscles...
A lump in any area of the body can spark fears about cancer and chronic illness. In most cases, however, a knot on the outer thigh is a myofascial trigger point. These trigger points are normally caused by lifestyle factors and are not dangerous....
If you just finished an intense workout and your muscles are feeling tight and sore, it may not be a result of the exercises. Instead, you may have adhesions -- commonly referred to as knots or trigger points -- in the muscles. The knots are found...
Occupational therapists address the rehabilitation of your arms and your trunk in many settings. When you have tension in your neck and shoulder it can significantly affect your independence and cause you severe pain. By using a variety of...
Aching calves during a workout can be due to a variety of causes, some of them more serious than others. In many cases, the ache is due to a muscle cramp, which can be avoided by taking preventive measures. However, if your calf muscles continue...
Have you ever worked out so hard that you're suddenly awoken in the middle of the night by excruciating pain in your calf muscle? It's like you have a gigantic metal clamp tightly attached to the back of your lower leg. You might try to move your...
Feeling your hamstrings tighten while running is referred to as a muscle cramp or muscle spasm. When your muscle cramps, it doesn't contract smoothly while running, which can lead to sore and tender muscles. In many cases, the cause of hamstring...
Next to running, cycling is one of the activities most likely to induce cramps. Experts are not certain what causes cramps, but dehydration, muscle fatigue, electrolyte imbalances and lack of a proper stretching routine have been singled out as...
Basketball is a demanding sport that can take a toll on a player's body. Although basketball players are often concerned with maximizing energy and preventing injuries to their legs, the repetitive motions of dribbling and shooting can cause pain...
Knots in a muscle are the result of an injury that causes muscle spasms. If the spasm is not treated, it goes on to form knots in the muscle. As you move around during the day, muscles cycle on and off with different movements. An untreated spasm...
A killer shoulder workout can sometimes plague shoulders with small, thick knots, also called trigger points. Your body, thinking the area is injured, produces these knots to protect itself. The knots restrict movement that can lead to further...
A physio or massage foam roller is a simple, cylinder-shaped piece of foam a couple of feet long that is designed for the purpose of self-massage. Foam rolling can relieve muscle knots and the stress in your body. Just as in traditional massage,...
Using a foam roller on different parts of your body is an effective way to perform self-massage and release muscle knots. Investing in an inexpensive foam roller can save you a lot of money on therapist visits with many of the same results. The...
Muscle knots can form in your neck as a result of tension or inflammation in your neck or shoulder muscles. Your neck may feel tight and difficult to move. In most cases, knots aren't a cause for major concern, though they can cause you a...
Leg cramps, also called "charley horses," are characterized by a tightness in the muscles that usually involve an involuntary, painful muscle contraction that feels like a "knot." Leg cramps that take place while you are sleeping are called...
Acupressure massage uses many of the principles of acunpuncture, but doesn't involve needles. The goal is to release blocked energy along the meridian paths of the body. The masseuse uses his fingers or elbow to press on specific trigger points to...
Although a massage therapist could probably squash that shoulder knot for you, sometimes that is not an option. Just 20 minutes a day may be all the time you need to heat up, stretch and roll out those shoulder knots. Painful knots in the...
Your friend wants you to give him a full massage so he can get rid of some of the stress he is feeling. You can massage all areas of his body, concentrating on relieving some of the physical stress and any muscle knots in his back, neck or...
The trapezius muscle is at the back of the neck and upper back. According to the Britannica Online Encyclopedia, the right and left trapezius form a trapezium, which is a shape with four irregular sides. The trapezius muscle allows you to lift...
Everyone suffers from a tight, tense or painful neck from time to time. If you spend a lot of time hunched over in front of your computer, driving in your car or experience inordinate amounts of stress, you may suffer from neck and back pain,...
One way to deal with knots in your hamstrings is to have a professional massage therapist work them out through deep tissue massage. A less expensive alternative is to do self-massage with a technique called self myofascial release (SMR). The...
Marathon running can cause severe muscle imbalances without proper stretching. These imbalances occur when certain muscles are being used more than others, resulting in tightness, fatigue and knots in the individual fibers. The muscles surrounding...
Bodybuilding is a strenuous weight lifting activity that highly stresses the muscles of the body. Massage works to alleviate some of the side effects that go along with bodybuilding. Particularly, massage therapy has been shown to reduce soreness...
Massage is one of the most commonly used forms of complementary alternative medicine in the United States. In fact, in 2007 alone, an estimated 18 million adults in the United States used massage services, according to the National Health...
Learn about different trigger points for massage in this free video clip on holistic medicine and chiropractics.
Learn about different trigger points for massage in this free video clip on holistic medicine and chiropractics.
