Treat Tight, Knotted Muscles
Got tight, seemingly knotted muscles? We have all experienced this at some point in time. Sometimes the searing pain of the knotted muscles screams at you. Other times you feel the painful knots during treatment with your Chiropractor or Massage Therapist. You might not have even realized how sore your muscles were!
What are these knots? Is there a way to prevent them?
First of all, no-one is exactly sure what they are. They do seem to happen when muscles are over taxed, either by the effort of doing something or by postural strains (staying in one position for an extended period). The muscles respond by shortening up in a specific area and staying that way. There are theories about it affecting blood flow in the area, but increasing blood flow by heat doesn’t completely get rid of them.
So what can be done about them? There are a variety of things that help… to varying degrees. As mentioned before, heat helps with the soreness, but by itself doesn’t help release the muscle knot for long. Stretching also helps some, but because of the very localized nature of a muscle knot, other areas of the muscle may get stretched, not the knot. Soft tissue therapies help for a longer period of time. Whether you are seeing a Chiropractor or Massage Therapist, or using some self massage approaches like a foam roller, it helps to reduce the symptoms from a knot for several days. Some combination of all of these is the approach to best get rid of these knots.
Preventing muscle knots also requires a few approaches. First, being aware of good posture. Keep your head over your shoulders and your shoulders over your hips, so you don’t create strain in the supporting muscles. But even if you have perfect posture, if you stay still for too long, the muscles become strained. Some researchers recommend getting out of your chair every 20 minutes or so to move around. This allows muscles to rest and do some gentle contracting and relaxing. Regular exercise is also useful in maintaining good muscle tone and avoiding knots.
Want to get rid of YOUR knots? Schedule an appointment to get a thorough examination to see what will work best for you. A Chiropractor is trained in examining, diagnosing and treating a variety of muscle and joint conditions and is a great place to start your road to recovery.
Call today to start feeling better!
Call us at: 905-451-3963
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Email us at: info@bramptonwellness.ca
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