Why do we get them?
We get “knots” simply because it’s the nature of living in our bodies. I have started defining these knots as functional (it got there from a repetitive movement) or sedentary (it got there from being in one position too long).
The most common functional knots I see are from care taking, computer work, driving, and sport activities, especially golfing. The most common sedentary knots are from sleeping positions, and medical conditions that prohibit movement.
What are they?
Knots are essentially areas of muscle that got stuck together and no longer allow the proper blood flow or full function of that area of muscle. Without the proper blood flow, that area of muscle cannot get the nutrients, like oxygen, that it needs. When our cells cannot get enough oxygen, we get a build up of Lactic Acid. Lactic acid is a byproduct of anaerobic respiration, a process that occurs when cells cannot get enough oxygen to produce energy through aerobic respiration. Two of the consequences of lactic acid build up are sore muscles, and muscle fatigue. The body has ways to remove lactic acid, such as through the bloodstream and liver. Properly hydrating after muscle stimulation is important to help the body with the process.
How does massage help?
Massage therapy, or soft tissue therapy, aids in the process of working these muscular knots out by manually loosening the tissue, stretching the muscle, and pushing blood back through the area that’s become stuck. Licensed massage therapists have been properly trained to understand these mechanisms in the body, and how to safely manipulate soft tissue.
-Paige Fisher, LMT
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