One of our patients favourite questions is ‘What causes these knots in my muscles’?
It’s a fair enough thing to ask. There is nothing worse than having neck pain whilst trying to sort out something important in the office. So why do we get these awful sports of tightness in our muscles that leave us fidgeting in the desk chair trying to find a way to make our position more comfortable?
No-one actually knows any hard and fast reason for what actually causes these little balls or knots in our muscles. The best explanation is that when you are sitting or standing in a certain posture for hours on end, or only doing a particular form of exercises regularly, your muscles get used to being in a certain position and in essence, a permanent spasm forms. This combined with lack of regular stretching results in the muscle continuing to tighten and adopting a tight structure and appearance and hey presto, a ‘knot’, or area of intense spasm appears.
Muscle knots are not cramps. Cramps are also a bit of a mystery to health care professionals and the theories behind the causes of cramps range from too little salt to too little magnesium to not being hydrated enough.
Muscle knots are not serious pathology but can be a cause of serious discomfort. They are referred to as ‘trigger points’ and there are a number of things that can be done to treat them.
Firstly, some good old fashioned massage can be the answer. Firm, constant massage pressure can free up the area of spasm and give significant relief. After the initial release, a program set by your physio to ensure you are doing the correct stretches and exercises will help prevent the problem from starting again. Analysis of your desk and chair position at work to improve your posture can also be helpful.
