Do you ever wonder what those ‘knots’ are in tight muscles?
Friday, as I was getting ready to adjust one of my patent’s spine, I was feeling around her spine and finding bundles of knots and muscles spasms around her neck and shoulder blades. She would almost cringe as I lightly rubbed over the knots. She sat up suddenly and asked me, “Dr. Haque what is a knot or those bumps that I have always felt in my shoulders?”. She went on to explain that she had those knots for years and they had always been so painful that she did not even enjoy having a massage (I know, can you believe that? Not wanting a massage?).
I find these knots in most patients whether it be in their shoulders or their lower back. These ‘knots’ as most of us describe them, are really areas of hardened muscle tissue. The human body uses blood glucose as it’s main source of fuel for muscle contraction. When a muscle gets overworked, and blood glucose is no longer readily available, our bodies convert a form of alcohol in our blood into a fuel source which then produces a by-product called LACTIC ACID. This acid is what causes our muscles to feel sore and achy after a lot of exercise. In the case of a tightened muscle, there are many theories that the muscle is in a constant firing pattern, always contracting causing lactic acid build-up and therefore ares of hardened tissue or scar tissue. This scar tissue is what build up into the palpable knots that we can feel.
What I have found with spinal injuries and muscles knots is that when injuries occur, the body responds by firing the muscle to contract so that it protects the joint from any further injury. So a tight muscle is actually a protective mechanism for a deeper injury. I also notice as we treat spinal injuries for example, without any muscle work (massage, trigger point therapy etc.) the muscles will relax and the knots will decrease. If you feel that you have lots of tight muscles and knots in your body, it might be hiding a deeper injury. Receiving treatment for the cause of the knots might be the solution to more motion and a more enjoyable life!
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Can very cold weather, and stress, cause knots underneath the tissue
of your skin. I have knots underneath my skin, from underneath my
arm pits all down to the top of my waist, on both sides of my body
and all underneath, my breast, have been check and told no cancer.
can you tell me does cold weather and stress cause this.
Hi Mary,
I have a patient who experiences very similar knots as you describe. She too had herself checked to see if it was cancerous or some other type of lymph disorder and found to be negative of those conditions. We did discover that those knots were hardened areas of her muscles and tendons that worsened as she was stressed or on cooler days. It is possible for knots to do this as cold temperatures will stiffen our joints and muscles making our knots more pronounced. That is one of the reasons that applying moist heat can be so therapeutic and relaxing.
Stress also increases tension as we tend to contract muscles involuntarily which can create knots. Many hands on therapies such as Chirorpactic treatment, massage, accupressure and acupuncture can help with reducing these knots.
I have knots all around my left shoulder blade and I can’t lift it straight up
And when I use it a lot I get a burning sensation like a workout burn but
A lot stronger what could cause this
Hi John,
A burning sensation is usually a nerve sensation. If it is difficult to lift your arm up then something is not working properly and it could be a pinched nerve. Often times knots are a result of your body protecting an injury. If I were you, I would go in and see a Chiropractor and get yourself examined for possible subluxations that may be resolved by some treatment.
Dr. Haque