muscular knots unravelled

Have you ever had a massage and wondered what those painful “knots” in your muscles actually are? Here’s your answer and some top tips for preventing these knots from developing…

The technical name for knots is myofascial trigger points (MFTs). These usually begin with a small amount of injury (a micro tear) to one of the fibres of your muscle. This injury can be caused by many things including poor posture, over exertion of a particular muscle or exposure of a muscle to cold temperatures.

Without getting too scientific, the damage to the muscle fibre impairs its ability to relax and this area of your body can become chronically tense.

Your body comes to the rescue of the injury by laying down a lattice of connective tissue over the damaged area creating a sensitive and raised area within your muscle.

Knots can be inactive, which means that they are only painful when pressure is exerted on them. This is why you often only realise how much tension your body is holding once the massage therapist starts applying pressure. Knots can also be active, which means that they refer pain to other areas of the body. Pain in the tip of your shoulder can often be coming from a knot between your shoulder blades.

Here are 5 top tips to help prevent knots from developing in your body:
– Wear a backpack! If you are often carrying a heavy bag on one shoulder this can lead to postural imbalance, tension in your neck shoulders and knots in your shoulder muscles

– Check your posture when sitting in front of your laptop or when using your smart phone. These activities often cause us to draw our heads forward, making our head even more heavy for our necks to hold and hugely increasing the tension in our necks and shoulders

– Keep hydrated by drinking at least 1.5 litres of water per day. Dehydration leads to decreased blood flow to our muscles, impairing their natural ability to heal

– Get at least 7-8 hours of sleep each night. So much of the tension that builds up in our bodies during the day is released during deep sleep

– Regular massage! Massage not only helps to reduce the impact of knots in our muscles but can help prevent them from developing in the first place

 

After originally training to become a doctor, Andrew moved away from western medicine to pursue a career as a massage therapist, yoga teacher, and anatomy and physiology teacher. Based in London, Andrew has been massaging since 2009 and is passionate about creating a therapeutic space in which his clients can unwind and reap the many benefits that massage has on the body and mind.

Offering both holistic and deep tissue massage, Andrew uses his vast experience and anatomical knowledge to work with your body to release patterns of tension and stress. Having worked with a wide range of clients from yoga teachers and dancers to office workers, Andrew’s treatments have something to offer for everyone whether you are recovering from a sports injury, wanting to relieve back ache or just looking to relax. Andrew integrates his experience as a yoga teacher to provide lifestyle advice and personalised yoga practices to help you to improve your posture and wellbeing. For more information go to: https://www.doctoryogi.co.uk/

Are monthly symptoms wearing you down, such as PMS or painful periods, you are worried about the dreaded perimenopause chaos, feeling run down or bloated? With
Are you feeling generally sluggish or your skin is feeling puffy after a season of over indulgence?
Discover the transformative art of Qigong and its profound benefits for physical health, mental clarity, and spiritual growth. Learn about the ancient Chinese practice that
Unlock the potential of your body with Functional Range Conditioning (FRC). Discover how FRC improves mobility, joint health, body control, and benefits yoga practitioners by
Located in our triyoga centres in Camden and Ealing, our infrared saunas are ideal for easing tired and tense muscles, while providing a calming space
Explore yoga asanas for pranayama and unlock the power of your breath. Lengthen inhalations, open the chest, and deepen self-awareness through these poses. Let pranayama

You are buying…

Monthly Unlimited Studio Pass​

£250 per month

Studio Passes can be used at any triyoga, Barrecore, KOBOX, or Boom Cycle location in London.

By purchasing this item you agree with the terms above.

wait...
join our newsletter

sign up here to receive our special offers, latest news, event invitations and more…

triyoga’s privacy and cookie policy
Protected by reCAPTCHA and Google’s Privacy Policy & Terms of Service.