A client asked me yesterday what causes knots and how can I avoid them. After the massage I thought that might make a good blog topic. So many of us have knots and they can be painful.
What causes a knot?
A knot forms when the muscle spasms. This can be in response to damage. It is then harder for blood to get into that part of the muscle for repair to take place.
This can happen when we overuse a particular muscle with repetitive movements or when we spend too long in the same position. Knots between the shoulder blades are common in people who spend a long time at a desk. Injuries and stress can also lead to knots.
How to get rid of them?
A professional massage is effective at breaking down knots, which allows blood to return to the area bringing fresh nutrients in, and allowing toxins to be removed, aiding repair.
How to avoid them?
Avoid sitting too long in the one position. Move around.
Stretching helps, so consider activities like yoga.
Staying hydrated helps improve circulation.
Look for ways to reduce stress.
The mind- body link
I am currently reading Louise Hay's book "You can heal your life" again. I bought it many years ago. For those who have not heard of Louise Hay, her work is based very much around the power of thought, and that physical conditions have underlying thought patterns that cause and perpetuate them. So I looked up muscles and what she said about those, but there was no specific entry for muscle knots.
Problems with muscles per se are suggested to be resistance to new experiences as the muscles are what enable us to move. The new thought pattern suggested is "I experience life as a joyous dance"
Whether this makes sense or feels a bit far fetched, it seems reasonable that finding joy in life would be an antidote to stress, and when we are joyful we might be more inclined to hold ourselves well, move more and be more inclined to have good habits.
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