What is the difference between a muscle knot and a lump?

Author: Ruthie Parisian  |  Last update: Friday, October 3, 2025

Lumps caused by an allergic reaction are often itchy or painful. Muscle knots, including on the back of the neck, from injury, overuse, or tension. These knots can be as small as a pea or as large as a baseball. They are typically invisible since they remain beneath the skin and don't cause lumps.

How do you tell if it's a knot or lump?

Muscle knots feel like small, tender lumps or nodules. They are palpable and can be felt when touched. However, knots can be discreet and exist deep in the muscle, and a person may have to press hard into the connective tissue to feel the knots or trigger points.

What can be mistaken for a muscle knot?

Common for other trigger points to mistaken for a nerve problem. Muscle knots around your jaw, face, head and neck also cause multiple referred pain issues. These include earaches and toothaches, sinusitis and tinnitus (ringing in the ears).

Does a tight muscle feel like a lump?

The little lumps are typically tender to the touch and can limit your range of motion or lead to pain during various movements. Muscle knots don't show up on medical imaging scans, and researchers are still trying to figure out the exact physiological mechanisms within the muscle that cause this reaction.

When should I be worried about a muscle knot?

The tender spots may cause other, less common symptoms such as headaches, tinnitus, and joint pain. It's important to note that muscle knots don't cause bruising. So, check in with a healthcare professional if you have a sore spot that: Is bruised or discolored.

What EXACTLY Are Muscle Knots? And Why Do They Happen?

How long do muscle knot lumps last?

The duration of a muscle knot depends on the severity of the knot, its underlying cause, and what you decide to do to address it. In general, muscle knots can last from a few days to several weeks or longer, depending on the cause.

Can you massage out muscle knots?

Turning your attention to the transformative power of touch, exploring massage techniques can be a pivotal strategy for relieving muscle knots. The right approach to massaging your muscles can be akin to conducting a well-orchestrated symphony where every movement works towards soothing those tight, knotted areas.

Can a muscle knot feel like a ball?

How can I tell if my pain is a 'muscle knot'? A knot, or trigger point, may feel like a small hard lump. These may be felt with just a soft touch, some may reside in your deeper layers of soft tissue. A trigger point can form anywhere in the body where there is skeletal muscle and fascia.

Can a muscle strain cause a hard lump?

In more severe strains, hematomas (blood clots) can develop as a complication within the healing muscle. The hematoma is felt as a hard lump in the muscle fairly early on in the recovery process.

How do you tell if a lump is hard or soft?

Hard or Immovable Lamp

Benign lumps like lipomas or cysts are typically soft and can be moved around under the skin. In contrast, a lump that feels very firm and doesn't budge when you try to move it might be attached to underlying structures. This fixation can sometimes indicate a more invasive growth.

How do you tell the difference between a blood clot and a muscle knot?

Blood clots generate a consistent, often escalating pain, coupled with visible signs such as swelling, redness, and a warm sensation in the affected area. Conversely, muscle cramps present as acute, sharp pains that may come and go but typically lessen with rest, stretching, or heat application.

Do muscle knots move when touched?

Muscle knots are usually tender and tight. It's also possible for muscle knots to twitch with or without being touched.

What is this lump on my lower back above my buttocks?

A pilonidal (pie-low-NIE-dul) cyst is an unusual pocket in the skin that usually contains hair and skin debris. The cyst is almost always near the tailbone at the top of the buttocks. Pilonidal cysts usually occur when hair punctures the skin and then becomes embedded.

Is it a muscle knot or tumor?

These knots can be as small as a pea or as large as a baseball. They are typically invisible since they remain beneath the skin and don't cause lumps. It will often be painful to push on a muscle knot, whereas a cancerous lymph node is rarely painful.

When should you worry about a lump?

See a GP if:

your lump is painful, red or hot. your lump is hard and does not move. your lump lasts more than 2 weeks. a lump grows back after it's been removed.

Which doctor to consult for muscle knots?

Physiatrist. If your PCP can't figure out why you're in pain, they might send you to a physiatrist. These doctors specialize in physical medicine and rehabilitation. They can diagnose the problem and create a treatment plan, which could include medication, physical therapy, or other therapies.

Can a tight muscle feel like a lump?

Myofascial pain syndrome symptoms include: Pain that's aching, throbbing, tight, stiff or vice-like. Trigger points (small bumps, nodules or knots in your muscle that causes pain when touched and sometimes when they're not touched). These commonly develop as the condition worsens.

Do I have a hernia or a pulled muscle?

A hernia and a pulled stomach muscle can both cause abdominal pain. Hernias cause a lump or bulge at the hernia site, which may ache or burn. A hernia can also cause constipation or nausea and vomiting (abdominal strains don't cause these problems).

Should you massage a pulled muscle?

It's important to note that you should never massage a strained muscle that hasn't been given 72 hours to rest. Massaging a freshly-strained muscle can actually increase inflammation and even cause further injury, so be sure to wait at least three days before attempting any massage therapy.

How do you tell if it's a muscle knot or something else?

What are the symptoms of muscle knots? Pain is the primary symptom of muscle knots. Since everyone experiences pain differently, your symptoms may vary from those of someone else. However, most people agree that muscle knots feel swollen, tense, or bumpy, and cause an aching sensation.

How long can a muscle knot last?

No matter what causes it, a muscle knot is painful, and this pain can linger for days or weeks. The discomfort might affect your work or make it hard to do things you enjoy.

Does a lump feel like a ball?

If you find a lump, don't panic. A majority of these are benign, which often feel like a round, smooth rubber ball. Malignant lumps, on the other hand, are irregular, firm and unable to be moved.

Is it good to press on muscle knots?

“Just put pressure on the trigger point or knot for 5 to 10 seconds, and then release it. When a muscle is tight like that, it can limit blood flow in that area. The theory is when you put pressure on it you're limiting blood flow to the knot, and when you release the pressure, more blood flows in,” he explains.

Is it okay to massage a lump?

Massage of an unknown lump is contraindicated until your client has seen their healthcare practitioner for proper diagnosis. If your client does have a Lipoma, then although there is no research to suggest that massaging it will do any damage, there is also nothing to suggest that it will help either.

Do massage guns release muscle knots?

With proper use and caution, muscle massage guns can be an effective tool for managing muscle knots and improving overall quality of life.

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