When you massage a knot, it often feels like you are stretching a rope or taffy which is stuck in your muscle tissues. This may be a result of increased blood flow to the site of tension, but it also may be due to the relaxation of the connective tissue that surrounds your muscles (called fascia).
When you massage the area it causes the muscle to relax which allows increased blood flow, bringing fresh oxygen to the inflamed area.
Focus on loosening the tight muscle by pressing down firmly and making small circles. If you're finding it difficult to reach the muscle knot in your back, neck, or shoulders, you can try using a tennis ball or foam roller to apply pressure to the knot. Slowly and gently move back and forth to relieve the tension.
The trigger point is manually manipulated until it releases with a satisfying sensation associated with tension release. Essentially, this breaks up the fascial scar tissue and relieves the symptoms connected with it.
Massage works by applying pressure to targeted areas in order to relax tight muscles and increase blood flow to reduce inflammation. Massage has been shown to reduce pain associated with trapezius strain as well as improve mobility in those affected areas.
A lymphatic drainage massage helps to ease all that fluid away, pushing it towards the lymph nodes where it can be eliminated. This is one of many reasons you may leave your treatment feeling lighter and more energised. If you suffer with heavy legs, this is a big benefit.
Potential Causes of Crunchy Muscles
These knots are areas of muscle fibers that have become tightly contracted and can feel like small, firm lumps within the muscle. When you press on them or move the muscle, they might produce a sensation akin to crunchiness.
Direct Trauma: Injuries to the shoulder region, such as falls, accidents, or sports-related impacts, can damage the muscles and connective tissues around the shoulder blades. This trauma can lead to muscle knots as the body attempts to heal and protect the injured area.
Regular deep tissue massages, potentially on a weekly or bi-weekly basis, can help prevent injuries, reduce muscle soreness, and enhance overall performance. This frequency ensures that muscle knots and trigger points are addressed promptly, supporting optimal athletic function.
Trigger points, or muscle knots, are hyperirritable spots within a taut band of skeletal muscle. The pressure applied during therapy can cause these points to release, sometimes resulting in a popping sound.
The first sensation you'll get is a springing give that feels like a release. This is the tissue's elastic component giving way, which means you stop there, you won't see a long-term difference right away because it takes time to get deeper into the more plastic part of the tissue.
Muscle knots are often caused by poor posture and inactivity. Practicing good posture and engaging in regular physical activity may help prevent muscle knots. Many knots develop from repeated muscle trauma, so a person may wish to engage in different activity types to prevent overuse of the same muscles.
When a muscle that supports the TMJ becomes tight and overly strained, the muscle fibers can develop a highly sensitive area, or a 'knot' that is a source of chronic pain. This knotted area is also known as a 'trigger point'.
Reduced Stress and Tension
Muscle tension may also contribute to stress and tension. Trigger point therapy may help alleviate tension and stress by releasing knots in the muscles. This can result in an overall sense of relaxation.
What are muscle knots? Knots are comprised of tense muscle fibers. "Muscle knots are actually hyperirritable spots in muscle or fascial tissue [bands or sheets of connective tissue] known as myofascial trigger points," Charleston says.
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.
Softly working the affected areas with your hands can be incredibly beneficial for reducing muscle knots. A specific kind of massage therapy called myofascial release therapy relies on constant, deep, gentle pressure to help release the tension and break up some of those constricted tissues in localized areas.
Ever felt a crunch when massaging a knot? That crunchy feeling can be scar tissue, metabolic waste buildup, or fascial adhesions in your muscle.
Since pain is typically the notifying factor that you have a knot in your muscle, it's important to tell your massage therapist exactly where you're feeling the discomfort so they can assess the area. Massage therapists are trained to find knots by locating tension near the spot of the knot.
Myth #2: Lymphatic Drainage Can Lead to Extreme Weight Loss
There's a common belief that lymphatic drainage massage can result in significant weight loss, but that's not its main aim. While the massage can help reduce temporary bloating and water retention, it does not promote fat loss.
With severe swelling, the lymph fluid can drain through small breaks in the skin or cause blistering. Skin changes. In some people with very severe lymphedema, the skin of the affected limb can thicken and harden so it resembles the skin of an elephant.