Will a massage gun remove knots?

Author: Aletha Bechtelar  |  Last update: Friday, May 9, 2025

A massage gun can't immediately remove muscle knots – that can take time. But with increased blood flow to the area, the muscles loosen to alleviate that knotting pain and speed up the process of recovery.

Can you actually massage knots out?

Trigger point massage can be firm and specific pressure to the areas of restriction or “knots” and cause release of that knot. Effleurage massage after a workout or strengthening exercises can prevent or reduce the tightness or restriction that one may feel.

How do you dissolve a muscle knot?

1. Heat: applying heat to an area causes capillaries to dilate, thereby promoting more blood flow into that area. Increasing blood flow to a muscle can be an effective means of getting knots to release. 2. Stretching: muscle knots are areas of the muscle that fail to fully relax/elongate.

Does theragun break up knots?

It increases blood flow and the release of histamines to the stimulated area to decrease the inflammatory response, decrease muscle soreness, and breaks up muscle knots. The company Theragun has been renamed Therabody, but its devices are still called Theragun.

Which massage gun attachment for knots?

The flat head attachment is designed for overall relief of muscle pain and tension. It delivers targeted pressure to multiple points at once, making it ideal for large areas such as your back or legs. This type of attachment is great for working out knots and giving deep tissue massages.

12 Rules For Massaging Away Knots, Muscle Strains, or Tendonitis

What type of massage is best to get rid of knots?

Deep tissue: The best massage to relieve stress and muscle tension. Deep tissue massage can loosen painful “knots” and realign deeper layers of muscle through a combination of firm pressure and slow strokes. Your therapist will not only work on the usual muscles but on the connective tissue as well.

Do massage therapists know where knots are?

Through their extensive training and experience, they have honed their ability to detect areas of tension and release them effectively. So next time you visit a RMT and they seem to know exactly where your knots are without you saying a word, trust that it's not magic – it's just years of skillful practice at work.

Where not to use massage gun?

And to use massage guns safely, people should avoid the following areas on their body, Krzyzanowicz said:
  • Neck.
  • Eyes.
  • Directly over the heart.
  • Inner groin.
  • Directly behind the knee.
  • Reproductive organs.
  • Areas with decreased sensitivity, such as something that's numb from surgery.

How often should I massage muscle knots?

A weekly or bi-weekly session could prevent these knots from escalating. Conversely, severe knots, causing considerable pain and restricted movement, may require more frequent attention, possibly two to three sessions per week initially. Knowing the severity is key in how often you should get a massage for knots.

Does a tens unit get rid of knots?

TENS machines can help with pain relief and easing the muscle tension, but they won't get rid of muscle knots entirely especially if the underlying causes of your muscle tension are things like stress or bad posture and they aren't addressed properly.

How do you get rid of a knot ASAP?

Best Treatments for a Muscle Knot
  1. Get a massage. Ah, the soothing relief of a massage. ...
  2. Use a foam roller. Foam rollers allow you to perform self-massage by making tight muscles looser. ...
  3. Try a massage gun. ...
  4. Ask a physical therapist about dry needling. ...
  5. Stretch. ...
  6. Use ice or heat. ...
  7. Try acupuncture.

Is it good to pop muscle knots?

It can help loosen up the muscles and reduce the tension in the knot. Trigger Point Massage – During this type of massage a therapist will begin to apply pressure and stretch the muscle knot to release (a.k.a pop) it. You may experience minor discomfort, but long-term relief during this technique.

Why does pressing on muscle knots feel good?

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. The increased blood flow can help the muscle relax.

Is a chiropractor or massage better for knots?

Muscle knots, or trigger points, respond particularly well to massage therapy. A skilled therapist can apply targeted pressure to these tight areas, improving blood flow and easing tension. However, if the knots are caused by spinal misalignment or poor posture, chiropractic care can help address the underlying issue.

What does it feel like when a knot releases?

This myofascial release has a comparable sensation to being rocked by your mother when you were a baby. It causes a pleasant wave sensation to travel throughout the body. It is, in fact, a relaxing experience. That wave infiltrates the restricted areas to allow for softening.

What are the crunchy knots in my back?

Muscle knots (or myofascial trigger points) are muscle fibers that stick to each other instead of remaining flexible, which causes them to contract and tighten into lumps. These knots can form anywhere but are most common around your lower back.

Do knots pop when massaged?

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.

How long should you use a massage gun on a knot?

One study published in the Journal of Chiropractic Medicine found that using a massage gun for just one minute on each trigger point led to significant reductions in pain and discomfort.

How long does it take to release a muscle knot?

Ice and heat.

If a knot is causing a movement pattern that has caused swelling, then using ice for 10-15 minutes can help. Applied heat or a hot bath can help loosen up knotted muscles.

Can a massage gun break up fat?

Massage guns are designed to help improve muscle recovery, increase blood flow, and reduce muscle soreness and tension. While using a massage gun may help to improve circulation, it is not designed to burn fat directly.

What are the cons of a massage gun?

There are downsides to massage guns, including the risk of aggravating injuries or other chronic injuries. This risk is increased if the individual is using the massage gun incorrectly. These risks can be remedied through training on the proper use of massage guns.

Can you overdo a massage gun?

Don't overdo it.

Experts advise not to use a massage gun for more than 10 to 15 minutes and to avoid concentrating on a specific area for more than one to two minutes per session. Using your massage gun for too long can be counterproductive, resulting in soreness, increased tightness, and bruising.

What does it mean when a massage therapist says you're tight?

4 Talking about tightness suggests an uncanny ability to feel your pain. The therapist is saying, in effect, “I can tell that you are feeling stiff, because I can feel your tight muscles.” This is a good way to impress anyone with a body.

Why is my back so crunchy when massaged?

Lack of blood supply to the muscle causes lactic acid to build up, over time this can solidify with calcium deposits and is often the reason we hear a crunching sound when trying to realise the knots.

What type of massage gets rid of knots?

A deep tissue massage is the most effective treatment for muscle knots. When a muscle is tight, it limits the blood flow in that area so by using a massage as a treatment technique for this works by increasing blood flow to the muscle, which can in turn reduce inflammation and ease any soreness and pain.

Previous article
What color neutralizes warm brown?
Next article
Should I take a hot shower after sauna?