How to get rid of Muscle Knots
9 simple ways to get rid of muscle knots that can be an irritation or they can be intolerable. The latter are often called muscle spasms and are treated as such. This article is about the irritation and minor knots. Muscle knots are tight muscles or in medical terms - myofascial trigger points . The solutions here are designed to help relax the muscles. Think relaxation as the solution to muscle knots. And be thankful that you have muscles.
1.The most tried and true method is through massage. This can be done as self massage if the muscle knot is accessible like a leg or arm. For best results though, see a professional massage therapist.
2.Stretching can be a great way to treat a knot. Warm the muscles up a bit before stretching. Stretch and hold for 20 seconds. Current wisdom suggests "bouncing" on a stretch is NOT a good idea. Get a good book on stretching. There are lots of them. Yoga and Tai Chi are also excellent for learning how to stretch and disciplining to do it.
3.Identifying what is causing the knot can be a great way to get rid of it. Have you started doing something new? Anything repetitive? Perhaps the angle on the screen you use? Or the way you slouch in a chair?
4.Changing positions frequently and doing mini breaks is a great way to keep muscle knots from starting in the first place. Recognize that repetition is bad and design your work (and play) to break the repetition. Just do things differently
5.Exercise is a cure for many ailments including muscle knots. Fit people tend to have less muscle issues. That said, go back to step 3 to figure out if you have an exercise routine that might be repetitive or causing the problem. Switch your routine up for a while and try something else. Most muscle knots are the result of too little exercise.
6.A warm bath is often a great solution to a muscle knot. A bath can help relax you.
7.If the knots persist, there are over the counter and prescription muscle relaxants that often work. These can make you drowsy though so only take them when you want to sleep. One natural relaxant is Kava Kava.
8.Good nutrition and supplements can help knots. Sometimes they are a symptom of lack of calcium or potassium. Eat a varied and healthy diet for less cramps.
9.If the knots are serious and causing back pain, consider investigating medical solutions. If the muscle knot is in the chest, consult a physician immediately to make sure it is not a heart attack or other serious heart issue.
And if all else fails, often the knots go away without any treatment. So time cures.