The medical term would be “myofascial trigger point”
They’re contracted muscle fibers that fail to release. If you stretch the muscle, you can sometimes pull them back loose, although that depends on WHY they’re failing to release.
Knots can be caused by any number of chemical or medical problems, but often it’s just overuse. The endplates of the fibres (the nerve-connected parts) get overstimulated. The technical explanation for that is they’re releasing too much acetylcholine, the chemical that makes the fibres contract in the first place. In that state, the fibres attached to those endplates will trigger often even if you’re not trying at all, and you have to relax extra hard in order to loosen the knots, since the tiniest bit of effort will make them contract again.
And you can’t necessarily trigger the section of muscle affected, so you have to relax or stretch the whole muscle.
edit: It’s important to note that the phrase “muscle knot” is often used to describe ANY tense muscles and sore spots. And “myofascial trigger point” is also similarly broad, a person could use it to describe problems besides contracted muscle fibers. Hard science exists in the study of these things, but it does not currently define them.
I have one under my right scapula that tightens pretty much whenever I lay flat on my back. The harder the surface, the more intense it is. No idea what started but I can calm it by laying on a small pillow or shifting around/arching my back until it’s not being triggered.
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The medical term would be “myofascial trigger point”
They’re contracted muscle fibers that fail to release. If you stretch the muscle, you can sometimes pull them back loose, although that depends on WHY they’re failing to release.
Knots can be caused by any number of chemical or medical problems, but often it’s just overuse. The endplates of the fibres (the nerve-connected parts) get overstimulated. The technical explanation for that is they’re releasing too much acetylcholine, the chemical that makes the fibres contract in the first place. In that state, the fibres attached to those endplates will trigger often even if you’re not trying at all, and you have to relax extra hard in order to loosen the knots, since the tiniest bit of effort will make them contract again.
And you can’t necessarily trigger the section of muscle affected, so you have to relax or stretch the whole muscle.
edit: It’s important to note that the phrase “muscle knot” is often used to describe ANY tense muscles and sore spots. And “myofascial trigger point” is also similarly broad, a person could use it to describe problems besides contracted muscle fibers. Hard science exists in the study of these things, but it does not currently define them.
This is a video from the YouTube channel Institute of Human Anatomy showing an actual “muscle knot” (trigger point) on a cadaver. NSFW, unless you work in the type of place that’s OK with you watching videos of what real human bodies look like on the inside.
I have one under my right scapula that tightens pretty much whenever I lay flat on my back. The harder the surface, the more intense it is. No idea what started but I can calm it by laying on a small pillow or shifting around/arching my back until it’s not being triggered.
It’s “knot” that great! Sorry.