Chiropractic Care for Muscle Knots
By Amy Silva
Chances are if you mention you have a muscle knot, people will relate. Muscle knots can be irritating and relentless. It can start with a small pain in a muscle from sitting too long or holding a muscle in a certain position for too long. Anyone who often tenses their body may be prone to muscle knots. It may be mild and dissipate quickly but oftentimes it can turn into a burdensome pain and it's all you can focus on until you get relief. What's worse is if the knot is in an area you can't easily reach yourself, such as your back. While there are some things you can do yourself to help prevent muscle knots, chiropractors may also be able to help. Find out how below.
Muscle knots are also known as myofascial pain syndrome and affect people of all ages. They can develop after an injury, come on gradually due to having bad posture, or have other causes. Many of us get in the habit of holding our shoulders up while we're on the computer, and this is one cause of muscle knots in the shoulders and back. Leaning the neck forward is another example. People who don't relax their bodies often, such as those with anxiety, can be prone to myofascial pain syndrome by unknowingly clenching their muscles, which can cause pain later.
How You Can Help Prevent Muscle Knots
While it's not always possible to prevent sore muscles or pain from muscle knots, there are some things that may help reduce your chances of getting them, such as:
- Lowering stress levels - If stress is causing you to tense up, take time to relax by reading, taking a bath or meditating
- Exercise - Keep muscles and joints healthy by adding exercise to your daily routine
- Pay attention to posture - Take breaks from sitting too long and stretch often, and consider purchasing an ergonomic chair if you have a desk job
How Chiropractic Care Can Help Muscle Knots
Most people know how important spine health is. If a spine is out of alignment it may cause pain in multiple areas of the body, including joints and muscles that aren't in the back. When we have bad posture, it can cause us to overcompensate and sit in ways that aren't ideal for our spine. Poor posture can create muscle knots and a chiropractor may be able to help correct your posture, in turn helping to prevent sore muscles.
Visit the chiropractors at The Joint for an assessment to see if they can relieve your muscle pain and correct your posture. They're open evenings and weekends for your convenience and no appointment is necessary.
To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Oak Cliff, Tex.