Yes. Acupuncture releases trigger points by finding the most tender and tight band of muscle and using an acupuncture needle to poke the muscle and get it to involuntarily contract.
In order to remove that knot we have to “work it out.” This can be done by using a foam roller, through massage, or through acupuncture. By inserting a very thin needle into a muscle fiber that is knotted, you send a signal to the body to release the knot and restore proper function of the muscle.
Acupuncture offers pain relief, inflammation reduction, improved circulation (1), and trigger point release (1) for sports injuries, such as soft-tissue injuries. Meanwhile massage offers DOMS reduction, reduces chronic pain, improves recovery times, prevents further pain and injury, and increases muscle flexibility.
Acupressure and myofascial release can help to relieve this tension and treat knots and pressure in the fascia. Fascia-related pain: When the fascia is tight or rigid it can often cause pain and discomfort, including muscular pain, headaches or back pain.
While a shared aim is to provide relief from pain, the practices are otherwise very different. Practitioners of dry needling attempt to release tension from knots and pressure points in muscles. Acupuncturists insert needles to release endorphins and affect the nervous system.
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.
Not only does dry needle therapy reduce pain by resolving muscle knots; undergoing this therapy also means you can return to regular physical activity – no longer hindered by painful knots and trigger points.
This sensory nerve releases a chemical cocktail of wellness into your bloodstream. Pressing on this nerve directly triggers the release of acetylcholine. This chemical messenger not only changes the way you experience pain but also activates pathways in the brain responsible for endorphin release.
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).
Muscle knots often result from joint dysfunction and a restricted range of motion in the body. To address this, chiropractors will adjust your joints and restore your range of motion using hands-on chiropractic manipulation techniques. Gentle stretching also reduces muscle tension, allowing muscle knots to relax.
Massage therapists use their hands to identify knots in the muscle tissue. By applying pressure with fingertips and thumbs, they can sense where there is a localised area of tension.
The goal of these treatments is to release the trigger point to reduce pain and increase mobility. A chiropractor might utilize one treatment – or several – with the goal of breaking up the knotted tissue and calming inflamed nerves.
Usually within a week or two a muscle knot will resolve on its own. Getting a massage is one option to help speed up recovery when you have muscle knots. You can also help speed the process of recovery.
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.
Seek treatment from a physio or Sports Massage therapist. Therapists use a variety of techniques to relieve the tension in the knotty muscle such a local trigger point pressure, dry needling and myofacial release. These techniques need to be followed up with stretches and exercises to get sufficient long term relief.
You should go at least once per month, but as often as twice per week in severe pain situations. The longer you wait though, and the more often you'll start the process over of loosening up your muscles because they tense up if you don't go often enough.
This will eventually give you the feeling of a solid lump / 'knot' within muscle tissue. Some of these lumps can reduce with treatment (if seen quick), but the longer it sits there untreated the more likely it will become permanent!
Most knots are what we call 'latent' meaning they only hurt when you (or your massage therapist) puts pressure on them. The rest are so-called 'active' meaning they are painful all the time.
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," says Charleston. Trigger points typically fall into one of two categories: Active.
Massage is like exercise: It forces blood into your muscles, bringing nutrients and removing toxins. This process can temporarily increase inflammation (the healing response) to areas that the body feels need attention. This inflammation can bring discomfort.
These “muscle knots” can cause pain, limit motion and affect performance. If left untreated, they can worsen over time. Trigger point dry needling is a treatment used by physical therapists to eliminate these trigger points. It involves inserting a sterile thin filament/acupuncture needle into the tight or sore muscle.
Does dry needling hurt? The actual inserting of the needle does not hurt—these needles are very thin. Sometimes the muscle will twitch when you put it in, and it can feel sore if that happens. You usually will feel a little muscle ache or soreness for a day or two after that feels like you worked out that muscle.
Dry needling is not for those with unmanaged blood-clotting or immune-system disorders. Plus, the American Physical Therapy Association does not recommend dry needling for children younger than 12. Always check with your medical provider or physical therapist if you have concerns.