Chronic Muscle Knots

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UNTIE PAINFUL KNOTS

Real Boy Scouts know that real knots are often needed for real life situations.  Reef-knots can tie two broken tow-lines together.  Taught-line knots can keep your tent attached to the pegs.  And Granny can use the good ol’ Half-knot to finish up the yarn in your fall knitted-sweater.  However, real life chronic muscle knots are unhelpful, unwanted, and they can keep you lashed to the couch instead of being free to hit the gym.

KNOT FUNCTIONING

Chronic muscle knots can be of a myofascial origin.  This means that there is pain and deep knotting in the muscle even when there has been no obvious hammering (such as a hockey stick slash) or inflammation (such as rheumatoid arthritis).  What seems to happen is that the tiny nerve endings that meet the muscle become “uber”-sensitive following a minor irritation and they cause the muscle to shorten up.  The knotted muscle then increases pressure on the joints, upsets joint alignment, and even can precipitate actual degenerative changes, eventually contributing to the creaks and crackles that you hear when you roll your shoulder or neck.  And as a result, you and I can have a lot of nagging, chronic pain in our backs, necks, shoulders, hips, or elbows because of these deep muscle knots.

KNOT IDEAL SOLUTIONS

Painkillers and other medications tend to pacify the nerves and knots but usually only mask the pain for short periods of time.  Massage, manipulation, stretching, and exercise may also help briefly, but just like neighbors who constantly mooch your tools at all the wrong times,  your painful knots seem to come back over and over again.

KNOT TO WORRY

One of the newer treatments for chronic myofascial pain is Intramuscular Stimulation (IMS).  This was developed by a Canadian professor and pain specialist and involves the insertion of acupuncture-like needles into your body where the deep muscle knots are tied.   IMS needles are very fine, unlike the needles used to inject medicine or take blood.  Most people don’t even feel it going into the skin.  When the needle hits the knot, you typically feel a slight cramping sensation, followed by a wonderful feeling of release, relaxation, and relief. 

If you are cinched down by chronic pain and stubborn muscle knots, and other treatments have failed to deliver to your satisfaction, consider throwing a line out to an IMS Physical Therapist.   He will conduct a thorough examination and do his “Dib, Dib, Dib” boy-scout best to figure out if you and your painful knots can be untied by IMS.

  Brent Kassian, BScPT, MCPA, MCPTA Executive Director Capilano Rehab Centre

phone:  466-1104 check out their groovy website @ www. caprehab.com