Why is it, when I’m getting (or giving) a massage, that when you find the little hard bumps that seem to be the source of pain, they move? What exactly are these bumps and how can they seemingly move several inches?
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Muscle knots are typically referred to as ‘trigger points’ in the industry. This can sometimes be true, but not always. A true trigger point will refer pain (trigger) across, through, away from, or adjacent to its location, either passively or when massaging, and often both.
Some call them myofascial adhesions. The study of fascia is still relatively sparse, but recent literature on the topic is quickly growing. Put very simply, fascia is the “skin” for your internal tissues. When fascia becomes dehydrated, damaged, or otherwise immobile, it will lead to an adhesion, or a “stuck” point that should otherwise freely move.
The nodule that is felt when most people talk about their knots, is actual muscle fiber, again that has become dehydrated, malnourished, damaged, or injured, and has lost the ability to relax to its natural composition. Another leading cause, and likely the most common, is posture. When certain muscle groups are strained by being chronically shortened, lengthened, underused or imbalanced to their antagonist, a knot can form to prevent a more serious type of damage. The primary driver of formation is neurological and a much more complicated topic.
Every single person I’ve ever worked with has had several knots, trigger points, or myofascial complications in several regions.
They move around when massaging because muscle tissue is very flexible. The knot is in the muscle, so just as you can press into your bicep and the tissues rebound, so will the knot when you contact it.
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