04/14/2026
"Muscle knots" aren't literal tangles in your muscle fibers šŖ¢ like a knot in a piece of rope.
And not is not a clinical term-itās a subjective term that clients often use to describe what theyāre feeling.
Itās a massage therapist job to determine what this is by palpation and how how the client responds to that spot - is it localized and tender - then itās a tender point. Does it refer pain that itās probably a trigger point. Or is it feels crunchy or like bubble wrap? It may be the facia.
In reference to trigger points -I tell my students to visualize a piece of wood - muscle fibers are situated similar to the linear structure of wood - but within that piece of wood, there could be fibers that stuck together forming a knot - and that is similar to a trigger point.
These trigger points are localized areas with both structural changes and increased sensitivity.
Research suggests trigger points involve problems with nerve-muscle communication and reduced blood flow creating an acidic environment which sensitizes your nervous system to that area.
There are real physical changes happening locally (small contracted areas, tissue that's stuck) combined with your nervous system sending louder pain signals which affect how that muscle works.
Most research-based approaches use firm but bearable pressure to address trigger points rather than extremely aggressive force, giving the nervous system time to calm down and stop guarding.
When you feel a trigger point, you're feeling both the local tissue changes and your nervous system's protective response.
The goal is to work with all of these using the proper techniques. š¤
