CHARLOTTE – I’ve had this conversation three times this week with clients. In fact, clients asked me if I could feel the knots in their muscles (especially around the shoulder area) because they could feel them and they want them gone. This is what I explained to them: yes we can feel knots, if they are present in the muscles we are touching and massaging. Sometimes they are deeper and we have to access the knots by not necessarily touching them, but by releasing the muscles around the knots in order to take pressure off the muscle that is hurting.

There are several techniques that can accomplish this. In particular, trigger point therapy where a therapist will pinpoint the painful area in the muscle and apply direct pressure to it in order to help it “release” or let go and return to it’s normal state. Sometimes I do this, but I’ve found I don’t like to induce pain in order to get results (and this method can be painful, albeit temporary).

Massage where the muscles, including the muscle with the trigger point (if possible) are manipulated in order to reduce pressure is how I like to start. I want to make sure I know what we are dealing with, how the muscles in the area respond and how I need to proceed. I often use cupping after I massage the area because cupping encourages healthy blood flow and lymph flow, in and out of the muscle, in order to restore muscle health.