Anywhere in our body that has muscles and fascia can develop a muscle knot. They feel like a small, hard lump or nodule, and sometimes you must press very deep to feel the myofascial trigger point. Pressing on that trigger point can cause the pain to spread to the surrounding muscles and cause the muscles to twitch or move.
It is common to get muscle knots in the calf, lower back, neck, shins, or shoulders. The trapezius muscle, which runs in a triangle from your neck to the middle of the back and over to the shoulder is the most common location for muscle knots. Tension from stress and poor posture contribute to that being the most common area. There are a variety of causes of muscle knots.
Causes of Muscle Knots
- Stress and Tension
- Repetitive Motion and Lifting Injuries
- Poor Posture
- Sedentary Lifestyle – Prolonged Sitting and Lying Down
Your lifestyle is the common reason for developing muscle knots. If you experience a lot of stress and anxiety, that leads to tension within the muscles. Overusing your muscles through repetition or improper lifting can strain the muscles. Inactivity can lead to the muscles tightening and knotting. Poor eating habits, such as a lack of variety of vitamins and minerals, and dehydration can make the muscles and fascia tighten even more. A lack of sleep can also increase your risk of muscle knots. What many people do not realize is those muscle knots can cause additional symptoms. They can lead to back pain, jaw pain, ringing in the ears or earaches, toothaches, and tension headaches. Lower your risk of muscle knots by changing your lifestyle.
Lowering Your Risk
- Get proper rest and exercise
- Use good posture and be aware of body alignment when lifting
- Stretch your muscles regularly, especially before exercise and lifting
- Avoid extended sitting without movement breaks
- Maintain a healthy diet including calcium, potassium, and magnesium, with fresh, whole foods
- Drink plenty of water (at least 80 ounces per day)
- Get regular massages to gain flexibility and keep your muscles relaxed and healthy
If you do get muscle knots, there are a variety of things you can do at home to relieve the pain. You can stretch the muscles, or exercise them with swimming, cycling, or other aerobic exercises. This increases

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