Knotted muscles - TENS Machine Pro

Muscle knots and muscle tightness can be really painful and most times devastating, limiting your level of motion. It may last for days and sometimes weeks if the right technique in treating it is not adopted. In general, knots in the muscles are caused by pains, overworking of the muscles, and sometimes long-hours of training. But there’s good news! Using the TENS therapy, you can get rid of any form of muscle knots and tightness. Some medical experts define muscle knots as hyperirritable spots in the facial or muscle tissue which are also regarded as myofascialpoints.

Yes, a TENS machine can help fix your tight and knotted muscle if you follow some basic technical guidelines. The most interesting aspect is that you can treat it yourself in the comfort of your home. If you are suffering from knots, stiffness or tightness in your muscles, using TENS treatment therapies can drastically relieve the pain and even speed up the rate of recovery.

Causes and Reasons Why Muscles Gets Tight and Knotted

There are diverse reasons why most people get their muscles tightened or knotted. However, this is not a stigma and the most interesting part is that it can be treated. So if you are having these difficulties, look on the bright side. An individual who spends most of his time sitting at a table may develop muscle knot so is it for a person who spends hours overdue in the gym (training without rest). Basically, they are as a result of maintaining a position for prolonged periods. Below are some of the causes of muscle knots.

• Stress and Tension:

Ever wondered how it feels to maintain a position for almost half a day? Of have you ever been on an “around the clockwork” where you have to work all day without or little rest? This causes tension in the muscles and if not properly taken care of, it can lead to the muscles being stressed. Often time, people feel so tired and sleepy. It’s as a result of the stress imposed on the muscles. So, once you are stressed or you impose super weight on the muscle, knots and tightness begin to set in.

• Injuries as regards repetitive and constant motion:

No pain no gain! Pushers are gymers! These are the slangs most gym instructors give to their student. This, however, is one of the basic means of how most people who hit the gym get their muscles tightened. Some individuals sustain injuries as a result of constant and repetitive motion (weight lifting) in other to increase the size of the muscle. This, however, remains one of the salient ways in which people get muscle cramps and knots.

• Poor posture:

Either during the night or at work, inasmuch as you maintain a poor posture, it’s absolutely normal for your muscles to be knotted. A typist that has refused to leave his desk for almost 12hours in a day is liable to muscle tightness and so is a woman who sleeps with both legs bent (for at least 7 hours during the night). Poor posture adds a significant amount to the total number of patient with muscle knots and tightness. Also, spending close to 10hours on bed without stretching can cause muscle fatigue. This is why it’s advisable to sleep at least a maximum of 8 hours a day. Anything past this could lead to muscle knots.

How a TENS machine help to treat tight and knotted muscle

According to research, TENS machine helps to relieve muscle tightness, knots, spams and even soreness an easing effect. Muscle guarding occurs when the muscles are in pains or most times injured. It is phenomenon whereby the muscles guarding the injured point tighten to protect the area from harm and increase healing processes. Since TENS machine creates endorphin flow thereby easing pains, it can stop this response thereby reducing muscle tightness and knots.

The pain-reducing effects of the TENS machine helps loosen the muscle knot and reduce the “shielding” reaction that initiatestightness. Endorphins released via therapeutic TENS devices are means of reducing knot formation in the muscle.

The mechanism behind the TENS machine is that it sends electrical pulsation to the nerves and this process performs “pain gating.” The TENS units then help to navigate and block pain signals from reaching the brain meaning you won’t feel any pain when you are making use of the machine (interesting). So because you are not feeling any pain whatsoever, “Muscle guarding/shielding” cannot occur. These reactions then create an impulse in your muscle which helps to halt swelling of the muscles, reduce muscle knots and tightness and causes your muscles to relax. One of the main importance of this reaction is that it allows easy flow of blood in the muscle and enables muscle flexibility.

How to Use the Machine and Pad Placements

In this 21st century, a lot of people has resolved to the use of the TENS unit therapy to relieve muscle pains in hips, arms and lower back (places where muscles are compacted. Making use of the TENS machine is not too sophisticated although you may need to seek medical advice as regards electrode pad placements from your healthcare provider for you to be able to operate it in the comfort of your home. The following steps explain how to use the TENS machine as well as pad placements:

1. Before using the TENS machine, note where the pain is located. If possible, mark the area with a pen.

2. When using the TENS machine, note that the placement of pad is very essential hence, endeavour you make use of four pads (with two channels) or two pads (with a channel). This, however, depends on the design of the TENS machine.

3. The flow of electrical impulses can be interrupted by changing the direction of the pads or the distance between the electrode pads.

4. The electrode pads can be placed in 3 different dimensions (vertical, angulated or horizontal). However, just one direction can be used at a session.

5. The electrode pads in the TENS machine should be at least 1 inch apart because the higher the distance between the pads the lower the effectiveness of the machine.

6. Do not place the electrode pad directly on affected areas. This could change the function (adherence) of the pad.

The Benefits of Using A TENS Machine For Tight and Knotted Muscles

There are several uses of the TENS machine since it generates electrical impulses which have an impact on the affected body part and the nervous system. Once the TENS machine has successfully stimulated the nerve, the pains in the affected part become relieved. The aim of the TENS machines is to provide short-term (temporary) relief from pain and distress by distracting pain signals and triggering motor level stimulation.

There are several importance of the TENS machine, but in other to get optimal result, it has to be subjected to the affected parts one after the other. The TENS machine has been widely recognized as a pain inhibitor especially during dental surgeries. It can also be used to reduce nerve pains, inflammations in the muscle fibre, and helped in the treatment of osteoarthritis. Below are some of the benefits of using the TENS machine for tight and knotted muscles:

• Pain Relief: The main benefit of using the TENS machine is for distracting of pains from the affected parts by stimulating the nerves around the knotted muscles. Pain ranging from the back to arm pain can be treated using the TENS machine for fast and effective relief. Endorphins which relieve the pains in the knotted muscles are released naturally without any side-effect.

• Non-aggressive: treatment of tight and knotted muscles using the TENS machine is a mild and simple technique. It doesn’t come with any pain whatsoever even if it helps to treat pains. The electrical stimulation does not cause harm to non-affected body parts.

• Efficient and Effective Therapy: A TENS machine effectively treats muscle pains especially for individuals suffering from pelvic pains. Pain such as endometriosis. The machine can work as an efficient and effective complementary therapy to various treatments as well as tightenings in muscles. The TENS machine is one of the most effective methods of treating knotted muscles because it doesn’t involve any pain and it has no side effect.

• Easy to Use: The TENS machine is an advanced but perfect tool for solving domestic issues. In less than three to four steps the TENS machine can effectively ease any pain as regards tightness in the muscle. All you have to do is place the electrode pads on the affected area with at least 1 inch apart. Unlike other machines for treating knotted muscles, the TENS machine is regarded as the most effective. Modern TENS machines are handy ad relatively small allowing easy mobility unlike the ones used in time past. Generally, the TENS machines are easy, effective and convenient to use.

• Increased Motion and Function: The TENS machines coupled with other treatments can be used to increase the level of movement and endorse sophisticated muscles contraction which aids muscles relaxation. This machine, however, works on specified areas from back to the arm where muscles can be found and help relieve pains by sending nerve impulses to the nerves and the nervous system for better coordination.

• Natural Massager: Unlike other massagers, the TENS machines is an easy-to-use machine with no side-effect. It comes with no pain. Several institutes now adopt the use of the TENS machines as pain and muscles knot relievers. Based on the level of intensity, the TENS machines can be adjusted to ease internal pain/tightness in muscles.

• Less Tiredness and Fatigue: For everyone working long hours, it’s normal to be fatigued and tired. The energy used up sitting at a spot for a long period of time causes the muscle to knot. Hence, the TENS machine helps in stimulating nerves and muscles after a long and stressful day. Thereby reducing the level of tiredness and fatigue drastically.

Are TENS Machines for Tight and Knotted Muscles Expensive?

It’s hard to estimate the cost of a TENS machine because of the significant difference in price between several devices performing almost the same function as the TENS machine. However, it’s easier to estimate the cost of an effective TENS machine. Nonetheless, the TENS machine is affordable and efficient. Most users term it as being “cheaper than its quality” because the price tag for this machine is not a measure of its sophistication. The cost of a TENS machine can range from 100 USD or less to several hundred or thousand dollars depending on the type of machine you buy. The difference in price is as a result of the varying features, performance and capabilities of the machines.