How many times have you asked someone to rub your shoulders because they feel sore and tight and then they find a spot that feels tender on touch?
Well, that small, painful spot they just found in the muscle could be an internal injury, stagnation or toxic build up.
In a healthy muscle, all the fibers are long and even, however, a stagnant painful point causes an unhealthy contraction, so that some of those fibers twist into a knot and the toxic starts building up around it. This causes pain for two reasons.
- First, the muscle loses access to the nutrients in the blood, and second, without healthy circulation passing through, toxins tend to build up in the contracted area.
- The muscle typically shortens, as well, and will often restrict the range of motion and flexibility in the affected area.
- Once you have those painful points, you will no doubt alter the way you move, sit, or stand to instinctively protect yourself.
- At the same time, the muscle is contracting to protect itself.
- Unfortunately, all this makes the problem worse, your body begins to adopt poor postures that tighten other muscles, leading to additional or worsening existing muscle imbalances.
There are many causes of stagnation and painful points but here’s one that you may not have paid too much attention to.
Blood circulation – if your blood circulation is too slow or restricted. Poor blood circulation can be caused by many factors, stress is one, if you are stressed you will often tense your muscles which in turn reduces the circulation to the tense muscles.
Another cause may be the fact that you are dehydrated, if you do not drink enough water to hydrate your body you will be reducing the amount of oxygenated blood to flush the muscles of toxins.
Poor circulation can also be caused by poor diet which in turn can cause inflammation making the pain points swell. Lack of movement and stretching will also be a contributing factor.
This inadequate supply of oxygenated blood to the muscles means that the relaxation response that should make the stagnant or toxic filled pain points disappear or at least go dormant will not be activated, this is why they can often stick around for a long time.
When we experience pain in our back or a joint we always immediately assume it was something we did that morning or the day before, however, unless it was a direct trauma, i.e. from a fall or accident that will not be the case I cannot over emphasize how important it is to look beyond the pain and find the cause.
Notice what you been doing that has lead you to this pain and start changing those sitting, standing or sleeping habits. Treat your body with highest respect. You have only one body to live in for the rest of the life!