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More About Those Painful Knots In Your Back And Shoulders

Last updated:
6 November 2021
.
Written by
Kathryn Merrow
,
Neuromuscular Massage Therapist
This article was reviewed for accuracy by 
Linda Hayes
, BSc Microbiology and Laboratory Medicine.

In This Article

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Readers ask a lot of questions about  knots in their backs.  I’m going to give you several links to articles that I wrote which will give you a lot of insight into the causes of pain in the shoulder and upper back.

Usually people have shoulder and shoulder blade pain on the side of their dominant hand–the hand you use all the time.  This is because that arm and hand are in front of you for long periods.  But sometimes it’s on the opposite side of the body.

Sometimes you have to be your own diagnostician and try to figure out what exactly is causing your pain.  (There is always a cause—it is not just “old age.”)

Sometimes it’s something as simple as carrying a heavy purse or bag over your shoulder and hiking your shoulder to “hold” the bag in place without even thinking about it.

Sometimes it’s a sitting position or sleeping position that aggravates your muscles and causes muscle knots.  Do you squash your shoulders when you sleep on your side?  Are you a stomach sleeper?  That can aggravate your back muscles and cause them to develop “knots.”

A forward head & shoulders posture can do it, too.  This posture will over-stretch your back muscles and cause them to complain.  When you see yourself in a photo or catch yourself in a mirror, is your head way out in front of your body like a stork instead of over your body?  This causes a lot of muscle strain in your upper back.

Another cause can be muscles below the pain pulling on your painful area.  Do you feel as though ‘something’ is pulling on you?  All of your muscles are attached.  That means that when one area is tight it pulls on the surrounding areas.

I have a digital (electronic) easy-to-use program to help you get rid of  knots in your upper back naturally.  Working on it has been very exciting because so many people are suffering and there are simple natural ways to get rid of your knots.

Here are some articles that may help, too.

https://simplepainrelief.com/2009/12/10/what-causes-a-knot-in-your-back/

https://simplepainrelief.com/2009/11/15/got-back-pain-muscles-cause-pain-in-your-back-heres-how/

https://simplepainrelief.com/2009/07/24/why-do-musicians-and-band-members-get-back-neck-pain/

https://simplepainrelief.com/2009/04/23/chronic-back-pain-and-muscle-strain-is-there-a-simple-pain-relief-answer/

Your body is logical.  It has pain for a reason.  When you understand the reason(s) and what to do, you can get rid of the knots in your back.  Let’s work together on that.

 

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A note from Kathryn: I am not a medical doctor. I am someone with a lot of experience and training in how bodies get pain and how they get rid of it. The information here is educational and based on my 40+ years as a neuromuscular therapist. If your pain continues, gets worse, or you are worried about it, please see your doctor or a specialist. Your body is worth it.
About the writer
Kathryn Merrow is a neuromuscular therapist with more than 40 years of experience helping people find the causes of their muscle pain and release it naturally. Known as The Pain Relief Coach, she teaches simple, logical ways to understand your body so you can get rid of pain instead of just managing it. Pain is a symptom. Kathryn helps you treat the cause.
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