Muscle Spasms: How Chiropractic Can Help
By Sara Butler
Chronic muscle spasms can be painful and interrupt your life. There are several causes of chronic muscle spasms you need to be aware of, and several ways in which your chiropractor can help you find relief. Here is what you need to know about muscle spasms and how chiropractic care can help to reduce the severity and frequency of your muscle spasms.
What Causes Muscle Spasms and Cramps
There are several things that can contribute to the development of muscle spasms. They include:
- Muscle fatigue
- Improper stretching
- Dehydration
- Mineral or vitamin deficiency
- Malfunctioning nerves
- Exercising in the heat
The Symptoms of Muscle Cramps
When you have a muscle cramp, you will have a sudden contraction of the muscle. It is involuntary and refuses to release. You will notice these symptoms:
- Extreme pain
- Extreme discomfort
- Extreme tightness in the impacted muscle
A muscle spasm can occur in any muscle in your body, but it’s most often seen in the muscles of the:
- Calf
- Thigh
- Foot
- Back
Muscle spasms are generally brief and go away on their own, but if you experience frequent muscle cramps or spasms or they last for a long time, then you need to discuss them with your chiropractor.
How Your Chiropractor Can Help
When you receive regular adjustments it can go a long way toward helping you to avoid tightness in your muscles that lead to spasms. Chiropractic adjustments include hands-on adjustments that help to align your body to take pressure off of nerves and soft tissues in the body, reducing the nerve signals your brain may be receiving that cause an involuntary contraction.
Your chiropractor may also suggest massage therapy to help relax the muscles in your body that are prone to spasm. Massage can also help to reduce any inflammation that accompanies the cramps and spasms your muscles suffer from.
Your chiropractor can offer nutritional advice to help put an end to chronic spasms as well. If you are dehydrated, then you may have an electrolyte imbalance that is causing your cramping. Drinking more water and making some changes to your diet can help restore balance and reduce the number or spasms you are experiencing as well.
Remember, it is not normal to experience muscle spasms frequently. If you do, then it’s likely you have an underlying problem that needs to be found and addressed. You don’t have to just suffer from the pain and discomfort of muscle spasms, your chiropractor at The Joint can be your partner to find a solution!
