What Causes Muscle Spasms?
By Madhusudhan Tammisetti
While most back muscle spasms are mild and treatable, others suggest an underlying problem that needs your immediate attention. Spasming is normally the body's natural protective mechanism, signaling that you've recently pulled or strained a muscle.
Muscle spasms happen when a muscle contracts abruptly and involuntarily and is difficult to relax. Muscle spasms may affect part or the whole muscle, affecting many muscles in the muscle group. Muscle spasms cause pain that ranges from burning to intense stabbing, stiffness, numbness, and extreme pain. Although some muscular spasms are mild and may not interfere with daily tasks, others can be severe and linger for days or weeks.
A visit to a chiropractor may help deal with muscle spasms. They may suggest some rest, physical therapy, and ice or heat therapy for relief.
Weak Back Muscles
Back and strong abdominal muscles serve to support the back and avoid muscle spasms. Weak or tight muscles are more likely to be damaged, resulting in back muscle spasms.
Muscle Strain
Any strain or damage to the back's soft tissues, including the muscles, tendons, and ligaments, may cause a back spasm. Heavy lifting and sports that involve abrupt and repeated motions are major causes of back muscle spasms. However, any action that exerts an excessive amount of tension on the back muscles might result in an injury and may result in a muscular spasm.
Underlying Issues
If the back spasms don't seem to be getting better and they keep happening in the same spot, you may be suffering from an underlying spine problem, such as arthritis, spinal stenosis, disc herniation, or degenerative disc disorders. When you've an underlying anatomical problem, the muscles in the back respond by spasming in response to the inflammation and pain.
Muscle Cramps
Muscle cramps are a typical occurrence among competitive and recreational sports. In healthy people with no underlying medical issues, this form of muscular cramp happens during or immediately after activity.
Chiropractic Care
A chiropractor may suggest the following remedies for relief from muscle spasms.
Putting an ice pack on the afflicted region for 15 minutes between the first day and the third day after a muscle spasm may help alleviate inflammation and pain.
After the initial three days, using a damp heat pack on the afflicted region for 20 minutes may help alleviate muscle spasm pain and improve healing by increasing flow of the blood to the affected area.
Apply a gentle massage to the afflicted region using a foam roller or massage ball until the spasm goes away. Stretch the afflicted region after the muscular spasm has eased.
Some strengthening and stretching exercises for back muscles may help relieve the pain.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Las Vegas, Nev.