Chronic muscle spasms can be extremely painful. The pain can be so much that it affects how you go about your daily living. Muscle spasm is caused by a variety of reasons and knowing them will help you avoid them. Also, chiropractors are experts who can help provide holistic relief to muscle spasm and associated pain.
What Is a Muscle Spasm?
Another name for muscle spasms is muscle cramps. It happens when the muscles contract involuntarily and do not relax immediately. A muscle cramp is common in the legs, hands, feet, abdomen, and back, but it can happen to any muscle.
In most cases, muscle spasms tend to be minor and it is only an occasional twitch or a sort of bout of pain before it goes away. Muscle spasms usually go away within minutes but there are severe cases that cause intense pain for a long time. For instance, the muscles that are affected may appear distorted or feel stiff when touched.
When you walk around, cramps in the legs and feet often relax. However, it sometimes gets worse before it relaxes. To give relief, applying heat or ice, rubbing, or gentle stretching of the muscle can work. If you get muscle spasms, the proper treatment is to take care of the root cause. Chiropractic care is an option that can help with this.
Causes Of Muscle Spasms
Muscle spasms are common. There are many reasons why it happens, and below are some of the main causes of muscle spasms:
- Dehydration
- Bad posture
- Nerve damage or inflammation
- Nutrient deficiency
- Improper stretching
- Overworked muscles
- Sitting for long
- Standing on a hard floor for hours
- Stress
You do not have to be concerned if you experience muscle spasms now and then. However, it becomes a medical concern if it happens frequently as it can affect your life. When it gets to this point, seeking the help of a chiropractor is advised.
Symptoms Of Muscle Spasms
Not all muscle spasms are painful even though it causes pain. When it happens, it can feel as if the muscle is moving or jumping involuntarily. This movement is visible to some people and it usually lasts for a few seconds.
When you get muscle spasms, you may experience it as if your muscles cannot move. This effect which is usually felt in the leg can be particularly painful. When you touch the muscles, it can feel hard. The sensation may go away within minutes but you may continue to have a sore feeling on the muscle afterwards.
Neurological health conditions can cause muscle spasms. If this is the case, the symptoms usually experienced are:
- A tremor
- Double vision
- Pain in the back, neck, and head
- Paralysis
- Poor coordination
- Skin numbness
- Sleep issues
- Weakness in the muscle
How Chiropractic Treatment Relieve Muscle Spasm Pain
When muscle spasms are severe, they can be extremely painful and disrupt how you go about your daily living. The muscles shorten in this case and it is caused by the involuntary action. You can experience the tightness and sensation that you feel all over your body. However, it is in the legs, neck, arms, and back that they are commonly felt.
The symptoms of muscle spasm varies and a chiropractor can help. To treat muscle spasms, here are the common chiropractic care used:
1. Soft tissue manipulation
Soft tissue manipulation is a technique that chiropractors use when treating musculoskeletal issues. It is also commonly used to treat muscle spasms.
When this technique is used, the chiropractor includes therapeutic stretching and massage therapy in the procedure. It is an effective technique for addressing muscle spasms and can help reduce scar tissue.
2. Joint manipulation
Joint manipulation is the technique chiropractors commonly use to treat muscle spasms. During the procedure, they will manipulate the joints in the other areas of your body, as well as the spine.
This manipulation is effective at restoring normal movement of the joint and spine. Therefore, the muscle spasm is reduced while the pain is decreased as well.
3. Exercise
Exercise is good for the body. However, some exercise routines may lead to muscle spasms especially when it is prolonged. At the same time, some type of exercise may be used to treat muscle spasms. Strength training exercises and some stretching moves are some of the exercises a chiropractor may ask you to do.
Additionally, the chiropractor may recommend specific exercises to complement the other treatments. This will help speed up the healing process. For effectiveness, you have to complete the exercise that the chiropractor recommends for you.
4. Associated therapies
Another type of chiropractic care for muscle spasms is associated therapies. This may include cold and hot treatments, electrical stimulation to the muscles that are affected, and ultrasound.
When these therapies are used, swelling of the muscles and scarring are prevented. It also helps improve blood circulation. Additionally, associated therapies, in many cases, help to reduce pain. They are also helpful in avoiding the recurrence of muscle spasms or further injury.
5. Rest
If your muscle spasm does not last for long, you may not want to visit a chiropractor. You may also decide not to seek help if it is not very painful. However, visiting a chiropractor may help you find long-term relief for muscle issues and allow you to live a healthier and fuller life.
In addition to the various chiropractic treatment options, chiropractors recommend that getting enough rest can eliminate or minimize the chances of muscle spasms happening again. Sometimes, overworked muscles are the cause of muscle spasms, and resting can help relax the muscles.
Conclusion
Muscle spasm is a common condition that affects many people. Frequent chiropractic care can be very helpful in treating the symptoms associated with muscle spasms. For instance, it can help relieve the pain that accompanies muscle spasms as well as reduce the muscle tightness that causes it. With chiropractic care, you have a holistic approach to treating muscle spasms.