Chiropractic and Muscle Spasm

Remember that time you bent down to pick up a pen or load the dishwasher and your back seized up? Instant pain pierced through you as muscles went into spasm. The pain can be so intense that you can barely move. 

Could something as simple as picking up a pen really cause such pain?

The answer is that it isn’t what you did. It’s what you didn’t do. These overextended muscles were already fatigued, strained and overworked. Due to repetitive movements during our everyday activities and habits like heavy lifting or poor posture, simple activities can cause muscles go into spasm. These muscles go into spasm to protect the joint involved from further harm and to protect ourselves from further injury. However, sometimes this spasm can be excruciating.

Usually muscles have become strained and overworked over a period of time. Then all it takes is a sudden movement like mindlessly reaching down for a pen or making the bed, and the already strained muscle goes into spasm. Muscle spasm or cramping is an involuntary, sudden, severe muscle contraction. This contraction can cut off blood supply which can cause even more pain and cause the muscle to contract even further. Spasms can last from a few seconds or can immobilize a patient on the floor for hours because the muscle won’t relax with movement. It all depends on the cause of the spasm.

If the spasm is due to fatigue, dehydration or an electrolyte deficiency, they can last seconds to several minutes. If it is caused by a protective mechanism to avoid further joint irritation or nerve involvement, pain and spasms can last for days or even weeks. Warning signs of a potential muscle spasm from occurring, consist of stiffness, tenderness and the need to stretch or put pressure on the muscles. There is usually an underlying cause to these symptoms that should be dealt with before the symptoms escalate.

The good news is that chiropractic care can help treat most types of muscle spasm and can also help in preventing muscle spasms from occurring in the first place. Regular chiropractic adjustments assess and focus on areas of the spine where there is joint dysfunction and muscle tightness. If you can catch the issue and get it treated before it evolves into full spasm, then you will save yourself a lot of pain and discomfort.

In addition to chiropractic care, massage therapy, supplementing with magnesium, increasing your intake of water and applying an ice/heat combo can all help with decreasing inflammation and preventing muscle spasms.