A muscle spasm is a very painful thing to experience and if you have experienced one I’m sure you’ll agree!
What is a muscle spasm
A muscle spasm occurs when a muscle or group of muscles contracts involuntarily to an extreme degree and it is usually a response to an injury or strain to your body. A muscle spasm can basically cripple you while it’s happening as it is so painful and the affected muscle is severally contracted and rigid. Interestingly enough, a muscle spasm is also thought to be seen in a positive light, as it appears that when the muscle spasm is occurring it is supporting the injured area of your body.
As your back is full of muscles and nerves, it is highly susceptible to muscle spasms.
The nerves and muscles in our back, along with our spine, work together to enable us to move and have our motor functions. The spine supports the back muscles and protects the main nerve that runs to our limbs. The nerves send the messages from the brain to the muscles and tells them what to do. The muscles make our bodies move by contracting and lengthening.
Sometimes we can abuse our muscles, overwork them and simply not take care of them. This can create an environment ripe for a muscle spasm. If your muscle is being overworked and then not properly stretched out, your muscle or muscle group could react in a spasm.
Possible causes of a back muscle spasm
Here are some scenarios that would make you an easy target for a back spasm:
1. overworking a muscle and/or muscle group
2. exerting your muscles in a hot climate/environment
3. not drinking enough water
4. improper or inadequate stretching of muscles
5. if you have diabetes and/or muscular sclerosis-these can cause muscle spasms
Treatments
If you have experienced a muscle spasm in your back there are a few different ways you can attempt to treat it:
1. stretching- proper stretching of your back muscles after working them out is very important
2. massage therapy-make sure you let the massage therapist know about your back muscle spasm
3. over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication(s)
A muscle spasm in your back could have long term effects as an overworked muscle can lead to a disc related problem. If your muscle spasm(s) become unbearable and it keeps coming back or gets longer and longer in duration-go see your doctor. It could be a symptom of an underlying problem such as a herniated disc and your doctor may order medical tests to find out what exactly is causing the spasms.
This article is considered general information only; please consult a medical professional concerning your specific condition.
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