A muscle spasm is a sudden, involuntary movement in one or more muscles.
Cause
Muscle pain,
fatigue,
overuse
Other causes include:
stress or anxiety,
trapped nerves
Exercise
Athletes who either do not warm up before they exercise or exercise in very hot conditions may also experience muscle spasms. Charley horse, for example, is a term that people often use to describe spasms in runners’ calf muscles. Drinking insufficient water before exercise can also cause muscle spasms.
Who are at risk?
older adults
athletes
people with overweight or obesity
pregnant women
People who have certain health conditions, such as nerve disorders or thyroid-related problems, also tend to experience a higher-than-average frequency of muscle spasms.
Not worrisome ?
Though not a trouble maker, sometimes spasms can be a sign of an underlying neurological health condition.
Is it Painful?
Not all muscle spasms are painful, but some can cause pain.
It can feel as though the muscle is jumping or moving on its own, with this feeling typically lasting just a few seconds.
Some people might even be able to see the muscle twitching.
Sometimes the whole muscle gets cramped up and cannot move.
The muscle may feel hard to the touch.
The cramping sensation may pass within several minutes or so but the muscle may continue to hurt for some time afterward.
What must be done?
As per the American Osteopathic Association, the following things must
Be kept in mind to treat spasm:
stopping any activity that led to the cramp — running, for example
massaging the cramping muscle gently
stretching of the cramping muscle .
using a heating pad to relax tight muscles
applying an ice pack to soothe sore muscles
How can I prevent it?
Drinking plenty of water and stretching the muscles before any exercise or repetitive movements can help prevent muscle spasms.
Some people experience muscle cramps in the legs during the night. Stretching the limbs before bed can help prevent this from occurring.
regular stretching using post-isometric relaxation techniques, a dynamic warm-up consisting of movements designed to actively prepare the muscle for performance, correction of biomechanical imbalances and posture, reducing exercise intensity or duration, and avoidance of provocative drugs could also be an effective technique
Spasm can indicate some underlying problems which might need a look into:
nutrition
circulation
metabolism
nerves
hormones
Your Physical therapist will be able to help you figure out the reason for your spasms, prescribe what needs to be taken care and even guide you to make a visit to your physician if you have been overlooking your complaints that is causing your discomfort.
At Valley Healing Hands, We provide the best Physical Therapy treatment for spasm and cramps. Our patients are completely satisfied with our services and you may have a look into what they have to say about us here and get connected to us here. Our patients love us and so will you!
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