If you suffer from muscle spasms, you know that they can be at the very least annoying and severe ones can be downright painful. Muscle spasms are involuntary muscle contractions that cause your muscle to shorten. When you are experiencing a muscle spasm you will feel a tightness or cramping sensation. Muscle spasms can occur all over you body but are most common in the neck, legs (hamstrings, quadriceps), arms and back.
If you are experiencing a low intensity cramping in the muscle, or a twitch or tick in the muscle, it could very likely be a muscle spasm. Other common symptoms include severe pain in the muscle, tightening of the muscle, a sudden sharp unpleasant sensation in the muscle or even muscle fatigue.
There are a variety of causes that can lead to muscle spasms. One of the most common is prolonged or excessive exercise. When you exercise too often or for very long periods of time, your muscles do not have a chance to relax and as a result muscle spasms can occur. Muscle spasms can also occur from dehydration, an injury or some type of trauma to the muscle. Muscle spasms can also be symptoms of neuromuscular diseases like multiple sclerosis or MS.
Many people find relief from muscle spasms with good, consistent chiropractic care. Chiropractors are highly trained medical professionals that use drug free alternative methods to treat patients. While some people are skeptical of visiting a chiropractor for treatment, many swear by their practices for relief.
On your first visit to a chiropractor, you will be asked to share your medical history and explain your current conditions. The chiropractor will then perform an exam which will most often include a check of your range of motion and what your neurological muscle function ability is. The chiropractor will also play close attention to your joint mobility. You also may be sent for x-rays.
After your medical history and exam, the chiropractor will decide on a treatment plan for you. There are a variety of techniques that they may suggest for your care, all of which can help with muscle spasms. Here are some of the most common chiropractic treatments for muscle spasms.
Joint manipulation
Joint manipulation is the most common treatment that chiropractors use. Most often they manipulate your spine, but they can also be trained to manipulate joints in other areas. Manipulation allows you spine and joints to restore normal motion which in turn leads to reduced pain and a decrease in muscle spasms.
Soft Tissue Manipulation
Soft tissue manipulation is another common technique used when treating muscle spasms. Treatment can include therapeutic stretching and massage therapy. These types of treatments help to reduce fluid, reduce scar tissue and provide relief for muscle spasms.
Associated Therapies
The chiropractor may also use associated therapies for the treatment of muscle spasms. This can include hot and cold treatments, electrical stimulation of the affected muscle or ultrasound. These therapies help greatly to increase circulation to the muscles and also prevent swelling of the muscle and prevent scarring. Associated therapies very often reduce pain and are a means for prevention of further injury and injury recurrences. Of course the ultimate goal is to reduce the muscle spasm.
Exercise
Very often chiropractors will also recommend some strength training exercises and stretching moves for you to do in between visits.
Nutrition and Supplementation
Chiropractors are also trained in health and nutrition and very often will recommend diet changes and certain supplements that can help with the healing process. Many chiropractors sell recommended supplements right at their office or they will recommend supplements that you can purchase elsewhere.
Your Tulsa Chiropractor,
Dr. Ryan Marshall, D.C.