Do you suffer from involuntary muscle contractions? Also known as spasms, this is an all-too-common condition that affects men and women of all ages. A single spasms here and there shouldn’t cause any need for concern. But when you are having multiple spasms each week, it can result in pain, inflammation, limited mobility, and other problems. So, how can you overcome muscle spasms and regain control of your body?
The first step towards overcoming muscle spasms is to determine what exactly is causing them. Only then can you make the necessary changes to your lifestyle to correct it. One of the most common causes of muscle spasms is dehydration. When there’s not enough water surrounding your muscles, the connected nerves become hypersensitive, resulting in involuntary contractions or spasms. Surprisingly, some studies have found that as many three in four Americans go throughout their daily lives in a constant state of dehydration.
Heavy lifting may also contribute to muscle spasms. Muscles are comprised of thousands upon thousands of small, fine fibers that are interwoven together. When you lift weights (or any heavy object for that matter), it creates small tears in these fibers, which is why you feel sore afterwards. Unfortunately, though, it’s not uncommon for overworked muscles to spasm. To reduce the risk of muscle spasms associated with heavy lifting, give your body a full 48 hours to rest and recover.
Poor posture has been shown to play a role in the formation of muscle spasms. We’ve talked about this before on our blog, but it’s worth mentioning again that posture affects nearly every aspect of your health, including the muscles. When you go throughout the day slouched over, it may add extra stress to your spine and back, which in turn may cause muscle spasms.
Certain types of back injuries, such as pinched nerve or slipped disc, may also trigger muscle spasms. If your sciatic nerve is being compressed or otherwise pinched, it may cause spasms all the way to your neck or even your arms.
If you are suffering from muscle spasms, you should schedule an appointment with your local chiropractor. Chiropractors are fully trained in diagnosing the cause of muscle spasms and correcting them with a variety of techniques. A person who is experiencing muscle spasms as a result of a pinched nerve, for instance, may seek chiropractic treatment to relieve pressure on the affected nerve. Chiropractors can often manipulate the nerve and/or tissue surrounding the nerve to “free” it; thus, relieving the client of his or her muscle spasms.