What Are Back Spasms and Its Causes in Vacaville CA?

When you have back spasms in Vacaville CA, the pain can be unforgettable. The sharp and excruciating sudden pain of a muscle spasm will make you think that you don't want to experience it again.

For you not to get involved in such a situation ever again, it is important that you understand what cause your muscle spasms and learn from those mistakes. Normal voluntary muscle contraction can happen when electrical signals are sent from the brain along the spinal cord through the motor neurons.

Motor neurons release chemicals at the muscle, which triggers the calcium ions that have been stored within the muscle cells. This exchange will let the proteins slide past each other, thereby stimulating muscle flexing and contraction. When there is an interruption during any stage of this process, a spasm can happen. Muscle membrane can become sensitive and can easily contract. The calcium ions may not be produced fast enough and will cause contraction without stimulation. In general, spasms can fit into two separate categories: a traumatic injury or a reoccurring strain.

Traumatic Injury

A traumatic injury is a spontaneous event that can happen when you injure, strain, or twist your muscles. Lifting of heavy objects is probably the most common type of traumatic occurrence that could be the cause for your back spasm. An improper way of lifting a heavy object can cause a muscle tear in your lower back. The same thing goes when you are pushing or pulling a heavy object.

Fatigued or dehydrated muscles are more prone to strain and tear when put under stress. You must also avoid working out in extreme heat to prevent heat cramps. Taking a warm bath will help improve circulation especially before doing any strenuous activities.

Reoccurring Strain in Vacaville CA

Reoccurring strains can be something as simple as sitting with an improper posture in front of your desk. If you are typing on your keyboard incorrectly or doing sports with a bad form, it can manifest in unpredictable ways which includes a muscle spasm. Repetitive strains are muscles that have been irritated for a long time, before a small movement can trigger a spasm.

Even a simple movement like picking up a small item from the floor or reaching for your remote can still trigger a major spasm. The muscles can cause a tear, and the muscles surrounding the area will automatically stiffen so that it could prevent further harm to the muscles. This type of spasms can take a long time to heal, which may last anywhere from two to six weeks depending on the lifestyle of the patient. Once the muscles tear, it will start forming scar tissues which facilitates adhesion to repair the tissue. In severe cases, these scar tissues can take up to a year to form.

Ultimately, the best immediate remedy is to alternate applying ice and heat to the affected muscle so that it will help in loosening the muscle while also reducing the pain and inflammation. Scar tissue will need to break down to help the muscles in regaining the flexibility it used to have before the spasm. Exercise can initially be too strenuous, so deep tissue massages and chiropractic care are needed to recuperate the muscles.

If you need help for your muscle spasms, our clinic here at Absolute Integrative Physical Medicine in Vacaville, CA is always open to help you. Just call us at (707) 474-5688 so that we can help you schedule an appointment with us as soon as possible.