Would you like to switch to the accessible version of this site?

Go to accessible site Close modal window

Don't need the accessible version of this site?

Hide the accessibility button Close modal window
Accessibility View Close toolbar
Delmarva Chiropractic and Wellness Center
Open mobile navigation
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • New Patient Center
    • Online Forms
    • Video Tour
    • What to Expect
      • Your First Visit
    • Payment Options
  • Supplements and Juice Plus+
  • Testimonials
  • About Us
    • Meet the Chiropractor
    • Services & Techniques
    • Meet The Staff
  • Rehab and Exercise Videos
  • Nutrition
  • Calendar
  • Videos and Research
    • Health Resources
    • Community Content
      • About Chiropractic Care
        • What is Chiropractic
        • How Does it Work
        • Who is Chiropractic For
        • Vertebral Subluxation
        • Wellness Resources
      • Common Conditions Treated
        • Auto Accident Injuries
        • Back and Shoulder Pain
        • Body Pain
        • Chronic Condition Relief
          • Conditions Affecting Women
          • Headaches
        • Herniated Discs
        • Improved Health
        • Pediatric Ailments
        • Repetitive Use Injuries
        • Respiratory Function
      • Health & Wellness
        • Healthy Thinking
          • Get Positive
          • Relaxation Techniques
        • Life in Motion
        • Wellness Lifestyle Tips
          • Treat Yourself Well
          • Treat Others Well
          • Eat Well
        • Wellness Essentials
          • At Home
          • At Work
          • Exercise
          • Nutrition
          • What You Wear
        • Wellness Perspectives
          • Physical
          • Social
          • Spiritual
          • Mental
      • Therapies & Techniques
        • Techniques
        • Therapies
      • Newsletter Library
        • Weight Loss
        • Staying Motivated
        • Staying Young
        • Life-Work Balance
        • Stress & Anxiety
        • Mind-Body Connection
        • Wellness
        • Pregnancy & Parenting
        • Back, Body & Joint Pain
        • Senior Health
        • Breaking Bad Habits
        • Healthy Tips
        • Exercise & Fitness
        • Injury Rehab & Prevention
        • Kid's Health
        • Illness Prevention
        • Chronic Conditions
        • Nutrition & Healthy Eating
      • Wellness4Kids
  • Community Health Partners
  • Home >
  • Articles >
  • Newsletter Library >
  • Causes and Treatments of Muscle Spasms

Causes and Treatments of Muscle Spasms

  • Created in Newsletter Library

Woman grabbing her calf in pain

Will Chiropractic Treatment Stop Your Muscle Spasms?

Do you often experience back spasms, Charley horses, or other types of muscle spasms? Although occasional spasms may not be a cause for concern, painful muscle cramps can disrupt your life if they become a regular occurrence. Luckily, your chiropractor can find out why you keep getting muscle spasms and offer treatments that will relieve your pain.

What Causes Muscle Spasms?

Every time you move, your muscles contract or tighten, then relax again. Spasms occur when a muscle tightens involuntarily and remains stuck in the contraction phase for seconds or minutes. If you touch your muscle in the middle of a severe spasm, you may notice that it feels hard. Mild spasms may only cause twitching sensations in the muscle and are much less painful. Spasms can affect any muscle but are most common in the calf, thigh, back, hand, arm, foot, abdominal, and rib muscles.

Muscle spasms can be caused by:

  • Dehydration: Dehydration occurs due to a decrease in the amount of fluid in your body. When you're dehydrated, your body reroutes available fluids to your heart and other crucial organs. As a result, your muscles don't receive the fluids they need and begin to cramp. Dehydration can be caused by a strenuous workout, high temperatures or humidity, not drinking enough, diarrhea, or excessive sweating.
  • Overuse: You're more likely to experience spasms when your muscles are tired. This can happen when you're playing sports, painting your house, or removing snow from your driveway.
  • Inactivity: Did your spasms start after you decided you needed more exercise? Your muscles may be more likely to cramp if you begin a vigorous fitness routine after weeks or months of inactivity.
  • Poor Posture: Slouching or spending too much time in one position can strain your muscles. When muscles are strained, any movement can cause a spasm. In fact, bending down to reach a dropped pen could trigger painful spasms in your back or shoulder.
  • Subluxations: Subluxations occur when the vertebrae, the small bones that make up your spine, become misaligned. When this happens, the muscles attached to the vertebrae tighten, making them more likely to spasm.
  • Medication Side Effects: Some medications can increase your risk of muscle spasms. Drugs that may cause cramps include those used to treat high blood pressure, heart disease, high cholesterol, Alzheimer's disease, myasthenia gravis, osteoporosis, and Parkinson's disease, according to WebMD.
  • Getting Older: Your muscles become smaller as you age. When you move, the muscles must work harder, which increases your risk of spasms.
  • Other Causes: Muscle spasms can also be caused by poor circulation, pinched nerves, pregnancy, herniated discs, hypothyroidism, kidney or liver disease, or low calcium, potassium, and magnesium levels.

How Do Chiropractors Treat Muscle Spasms?

Before your chiropractor can treat your spasms, they must determine why you are getting these painful cramps. For example, if the spasms happen when you work out or play sports, not drinking enough water or failing to stretch before you exercise could be the reason for the cramps.

No matter what the cause, trying these chiropractic treatments may ease your pain and reduce the number of spasms you get:

  • Hot and Cold Therapy: Heat loosens tight muscles, while ice reduces pain.
  • Massage Therapy: Massages relax both you and your muscles. In addition to loosening your muscles, massage therapy also decreases pressures on nerves, which may lessen your pain. Massage prompts your body to produce endorphins, hormones that ease pain naturally and help you feel calm and relaxed. In a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine in July 2011, researchers reported that massage improves function and reduces pain as long as six months after the last massage session.
  • Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation: This therapy relaxes tight muscles and relieves pain by preventing pain signals from reaching the brain. During the treatment, electrodes attached to your skin produce a gentle electrical current.
  • Spinal Manipulation: Pressure on muscles, nerves, and tendons decreases when your chiropractor realigns your vertebrae with spinal manipulation. Your doctor their hands or an activator to apply quick thrusts that improve the alignment of your spine. Once the muscles and vertebrae are properly aligned, blood circulation, flexibility, and range of motion also improve.

If you struggle with muscle spasms, contact our office to schedule an appointment with our chiropractor now.

Sources:

WebMD: Charley Horse, 3/17/20

Cleveland Clinic: Muscle Cramps, 12/10/19

Merck Manual: Muscle Cramps, 8/21

Annals of Internal Medicine: A Comparison of the Effects of 2 Types of Massage and Usual Care on Chronic Low Back Pain, 7/5/2011

Chiropractic Economics: Prevention and How to Stop a Muscle Spasm, 1/21/20

  • About Chiropractic Care
    • What is Chiropractic
    • How Does it Work
    • Who is Chiropractic For
    • Vertebral Subluxation
    • Wellness Resources
  • Common Conditions Treated
    • Auto Accident Injuries
    • Back and Shoulder Pain
    • Body Pain
    • Chronic Condition Relief
      • Conditions Affecting Women
      • Headaches
    • Herniated Discs
    • Improved Health
    • Pediatric Ailments
    • Repetitive Use Injuries
    • Respiratory Function
  • Health & Wellness
    • Healthy Thinking
      • Get Positive
      • Relaxation Techniques
    • Life in Motion
    • Wellness Lifestyle Tips
      • Treat Yourself Well
      • Treat Others Well
      • Eat Well
    • Wellness Essentials
      • At Home
      • At Work
      • Exercise
      • Nutrition
      • What You Wear
    • Wellness Perspectives
      • Physical
      • Social
      • Spiritual
      • Mental
  • Therapies & Techniques
    • Techniques
    • Therapies
  • Newsletter Library
    • Weight Loss
    • Staying Motivated
    • Staying Young
    • Life-Work Balance
    • Stress & Anxiety
    • Mind-Body Connection
    • Wellness
    • Pregnancy & Parenting
    • Back, Body & Joint Pain
    • Senior Health
    • Breaking Bad Habits
    • Healthy Tips
    • Exercise & Fitness
    • Injury Rehab & Prevention
    • Kid's Health
    • Illness Prevention
    • Chronic Conditions
    • Nutrition & Healthy Eating
  • Wellness4Kids

Sign up now for a free phone consultation!

Featured Services

Click to Find Out More

Office Hours

Our Regular Schedule

Monday:

8:00 AM

6:00 PM

Tuesday:

8:00 AM

12:00 PM

Wednesday:

8:00 AM

6:00 PM

Thursday:

Closed

Friday:

8:00 AM

6:00 PM

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed

Location

Find us on the map

Testimonials

Reviews By Our Satisfied Patients

  • "Chiropractic Gives an Airmen His Life Back

    After 2 long years of having extreme back pain and being told by many doctors that it would be something that I would have to learn to live with, I made the choice to give Dr. Riggin a chance at giving me my life back. I have been to see Dr. Riggin about 7 times now and I feel much better now that he has reduced my pain to almost nothing and I am now able to get out and enjoy time on the boat with my wife and little girl. Two years ago today I was not even able to pick my little girl up and hold her but now thanks to Dr. Riggin I have been able to enjoy my life like I used too. I am very thankful that I chose to see Dr. Riggin because he is very knowledgeable in his field."
    -SSgt Stutts

Featured Articles

Read about interesting topics

    How Posture Affects Your Health

    Could your health problem be related to your posture? ...

    Read More

    How to Avoid and Treat Tension Headaches

    Do you have frequent tension headaches? Banish the pain with chiropractic treatment ...

    Read More

    Self Care for Chronic Pain: Do's and Do Not's

    Wondering what to do about your chronic pain? These tips can help. ...

    Read More

    Working from Home and Chiropractic Care: How to Stay Healthy

    Suffering from work-at-home aches and pain? Chiropractic care relieves your pain naturally. ...

    Read More

    The Benefits of Chiropractic Treatment for Older Patients

    Could chiropractic treatment help you deal with the effects of aging? ...

    Read More

    Why Movement is Important for Healing Injuries

    Do you want to get back to normal faster after an injury? Get moving! ...

    Read More

    What Are Neck Spasms and Why Do They Occur?

    Are you wondering why you have painful neck spasms? ...

    Read More

    How to Strengthen Your Joints

    Are you struggling with painful, weak joints? ...

    Read More

    Enjoy the Health Benefits of Massage Therapy and Chiropractic

    Want to improve your health? Massage therapy and chiropractic treatment may offer the perfect solution. ...

    Read More

    Why an Inactive Lifestyle Isn’t Good For You

    Do you exercise enough? You may be at risk of developing these health conditions if you lead a sedentary lifestyle. ...

    Read More

Newsletter Sign Up

  • Copyright © 2022 MH Sub I, LLC dba iMatrix.
  • Admin Log In
  • Site Map