South Austin Sports Chiropractic Blog

What to Do If You Have Muscle Cramps or Spasms?

by | Jan 24, 2022

Do you know what to do if you have muscle cramps or spasms? According to the Tebby Clinic, “Muscle cramps and spasms are the involuntary twitching and contracting of the muscles. They can come unexpectedly, and there’s no way for you to know how long it will take for them to pass. Chronic muscle spasms can be a great nuisance in your daily life as you can’t control when they will happen or how often. Many factors contribute to the onset of muscle spasms and cramps. Regardless of what causes the symptoms, it’s probably a good idea to visit a chiropractor if they affect your daily activities.”

Why You Should See a Chiropractor

Your chiropractor can perform adjustments to reduce muscle spasms. The treatment can help align your body by resetting how nerves fire to the soft tissues. When nerve signals sent to your brain are disrupted, it can result in an involuntary contraction. As you receive regular adjustments, the tightness in your muscles that can lead to spasms will get better. Your chiropractor may advise you to get massage therapy to relax the tightened muscles in your body, thus reducing the frequency of muscle spasms. If any inflammation comes with the muscle cramps and spasms, massage can also help reduce the inflammation.

In addition, your chiropractor can also give you nutritional recommendations to combat chronic muscle spasms. If you haven’t been drinking enough water or eating mineral rich foods, the chances are that you may have an electrolyte imbalance, which is the cause of your cramping. By drinking more water and getting enough mineral rich foods in your diet, you can reduce the frequency of muscle spasms. Mineral rich foods include fruits and vegetables.

What to Do If You Have Muscle Cramps or Spasms?

Muscle spasms and cramps can cause you pain, interfering with your daily life. The most important thing to remember is that muscle spasms should not occur frequently. If you experience frequent spasms, you may likely have a problem that needs to be addressed by a professional. Instead of suffering through the pain, you should seek out a chiropractor as soon as you can so that you can get the treatment you need before these problems persist and develop into something more serious.

What Are the Causes of Spasms and Cramps?

There are many causes of muscle spasms. When a muscle contracts involuntarily, it’s usually a harrowing experience. However, this doesn’t happen for no reason. Most muscle spasms are caused by:

  • Injury
  • Dehydration
  • Degenerative disc disease
  • Spinal stenosis
  • Over-exercising
  • Fatigue
  • Not stretching properly
  • Poor posture
  • Dietary issues, such as a vitamin deficiency
  • Spinal misalignment
  • Pulled muscle
  • Inflammation

Often, a muscle spasm signifies that something else is going on. Most spasms are a symptom rather than the cause.

Luckily, chiropractors can help.  Studies show that chiropractic care is excellent for relaxing muscles and, better yet, correcting any underlying issues that may be causing painful muscle cramps.