• Magazine
    • Past Issues
    • Subscribe
    • Change Mailing Address
    • Surveys
    • Guidelines for Authors
    • Editorial Calendar
    • Editorial Deadlines
  • Practice
    • Business Tips
    • Chiropractic Schools
    • Clinical & Technique
    • eBooks
    • eCourses
    • Infographics
    • Quizzes
    • Wellness & Nutrition
    • Personal Growth
    • Podcast
  • Resource Centers
  • Products & Services
    • Buyer’s Guide
    • Products Directory
    • Submit a Product
    • Vendor Login
  • Datebook
    • Become an Events Poster
    • Post an Event
    • View Events
  • Jobs
    • Jobs
    • Post a Job
  • Advertise
    • Advertising Information
    • Media Kit
    • Contact Us
    • Upload Advertising

Your Online Chiropractic Community

Chiropractic Economics Your Online Chiropractic Community
Subscribe
  • Home
  • Current Issue
  • News
  • Webinars
  • Chiropractic Research
  • Students
  • Celebrating 65 Years

Treating patients with local muscle spasm

Dava Stewart January 28, 2015

ThinkstockPhotos-495720771Everyone is familiar with the pain of a muscle spasm—most people have experienced the pain and discomfort of a charley horse or sudden cramp, which is caused by the involuntary contraction of a muscle.1

Most people, too, have experienced fasciculation, or muscle twitches, which are usually not painful the way a sudden cramp may be. Both cramps and fasciculation are the result of muscles contracting involuntarily.

The problem

Muscle spasms can be a response pain, which occurs as the body takes steps to protect itself. Shoulder impingement, for example, can cause muscle spasms. Another common cause, particularly for athletes, is facet joint pain.2 In cases where injury has not caused the spasms, there are several other possible causes, including:

  • Dehydration
  • Poor nutrition
  • Weak muscles
  • A condition such as arthritis or fibromyalgia

Finding and correcting the underlying problem, not just the residual spasms, will help stop and relieve a patient’s pain.3 Once the underlying cause has been addressed, whether it is an injury or one of the causes listed above, treatment options can be discussed.

DCs almost always have patients who are experiencing muscle spasms in the muscles of the neck and/or back, and instrument adjusting can help relieve the underlying causes of those painful spasms.4

The treatments

Often, medical doctors will prescribe either muscle relaxers or antispasmodic drugs to patients suffering from local muscle spasms—Flexeril, Skelaxin and Botox are all common prescriptions. Another common treatment for back muscle spasms is injections.

Instrument adjusting is a useful tool for chiropractors treating patients with muscle spasms because it can allow for extremely precise adjustments. Some computer-assisted instruments can measure the spasms, providing more information to work with. In addition, the same types of computer-assisted instruments can show exactly how much change results from an adjustment, which helps the adjustments be perfectly targeted and leads to better results.

Without treatment, on-going muscle spasms can result in permanent damage, so treatment is essential.1 Some patients may be fine after their initial treatments, while others may need to perform regular stretching and strengthening exercises to prevent future muscle spasms. In some instances, on-going instrument-assisted adjustments may help patients remain pain free.

References

1 NYU Langone Medical Center. “Muscle pain and spasm.” New York University. http://pain-medicine.med.nyu.edu/patient-care/conditions-we-treat/muscle-pain-and-spasm. Accessed January 2015.

2 Sports Injury Clinic. “Facet Joint Pain.” SportsInjuryClinic.net. http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/sport-injuries/low-back-pain/facet-joint-pain. Accessed January 2015.

3 Gonzales C. “How you can get relief from back spasms now.” BasicSpine.com. http://www.basicspine.com/blog/relief-from-back-spasms/. Published May 2013. Accessed January 2015.

4 Cedars-Sinai. “Back Spasm.” Cedars-Sinai.edu. http://www.cedars-sinai.edu/Patients/Health-Conditions/Back-Spasm.aspx. Accessed January 2015.

Related Posts

  • Naturally relieve leg cramps with herbsNaturally relieve leg cramps with herbs
  • Mainstream treatments for common knee conditionsMainstream treatments for common knee conditions
  • Instrument adjusting shouldersInstrument adjusting shoulders
  • The guide to trigger point therapy with chiropractic toolsThe guide to trigger point therapy with chiropractic tools
  • Pain management: consider myofascial releasePain management: consider myofascial release
  • Thawing out the frozen shoulderThawing out the frozen shoulder

Filed Under: Instrument Adjusting, Resource Center

Current Issue

820 A1A N Highway W18,

Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082

Phone 904.285.6020

Fax 904.395.9118

CONTACT US »

Copyright © 2019, All Rights Reserved

SUBSCRIBE TO THE MAGAZINE

Get Chiropractic Economics magazine
delivered to your home or office. Just
fill out our form to request your FREE
subscription for 20 issues a year,
including two annual Buyers Guides.

SUBSCRIBE NOW »

Latest Chiropractic News

  • Sherman College names faculty, staff member of the year
    Carlson and Best headshots
  • Standard Process fuels Colin O’Brady’s extreme challenge to be the first to row the Drake Passage
    Colin O'Brady and team
  • Women Chiropractors group opens ‘ReEntry’ program for doctors starting over