Why does muscle spasm occur? Muscle spasms: causes, treatment. Additional research methods.

The spine is an important element of the human skeleton.

In order for it to function properly, the muscles must work in harmony.

After all, they not only help us move, but protect our spine.

A common disease of the spine is a spasm of the back muscles.

This is an involuntary contraction of muscle tissue. accompanied by severe pain. The spasm may be prolonged or short-term, but in both cases, the patient suffers from severe pain.

Spasm of the back muscles - causes

There are many reasons that affect the development of spasm, but the main ones are as follows:

1. Injuries. Damaged muscle tissue or the negative effects of physical activity cause a person to have strong pain. The muscles surrounding the injury site are quite tense. This process is a protective function of the body to the injury he received. Due to the fact that the muscles are enlarged, the injured area does not increase in size, so the person feels a spasm. When contracting, the muscle tissue strongly compresses the nerves, hence the occurrence of pain.

2. Stress. When a person is in stressful situations, adrenaline is released, the heart rate increases, muscles tense up. By contracting muscle tissue, the body protects itself from injury. After a person calms down, all processes return to normal. But if stress lasts for a long time, muscle spasm occurs.

3. Intervertebral hernia. The disease provokes irritation of the nerves in the vicinity, eventually leading to muscle contractions.

4. Physical activity. Spasms of the back muscles can be triggered by long workouts or lifting heavy objects.

5. Uncomfortable body position for a long time. First of all, this is due to the fact that blood vessels are squeezed. But the normal blood flow and ensuring the full functioning of muscle fibers occurs precisely because of them. The appearance of such muscle spasms falls on the lower back and neck.

Spasm of the back muscles: diagnosis of possible diseases

Spasm of the back muscles occurs in case of any disease in the body. Typically, this is the following:

1. Herniated discs.

2. Scoliosis.

3. Lordosis.

4. Osteochondrosis.

In order to understand how they can provoke the appearance of muscle spasm, it is important to consider each disease in more detail.

Osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis is a fairly serious disease that requires immediate medical attention. Many begin to wait for the feeling of pain and discomfort to disappear on its own. This is a big mistake, since every day the development of the disease will only intensify, causing everything great pain.

With osteochondrosis, the spine is damaged. It is characterized by deformation of the intervertebral discs, as well as a decrease in their height. main reason its occurrence is a sedentary lifestyle.

The longer treatment measures are not taken, the more serious the consequences will be.

Herniated discs

Due to the fact that many people move little, a disease associated with the musculoskeletal system has become common among them. One of the pathologies is a hernia. According to statistics, intervertebral hernia causes severe back pain. The disease is serious and will not go away on its own. Along with terrible discomfort, spasms of the back muscles occur. Treatment often requires surgery.

Lordosis

Our spine has certain curves, thanks to which the body is in an upright position and does not deform during exercise and walking. He has never been direct and should not be. The curvature of the spinal column in different directions is called scoliosis, and the curvature in the cervical and lumbar- lordosis. Even a slight curvature in the spine should be carefully examined by specialists.

Scoliosis

Residents of our country often suffer from diseases that give rise to the spine. Scoliosis occurs in patients regardless of their age. The development of the disease is more often childhood, in the process of growing up, it constantly progresses. All this leads to the development of diseases. internal organs. Moreover, back pain does not occur very often. Even the spasm of the back muscles is weakly expressed. In order to assign proper treatment, the specialist must conduct the correct diagnosis.

Kyphosis

The disease negatively affects the anatomical structure of the entire spine. There is a decrease in organs located nearby. With pronounced kyphosis, loss of sensitivity is possible. With timely treatment, the symptoms are quickly eliminated. But in order for them not to reappear, you must constantly adhere to strict rules.

Spasm of the back muscles - treatment

After feeling back pain, you need to see a doctor as soon as possible in order to understand what provoked her appearance. Some spasms can go away on their own, after a good rest. But if within three days, from the moment the pain began, everything remains the same, and there is no improvement, a full examination is required. Running spasm can become a chronic disorder of the muscles. This will affect the future life of the patient.

The following methods allow you to relieve spasm:

Acupuncture;

Applying cold;

Taking medications.

How to relieve spasm of the back muscles with cold

Many patients, after the onset of back pain, begin to warm it up or knead it. But few people know that even more harm is done in this way. Improper massage and warming up give the opposite effect - the pain goes to neighboring muscles. In order to somehow relieve the pain, or at least reduce it, you need to take a small piece of ice and grind it at the site of inflammation. Cold - will not save you from the problem, but, nevertheless, relieve tension.

Massage

Massage is good remedy to relieve spasm. The only condition is that it must be performed correctly from a technical point of view. Thanks to it, blood circulation in the clamped muscle is normalized. Regardless of what caused the spasm, doctors prescribe massage for almost all patients.

Acupuncture

This is a fairly new way to relieve muscle spasm in the back. Thin needles are able to favorably affect the nerve endings in the muscles, thereby allowing them to relax. But to spend this procedure must be a specialist.

The most effective treatment

Take care of yourself and take nonsteroidal drugs. They prevent and stop inflammatory process. This is the most fast way in treatment. With severe inflammation, the doctor will give you an injection at the site of inflammation. The medicine enters the lesion, relaxes the muscle and eliminates pain.

It is possible to treat spasm of the back muscles with drugs only after they are prescribed by a doctor. In no case do not try to relieve spasm with the means recommended by friends or acquaintances. Since each organism is different, and the effect of a particular drug on it is always unpredictable. Only an experienced specialist can identify the cause of the spasm, as well as choose the right treatment.

Treatment with folk remedies

There are many recipes of the day for external and internal use among the people.

Here are some of them:

1. Tincture of birch buds. Take 2 tbsp. tablespoons of dry birch buds and pour 2-- ml of boiling water. Drink 3 tablespoons a day.

2. Collect poppy flowers and dry well. Then gently grind to a powder. Take one st. a spoonful of poppy seeds and combine with 20 tablespoons of milk and honey. Take the remedy for 1 tbsp. spoon 3 times a day.

3. Take adonis, pour one spoon of it with 300 ml of boiling water. Let it brew for two hours, then strain. The course of treatment is 1.5 weeks, 1 tbsp. spoons a day.

4. An effective remedy based on horseradish porridge. For cooking, take 200 gr. horseradish and grind it thoroughly. Then add 0.5 olive oil and honey. Mix thoroughly and refrigerate. This mixture should be taken 3 times a day, 30 minutes before meals, 1 tbsp. spoon.

5. Tincture of motherwort. It can be prepared independently or purchased at a pharmacy. It is recommended to add 10 grams of crushed cloves to it. Infuse for two weeks, and then take 20 drops before meals.

6. In summer, it is imperative to prepare a tincture based on fly agaric. To do this, knead them (with gloves), carefully put them in a three-liter jar. Close it and place it in a cold place for one month. After that, take out the jar, you will see that fly agarics are swimming in a red liquid. This is the main basis for the remedy. For every 250 ml. fly agaric juice, you need to pour 750 ml of vodka. It is necessary to be treated in this way very carefully, observing the dosage. Every evening you need to drink a glass of milk with the addition of a fly agaric to it. On the first day it is one drop, on the second two, and so on. The course of treatment is 10 days, that is, in the end you will reach 10 drops of the remedy. After that, you need to take a break for 5 days. Then start treatment again, in the same way reach 10 drops, and vice versa, in descending order. If you believe traditional healers, then all spasms of the back muscles will pass.

External funds:

1. Take a lemon, squeeze the juice out of it and lubricate it in the place where it hurts. After the skin is dry, wrap it in a cloth and go to bed. Do these activities for two weeks.

2. Laurel oil. Take 50 gr. bay leaf, carefully chop and pour a glass of unrefined vegetable oil. Leave in a dark place for two weeks. After that, strain the tincture and rub the muscles in order to relieve spasm.

3. Prepare the ointment. For this you will need one tbsp. spoon apple cider vinegar, 1 tsp turpentine and chicken yolk. Combine all ingredients and beat until smooth. Gently rub the ointment into the spasms.

Prevention

It is easier to prevent the occurrence of spasms of the back muscles than to deal with their elimination later. For prevention, experts gave some tips, following which, you can protect yourself from the onset of the disease. The main methods can be considered as follows:

Physical activity helps maintain the elasticity of the back;

Compliance correct mode nutrition. The diet should contain enough vitamins and nutrients;

Complete rest. During the working day, you need to alternate loads with rest;

Avoid muscle strain.

Attention to your body healthy lifestyle life are the main components of normal human mobility. Don't start your illnesses. With a timely visit to the doctor, the treatment time will be significantly reduced, and most importantly, everything will be effective.

muscle spasm is a painful convulsive muscle contraction that occurs during or after exercise. For the human body to work, its muscle tissue must be elastic and even.

Causes and symptoms of muscle spasms

We are often faced with situations where, regardless of the desire of a person, some large or small areas of the body or muscle groups are tense. With muscle spasm, blood vessels and nerve endings are pinched. The food is broken in muscle tissue and energy-information exchange, as well as innervation in the organs with which the clamped blood vessels communicate. For example, if the vagus nerve in the neck is pinched as a result of a spasm, then problems arise in the gastrointestinal tract. With a spasm, a contraction occurs in the muscle, and certain energy costs are required to maintain it. The body makes up for this by expending energy from its reserves, which brings significant harm to the entire body.

Symptoms of muscle spasms are:

• aching and pressing pain;
• constant pain with increasing or decreasing;
• pain radiating to the head, eye, or shoulder;
• the impossibility of full-fledged movements and turns.

The main causes of spasms are:

• osteochondrosis, as well as protrusions and hernias of intervertebral discs;
• bruises and injuries of the spine;
• static stress due to incorrect posture or carrying a bag on one shoulder;
• increased muscle tone due to stress.

Hydration plays a key role. Often in the gym you can see people drinking vitamin drinks during exercise. They contain sodium, calcium and potassium in a balanced concentration. This has a positive effect on the function of nerves and muscles. If the balance of these electrolytes is disturbed, then significant problems arise in the body. It also happens when during a workout a person drinks a lot after the next approach, in full confidence that it helps the body. We all know that three-quarters of us are water. During exercise, sweat leaves sodium, which is not replaced by anything. If a person drinks, then he replaces one liquid with another. However, it is not similar due to the absence of the main component.

Low calcium levels lead to a decrease in intracellular fluid surrounding nerves and muscles. Nerve endings are overly irritated, and a spasm occurs.

After muscle tension, relaxation occurs, which lasts longer than the contraction itself. This process is based on the connection of the spinal cord, muscles and tendons, which narrow when tired. If at the same time the load on the tendons decreases and the load on the muscles increases, breaking the compression, a spasm occurs again.

During stress, the body mobilizes all its internal resources, increasing the heart rate, muscle tone, hormone release, and slowing down the digestion process. After that, he needs to relax, but sometimes this does not happen. Saved muscle tension, which again leads to spasms.

How to relieve spasm of the neck muscles?

You can relieve spasm of the neck muscles with the help of medications, folk remedies or sessions manual therapy. The main task is to eliminate pain syndrome, normalize blood circulation relieve muscle spasm.

If the cause is not in the underlying disease, then use the usual exercises that you do during the warm-up. These are head turns from different sides, tilts and circular rotations. Do four sets of four times.

Massages relieve spasms, restore tone and blood circulation. Some techniques can be used at home. Self-massage is a method of manual therapy to relieve pain and prevent spasms. For proper massage, you need to follow some rules:

• massage the neck in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe forearm;
• movements are performed from the bottom up: from the back of the head to the shoulder joint;
• you can use both hands, performing alternate and synchronous movements.

Tips for using:

• massaging with fingertips with little effort;
• stroking the back of the neck with the palms;
• pinching movements on one side with the thumb, on the other - with the rest;
• with relaxed hands, tap on the neck with your fingertips and over the shoulder;
• at the end - a relaxing stroking.

How to relieve spasm of the back muscles?

With a spasm of the spinal muscles, acute pain occurs, which is associated with squeezing nerve endings and vessels, restriction of movement and malnutrition of tissues and energy metabolism.

The first thing to do is to relax the muscles of the tense area. To do this, lie down on a hard, flat surface with your feet elevated. It can be a roller or a headboard. Place a folded towel under your head.

If this does not help, and the muscles remain inactive for more than three days, or you feel numbness and weakness, then you should definitely consult a doctor to prescribe medication.

As a first aid, medications are prescribed to relieve painful spasm. Muscle relaxants are universal medications, which are used to relieve local spasms. If the cause is osteochondrosis, then these drugs are taken in combination with chondroprotectors to restore damaged cartilage tissue. These drugs have some side effects, so it is not recommended to take them for a long time.

How to relieve spasm of the muscles of the leg?

Spasms of the muscles of the legs are very painful and excruciating. They occur more often at night, when a person wakes up from a sharp pain. Causes of pain include:

• large physical exercise;
• uncomfortable position of the legs;
• vascular diseases;
• anemia;
• lack of vitamins in the body;
• hypothermia;
• stress.

Spasms usually calf muscles and muscles of the anterior thigh. In order to cope with this you will need: a warming ointment, a heating pad and a woolen scarf.

First of all, you need to calm down and breathe evenly and deeply. If this happened at night, try getting up to get your blood circulation going. Then pull your toes back. It may be painful at first, but then you will feel the pain subside. Then massage your foot with stroking, tapping and rubbing. If, nevertheless, the spasm has not passed, prick with a needle or pinch. Then rub your leg again and pat. Rub your leg with any warming ointment, wrap it with a woolen scarf and place it on a raised platform. You can use a heating pad.

Your shoes should not be tight, uncomfortable or have very high heels. Do daily exercises for the legs. If your work is sedentary, try to get up more often and squat, walk on tiptoe. Reduce your coffee intake, as it depletes calcium from the body, and its deficiency manifests itself in spasms and convulsions. Accept cold and hot shower starting and ending with cold water.

How to relieve spasm of the thigh muscles?

Spasm of the femoral muscle causes severe pain due to its big size. This can happen at any time of the day. The cause is venous insufficiency or arthrosis knee joint. If only numbness and burning are felt, then the cause may be a violation of the nervous system.

The quadriceps muscle or quadriceps is located on the front surface of the leg. Her spasms are manifested by high intensity. You can prevent them with simple exercises. If the pain appeared in a standing position, then you need to sit down and try to stretch your leg. Then massage it until the pain disappears. Stretch daily:

1. Stand up straight, feet hip-width apart. With your left hand, lean on the wall or grab a support.
2. bend right leg at the knee and bring it back, holding the sock with your right hand.
3. Squat a little on your left leg, pelvis slightly forward.
4. Pull your knee back with your right hand.

If the spasm occurs on the back of the thigh, lay the victim down so that he rests his foot against a wall or some kind of support. Pull your foot by the toe without bending at the knee. Knead your thigh until the pain goes away. To improve stretching, do the following exercises:

1. Sit on a hard surface and place your legs in front of you, bending them at the knees and bringing them closer to your chest.
2. Grab your toes with your hands.
3. Smoothly and slowly straighten your knees, stretching your legs in front of you. Hold the toes of the feet with your hands, without lifting your chest from your knees.

With the syndrome piriformis muscle a person can encounter at any age. The cause is the inflammatory process of blood vessels, bones and nerves. characteristic symptom is pain in the buttock, which may radiate to the groin, thigh, or lower leg. Painful sensations are widespread and local. In some cases, the nerve is pinched, in others, the vessels that supply nutrients to the artery of the gluteal muscle and the sciatic nerve are compressed. Local pain may be of the following nature:

1. Aching muscle pain that occurs after a long stay in an upright position, hiking and squatting. When the patient lies down, sits down or spreads his legs, the pain decreases.
2. Symptom of Bonnet-Bobrovnikova, in which the piriformis muscle is determined during relaxation and becomes more painful and denser when stretched.
3. Vilenkin's symptom, when tapping on the back of the leg, pain occurs.
4. When you press on the sciatic nerve, pain occurs.
5. Long-lasting tension of the piriformis and other muscles that are located on the pelvic floor.

Symptoms include:

• chilliness and aching pain in the muscle;
• pain in the buttock, radiating to the leg and lower leg;
• pain increases with temperature changes, and in stressful situations;
• sensitivity decreases.

The piriformis muscle is located under the buttock next to the sacrospinous ligament. Between them are the artery and the sciatic nerve. As a result of inflammation, it is pinched. Muscle spasm is accompanied by a strong tension of the pelvic muscles, and nerves and blood vessels are pinched.

Comprehensive treatment is aimed at eliminating the causes and reducing pain. You need to go through a series of procedures, which include:

• manual therapy;
• therapeutic massage sessions;
• physiotherapy procedures;
• physiotherapy exercises;
• drug therapy.

One of the ways to remove acute pain is a blockade. Just mentally make a triangle on the buttock. Its apex is located on the trochanter of the thigh, ischial tuberosity, and posterior superior ilium. In the middle of the axis of the isosceles triangle, put a point and insert a needle with novocaine eight centimeters deep.

With a slight inflammation, lie on your stomach, bend your knees and spread them apart. The doctor takes the feet and places them to the sides to the maximum resistance. This is done several times.

There is another way to relax the piriformis muscle.

Lie down on your back. The doctor takes the feet and begins to swing the legs from side to side. The sore leg is retracted to a slight resistance, and fixes for thirty seconds. The muscle relaxes and the pain subsides.

You can fix an elastic band on your legs by throwing it over the Swedish wall. By stretching it, the muscle will relax.

Relax on your back as much as possible. Bend your knees, resting on the hem. Slowly reduce and breed, overcoming resistance. Then, resting with bent legs, get the surface from one side and the other. Within six seconds, your knees, overcoming resistance, should rest against each other.

Additionally, use warming ointments and self-massage. Piriformis spasm is not dangerous, but if it is not treated in a timely manner, complications can occur.

How to relieve spasm of the eye muscles?

With a spasm of accommodation of the eye, the proper functioning of the ciliary muscle is disrupted. It is responsible for regulating the curvature of the lens. Otherwise, this condition is called false myopia or tired eye syndrome. More often this disease appears in children and young people, every sixth teenager is affected by it.

Causes of spasm include:

• long stay in front of the TV;
• insufficient development of the muscles of the neck and back;
• health problems;
• limited exposure to fresh air;
• lack of physical activity;
• unbalanced diet;
• lack of lighting.

After forty years, spasm can provoke the following factors:

• menopause;
• metabolic problems;
• neurotic and hysterical states;
• head injury;
• shell shock.

The main symptoms of the disease appear as fatigue eyes, pain in the eyes, temporal and frontal region and decreased visual acuity.

For treatment it is necessary to comprehensive examination. The doctor will show you special exercises to train the eye muscles. In addition, electrophoresis, magnetic therapy, drugs and eye drops. These drops are aimed at relaxing the eye muscle, but this effect is not long lasting. To fix it, you need a proper and balanced diet, physical activity, a combination of rest and work, proper lighting. Spasm of the eye muscle in children includes endonasal electrophoresis and laser-magnetic exposure.