A muscle spasm is generally a sudden, unexpected and involuntary contraction, tightening, or shaking of a muscle. It may occur as the result of some trauma, strain, overuse, weakness, or pain.
Most people who suffer from muscle spasms have no idea that these sometimes painful and always annoying events can be caused by problems with their neck. Muscle spasms most commonly affect the back, shoulders and hips. They can also affect the arms, legs and torso.
Muscle contractions rarely occur without the involvement of a signaling nerve (either intentional or reflexive). A muscle laying out by itself with no nerve stimulation is called a steak or chicken breast!
Nerve hyperexcitability describes a group of disorders characterized by chronic pain variations, muscle cramps, twitching and sometimes stiffness.
These may be characterized by the occurrence of continuous muscle fiber activity on routine surface electromyography (EMG). “Spasming” nerves = spasming muscles.
Nerves respond to mechanical energy forces such as touch, pressure, stretching, twisting and movement. Mechanoreceptors range in complexity from free nerve endings beneath the skin to more tactile receptors at the base of hairs and they change shape when pushed or pulled. The more often this kind of activity takes place, the more signals the nerves fire and become spasmed.
Chronic hyperactivity of nerves normally happens when an upper cervical problem has occurred. Upper cervical problems are the compounded result of a minor trauma which may have required little or no emergency treatment at the time it occurred, but eventually led to a degenerating health condition over time.
Symptoms can appear immediately, but most often develop over time and become more chronic in nature. A simple and non-invasive test of the nerves can be scheduled and performed in our office. It will determine whether or not this condition exists. If it does, we offer excellent treatment options.
Muscle spasm most commonly affects the back, shoulders and hips but can also affect the arms, legs or torso. Individual muscles have very little to no ability to contract without the involvement of a signaling nerve (either intentional or reflexive).
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If you or someone you know has already tried other treatments for muscle spasms without achieving the level of success that you or they want, why not try NUCCA recommended and approved Upper Cervical Care chiropractic treatments?
Relief may be just a phone call away. Call the office today at 425-437-9974. Dr. Schallmann at Back In Balance Chiropractic will be glad to discuss treatment options with you.
