What is a muscle spasm?
A muscle spasm is an involuntary contraction of a muscle which occurs suddenly, resolves quickly, and is often painful. A muscle spasm is not to be confused with a muscle twitch. A muscle twitch is an uncontrolled and fine movement of a small segment of a larger muscle that can be seen under the skin.
Muscles are what cause movement in the body. There are three types of muscles:
- Heart muscle: also known as cardiac muscle)
- Skeletal muscle: moves external body parts
- Smooth muscle: moves portions of hollow structures inside the body
What causes a muscle spasm?
There are multiple causes for muscle spasms. Each depends on certain conditions and where they occur. A muscle spasm can occur when a muscle is overused and tired, especialy if it is overstretched or if it has been in the same position for a long period of time. Therefore the muscle runs out of energy and the fluids that build up cause a forceful contraction. This effect, known as a spasm, can involve part of a muscle, the whole muscle, or even nearby muscles.
Overuse of certain muscles which leads to what is called a skeletal muscle spasm often occurs in athletes during strenuous exercise in a hot environment. This same type of muscle spasm is also common with construction workers. These spasms tend to occur in larger muscles that are being strained.
Since muscles require enough water, glucose, sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium to function properly, dehydration is another common cause of muscle spasms.
It is commonly thought that dehydration and depletion of electrolytes will lead to muscle spasm and cramping. Muscle requires enough water, glucose, sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium to allow the proteins within muscle cells to interact and develop an organized contraction. Abnormal supply of these elements can cause the muscle to become irritable and go into spasm.
What are the symptoms of muscle spasms?
Symptons associated with muscle spasms vary according to the circumstances that lead up to a muscle spasm and the types of muscles involved.
A skeletal muscle spasm usually occurs with an acute onset of pain as the muscle contracts. The spasm may even be visible underneat the skin. These types of muscle spasms usually resolve after a few seconds, but can last several minutes. Stretching the muscle can help relieve the symptoms of this spasm.
A muscle twitch usually happens for only a few seconds, but can also be recurring. A twitch is a temporary contraction of a few muscle fibers in a certain area and controlled by a nerve fiber. This tends to happen around the eye, calf or thumb and may be a sign of stress or anxiety.
How are muscle spasms diagnosed?
Most muscle spasms, especially those caused by skeletal muscles, are easily self diagnosed and can be resolved fairly quickly with stretching excercises and plenty of fluid intake. Sometimes, however, these spasms can be severly painful and last a long time. In this case, a visit to a physician is recommended.
The spasm is usually diagnosed by examining a persons medical history and reviewing the circumstances that lead up to the muscle spasm. Some of the questions that may be asked include:
- When did the spasms begin and how long do they last?
- How many spasms occur in a given period of time (Frequency) ?
- Does the spams always happen in the same area?
- Other information such as medical history, past illnesses and/or medications will also be reviewed since they can be a factor in the symptoms
Muscle spasms may not occur reliably during an examination, hence the exam will aid in finding any underlying medical issues helpful for a diagnosis. Any number of different types of tests may be employed to find the source of muscle spasms, including physically searching for a spasm or twitch, blood tests or electromyography (EMG).
How are muscle spasms treated?
Prevention is usually the best way to keep muscle spasms from occuring. Keep your body well hydrated and stretch before and after excercise. Consulting with a chiropractor or physical therapist may be recommended in order to practice better motions for getting up, sitting down, lifting objects and other movements.
Certain types of smooth muscle spasms my be related to diseases such as diabetes, parkinsons or multiple sclerosis and require further investigation by a licensed doctor or health care professional.
The information in this website is intended for residents of the United States only. It is not intended to take the place of a doctor's advice or to replace product labeling. Use all products as directed.
