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What is a muscle Spasm?
A muscle spasm is an involuntary contraction of part of or the whole of the muscle. This can often be quite painful. Muscle spasms can last from several seconds to continuous spasms as a protective mechanism or medical condition. Some of the types of muscle spasms can include skeletal muscle spasms, angina and seizures. Physiotherapy treatment can help reduce muscle spasms and help to prevent them
Above: Trigger point massage of muscle to relieve spasmWhat are the causes of muscle spasms?
There are many different reasons for an individual to develop muscle spasms. Dependent upon the cause will depend upon the type of cramp experienced. Some of the causes can be:
- Dehydration
- Muscle overuse / strain
- Protective mechanism (broken bones)
- Low blood calcium or magnesium
- Electrolyte depletion
- Neurological condition
How can Physiotherapy help?
Physiotherapy can help with muscle spasms through different methods of treatments. These can be aimed at treating the symptoms and the cause (if there is an underlying injury). Physiotherapy treatment can help decrease the tension in the muscle and provide pain relieving strategies.
Above: Lower back assessment by physiotherapist to identify cause of muscular spasmTreatments
Treatments for muscle spasm can include:
- Massage
- Gentle stretches
- Pain Management
- Heat therapy
- Strengthening exercises
Above: Deep tissue massage of the quadriceps to relieve muscle spasmSummary
Muscle spasms can cause discomfort for the individual and can prevent them from participating in sport and some of their activities of daily living. Physiotherapy can help relieve muscle spasms through individualised treatment. For an appointment with one of our experienced physiotherapists please contact us or call 0330 088 7800.
