Muscle spasms are sometimes known as muscle cramps. This refers to any form of involuntary contraction of the muscles. The spasms occur abruptly and are very painful in most cases. It is important to understand muscle spasms so that they are not confused for muscle twitches. Muscle twitches are normally uncontrolled movement of some segments in the muscle.
For a better understanding of this condition, it is also good to learn about muscles. Muscles are complex structures in the body that play a very vital role especially in the movement of the body.
The following are the types of muscles you will find in the human body:
• Muscles located in the human heart. They are called cardiac muscles and are responsible for pumping blood.
• The human body also has skeletal muscles. These muscles are responsible for the movement of the body parts such as arms and legs. The neck and the back also move as a result of the skeletal muscles
• The hollow structures in the human body moves because of the smooth muscles. These are muscles in the stomach, uterus and the large arteries.
Muscle spasms normally make it hard for the body to move. The contractions are very painful and need adequate measures to curb them. When the muscles in the body contract, it gives the structure in the body the ability to move. In this way, your arms and legs are able to move and the face smile. This goes to tell how important the muscles are to the body.
If you have experienced muscles spasms before, it is a condition you will not like to face again. The spasms can be very painful making you uncomfortable. If left untreated, they can incapacitate you and in the end affect your daily duties. There are cases where the muscle spasm becomes severe to the extent of causing a bruise in the skin. You can face muscle spasms that are not severe and will normally release themselves after a short period. Nonetheless, there are serious cases where the muscle spasm does not release on its own. This means you require other efforts to lessen the spasms. In most cases, stretching is good because it will help to relax and strengthen the shortened muscle.
You may experience spasms that are mild or very painful. It all depends on the type of work you do or the exercise you are involved in. Muscle spasms can attack any skeletal muscles. Nonetheless, they are common in some specific parts of the body such as the legs and the feet. Muscles that cross two joints are also vulnerable to the cramps. Muscle spasms can attack a specific part of the muscle or all the muscles in a group.
The following are the most likely parts to be affected:
• The feet and arms. They are the parts commonly used for movements. The hands and the abdomen are also commonly affected by muscle spasms.
• The harm strings are also body parts that frequently get muscle spasms. This refers to the back of the thigh. The front of the thigh also faces spasms from time to time. This is more likely to happen when you are exercising.
• The back of the lower leg or the calf is another part of the body that is more likely to get muscle spasms.
The intensity of the muscle spasms is very different. It ranges depending on a number of factors such as the type of body part affected. It may be just a slight twitch or a very severe pain you simply cannot take. When a muscle is cramped, it is able to last for a short time. It can extend to several minutes but will go away with time. If the condition persist, it is advisable to seek the help of your medical provider. There are people who may experience the muscle spasms only for them to ease up and come back after a short period.
It is very important to understand the causes of muscle spasms. As much as you may pointedly argue that there is no exact cause of
this condition, the following are the commonly cited reasons that are likely to put you in this condition:
• Lack of adequate fluids in the body leading to dehydration
• Poor conditioning
• Engaging yourself in a new activity that the body is not used to. If you have been idle for sometime then you suddenly start taking part in exercises, you are likely to face this condition.
• Muscle fatigue also causes muscle spasms.
• Other causes include electrolyte depletion and poor conditioning.
• If you do a lot of exercise in a hot environment, there are high chances of experiencing these cramps.
When you take part in exercises in the presence of immense heat, the body looses many electrolytes. This normally occurs through sweating. As a result, the human body tends to loose alto of salts, potassium and calcium minerals. The minerals fall to certain levels that the body can no longer accept. This results into muscle spasms. It explains why most of the athletes and footballers get muscle spasms when they are training during the day.
Muscles spasms are able to go on their own after a short period. However, there are a couple of tips and measures you can observe to speed up the healing process. It is advisable to immediately stop the activity that caused the muscle cramp. Move and stretch to allow the muscles to calm down. If possible, let someone massage the part of the body that is experiencing the cramps. If you hold the affected joint while stretching, the muscle spasms are likely to fade away.
The following are ways you can avert this condition from recurring:
• After a heavy exercise, do not remain idle. Stretch regularly.
• Participate in warm ups before you start to exercise
• To avoid muscle fatigue, it is good to improve fitness by taking part in frequent exercises.
It is very difficult to identify the ideal means of preventing muscle spasms. It only becomes easy if you learn the exact cause of the condition. If you get the cramps frequent and constantly, it is advisable to see a doctor.
