It is an involuntary sustained cramping or tightening of the muscle fibers. Muscle spasms can be brought on by injury or inflammation swelling , and can even be brought about by dehydration not drinking enough liquids. Muscle spasms may also occur as the result of injury to the underlying structures, the vertebrae, or discs.
The feeling of tightening may occur at different times, lasting from a few seconds to several minutes, or even days. The fact is that the muscles in the back never rest, when you are sitting, lying down, or even sleeping.
If the muscles on one side of your back were to tighten, the other side would try to relax, to compensate to keep your spine in proper position. Since the muscles in the back are always at work, it is hard to give them the chance to rest and heal when they are injured. It may be important to keep active when you are having back muscle spasms. Strenuous exercise, sudden motions, repetitive activities like shoveling snow, and exercise in a hot environment can all put strain on the muscles and lead to back spasms 2,3.
A back spasm can feel like a tightening, pulling or twitching of the muscles in your back. With some muscle spasms the muscle will be hard to the touch or show a visible twitching.
A back spasm involving the piriformis muscle in the lower back may also lead to leg pain called sciatica 5 pain radiating down one or both legs as a result of pressure on the sciatic nerve. In addition, pressure on the muscle can help ease the spasm. When the muscle is tight, place pressure on the area with your fingers or by massaging the area. After the initial back spasm relief, physical therapy can be used long term to stretch and strengthen muscles to prevent future occurrences.
Following general rules of thumb like drinking plenty of water, practicing proper lifting techniques and stretching before strenuous activity can all help minimize back spasms.
We're hard at work and will be revealing our new ADA compliant website soon. How can you care for yourself at home? Heat, ice, and medicines To relieve pain, use heat or ice whichever feels better on the affected area.
Put a warm water bottle, a heating pad set on low, or a warm cloth on your back. Put a thin cloth between the heating pad and your skin. Do not go to sleep with a heating pad on your skin. Try ice or a cold pack on the area for 10 to 20 minutes at a time. Put a thin cloth between the ice and your skin. Ask your doctor if you can take acetaminophen such as Tylenol or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen or naproxen.
Your doctor can prescribe stronger medicines if needed. Be safe with medicines. Read and follow all instructions on the label. Body positions and posture Sit or lie in positions that are most comfortable for you and that reduce pain. Try one of these positions when you lie down: Lie on your back with your knees bent and supported by large pillows. Lie on the floor with your legs on the seat of a sofa or chair.
Lie on your side with your knees and hips bent and a pillow between your legs. Lie on your stomach if it does not make pain worse.
Do not sit up in bed. Avoid soft couches and twisted positions. Avoid bedrest after the first day of back pain. Bedrest can help relieve pain at first, but it delays healing. Continued rest without activity is usually not good for your back.
If you must sit for long periods of time, take breaks from sitting. Change positions every 30 minutes.
0コメント