Understanding Muscle Spasms

Muscles! They seem to affect everything we do, and they are always cramping or tightening!  There is a reason for that.  Muscles can on "do" two things.  They can contract and constrict, or they can relax without help, so what they do best is tighten. Muscle spasm is the most common reason for back pain. If it has ever happened to you, you know how uncomfortable and painful it can be.

The muscles around the spine add protection. If you overexert those muscles, the messages to the brain say, "contract, contract, contract." Because muscles are designed to protect, they set off an alarm when they are mistreated, and a back injury without muscle involvement is rare.  However, muscles that are warmed up, flexible and strong do no react as violently when a strange or unusual situation occurs.

Professional athletes know that to decrease their chances of injury, stretching and strengthening their muscles before an event is very important. A professional weightlifter would be foolish if he did not work up to his maximum lift gradually. Yet, some people think they can lean over and lift groceries or suitcases out of the trunk of the car just after they have been sitting for 30 minutes, stuck in traffic.  Is it any wonder they end up with back pain and severe muscle spasm? Of course not. It is the only reaction muscles can have to lack of consideration!

Our alarm system triggers pain, which is our indicator that we are not taking good care of our back.  Listen to the messages from those muscles.

Source: My Aching Back by Nancy C. Selby. Used with permission.