WHAT CAUSES MUSCLE SPASMS?

A spasm is a temporary burst of energy, activity, emotion,stress, or anxiety, causing a sudden, involuntary contraction of a muscle, agroup of muscles, or a hollow organ, (like the liver) or a sudden contraction of an orifice. They may beexperienced with a sudden burst of pain, but are usually harmless, lasting foronly for a short period. Spasmodic muscle contractions are also a result ofmany medical conditions.

A muscle spasm is different than a twitch, which is an uncontrolledfine movement of a small segment of a larger muscle that can be seen under theskin. Muscles are complex structures that cause movement in the body. There arethree types of muscle in the body; the cardiac muscle that pumps blood,skeletal muscle that moves external body parts, and smooth muscles that moveshollow structures inside the body.

Skeletal muscles are directly attached to bone or by atendon. When these muscles contract, we are able to move things like our arms.These muscles are controlled by the brain and require numerous steps withincells and fibers using oxygen, electrolytes, and glucose, which are supplied bythe bloodstream.

Smooth muscles are located in arteries, intestines, bladder,and the iris of the eye and are controlled by the unconscious part of our brainfunction using the autonomic nervous system. They have the same basiccontraction mechanism as skeletal muscle, though different proteins areinvolved.

Voluntary muscle contractions happen when electrical signalsare sent from the brain through the spinal cord through nerve cells calledmotor neurons. Chemicals are then released by the motor neuron and stimulatethe internal release of calcium ions from stores within the muscle cell. Thesecalcium ions then interact with muscle proteins within the cell, causing theproteins to move. This motion shortens the cell and, ultimately, the muscleitself. Unlinking the actin and myosinand recapturing the calcium allows the muscle fiber to relax. Abnormalcontraction may be caused by abnormal activity at any stage in this process.

Spasms can occur when a muscle is overused and tired, whichmay result from it being overstretched or being held in the same position foran extended period of time. This causes the muscle cell to run out of energyand fluid, developing a forceful contraction. It can involve part of a muscle,the whole muscle, or even adjacent muscles. This type of spasm is usually a signalthat it is time to rest. Ignoring warning signals can lead to such severeenergy depletion that the muscle cannot be relaxed, causing a cramp.

Dehydration and depletion of electrolytes also lead tomuscle spasms and cramping. Your muscles require adequate water, glucose,sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium to allow the proteins within musclecells to interact and develop an organized contraction. A lack of theseelements can cause the muscle to become irritable and go into spasm. Loss offluids and salts can disrupt ion balances and can prevent muscles fromresponding and recovering normally, leading to cramps.

Atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries) can also triggermuscle spasms and cramps. This occurs when plaque builds up in the arteries,blocking them and resulting in insufficient blood supply and nutrients to thebody’s muscles.

Systemic illnesses like diabetes, anemia, kidney disease andthyroid and other hormone issues are also potential causes of muscle spasms. Multiplesclerosis, stroke, cerebral palsy, neurodegenerative diseases, spinal cordinjury, and nervous system poisons such as tetanus, can be associated withmuscle spasm as disruption of brain mechanisms.

Dystonias are movement disorders where groups of musclesforcefully contract causing twisting and repetitive movements, inhibiting anormal posture as a result of muscle spasm and cramping. Symptoms can be mildor aggressive. Examples of this type of muscle spasm are when neck muscles causethe head to turn to one side.

Here are some tips to use when dealing with muscle spasms:

1. Drink plenty of fluids and replace electrolyteswhen you're exercising or sick.

2. Stretch the affected muscle. This can stop thepainful contraction cycle of the spasm and relieve the pain.

3. Use a heating pad. Heat causes muscles to relaxand stop spasms.

4. See a doctor for treatment of an injured musclethat is causing continuous or repeating spasms.