Here we will go over five ways to deal with and prevent muscle spasms.
Muscle spasms are common and affect nearly everyone from time to time.
However, if muscle spasms are frequent, you may be dealing with muscle fatigue from excessive exercise, electrolyte abnormalities from dehydration, nerve disorders, or stress.
Muscle spasms are not usually a cause for concern but can be uncomfortable and even painful, so knowing how to deal with them can be handy.
Let’s jump right in.
Get A Massage
Massages help with spasms, pain, cramping, and inflammation, so getting a massage is one of the best ways to get some relief.
Since your spasm will likely be long gone before getting to a massage parlor, here are a few at-home options.
- Massage chair
- Jetted tub
- Massage setting on the shower head
- Hand held massager
- Massage mat
- Ask someone for a massage
Even if a spasm only lasts for seconds, having one signifies that your muscles may need some stress relief.
After workouts, a tense situation, or sleeping, you can massage your muscles to prevent a spasm from occurring later.
Apply Ice or Heat
Inflammation and tense muscles are a few primary causes of having a spasm, and both ice and heat can treat these symptoms.
The best way to use ice and heat is by applying an ice pack to the affected area for 10 to 15 minutes to avoid spasms and using heat for 5 to 10 minutes to relieve pain.
Other than ice or heat packs, you can try the following:
- Sauna
- Cryotherapy
- Icy hot patches
- Heating pad
- Cold therapy pad
When using ice or heat as symptom relievers, remember that exposing your body to extreme temperatures for longer than recommended may give the opposite desired effects and result in burns, pain, or increased inflammation.
Stay Hydrated
If your muscle spasms are most common after an intense workout, you are dehydrated and low on electrolytes.
Of course, it is essential to stay hydrated at all times, but you should pay extra attention to your water consumption on hot summer days or gym days, which cause excessive sweating.
Excessive sweating is safe and even good for your body, but it can be dangerous if you do not replenish water loss.
To stay hydrated, drink:
- Three liters of water on sedentary days
- Five ounces of water every 20 minutes during physical activity.
- Twenty ounces of water 2 hours before physical activity.
- Eight ounces of water within 30 minutes after physical activity.
If you do your best to stay hydrated throughout the day, your exercise-related spasms will dissipate.
Try Medical Marijuana
Medical marijuana is one of the most effective treatments for nerve and muscle conditions that cause spasms like Huntington’s disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and epilepsy.
Therefore, spasms big and small can benefit from cannabis.
If your spasms are bothersome to the point you feel that medication is necessary, you can ask your primary physician for a medical marijuana doctor referral.
At your appointment with the marijuana doctor, you will be prescribed cannabis and advised on which form to try.
However, the best treatment advice will come from dispensary staff since they are trained to understand which strains, form, and potency level would be best for each individual.
Do Some Stretches
When a spasm begins, stretching the area can usually stop it or relieve some discomfort.
- For back spasms, grab a tennis ball or foam roller and place it under the spasming spot while laying on the ground. Then, move around on the ball or roller to massage the area and the areas surrounding the spasm.
- For calf or hamstring spasms, lay on the ground with your legs stretched in front of you. Then, alternate pointing your toes toward you and away from you until the spasm stops.
- For neck spasms, sit or stand up straight, roll your shoulders back five times, then forward five times, and repeat the process until you feel relief.
Of course, you may get a spasm in a location other than those mentioned above. In this case, any stretching of the affected muscle will help; be careful not to overdo it.
Conclusion
Having muscle spasms can be an uncomfortable experience that signifies stress in some body parts.
Luckily, you can deal with these spasms by hydrating, using cannabis, stretching, hot or cold therapy, or massaging the muscles.