Muscle spasms are quite a common problem. They can affect various muscles; however, skeletal muscles are most commonly affected by muscle spasms.
Typically, muscle spasms are caused due to overexertion, or overuse, of a muscle. Furthermore, dehydration and abnormal electrolyte levels are another common cause of muscle spasms. You can say that muscle spasms are more of a symptom than a disease on their own; however, as they can happen abruptly, and be tremendously painful, they need to be treated.
Usually, muscle spasms are short-lived, but in the case of chemical abnormalities in the body, you could be at the risk of developing extreme spasm conditions like blepharospasm and torticollis.
Muscle spasms are treated with muscle relaxers; however, these drugs only provide you with temporary relief, and they also have loads of adverse side effects. Therefore, in today’s post, we are going to tell you about some of the most effective natural ways to treat muscle spasms.
Get Active
Though overexertion can increase the risk of muscle spasms, light and moderate exercise can be quite helpful. Aerobic cardio-based exercises increase your blood circulation, which means that oxygen can reach your muscles more effectively.
One of the best ways to get some light exercise is to go jogging or running early in the morning. It would help if you tried to run in a park, or other areas with a lot of trees, so that you can also gain the benefits of fresh air. Moreover, remember to warm up and do some dynamic stretching exercises before you start running or jogging; this will significantly decrease the chances of muscle spasms.
Do Some Stretching Exercises
Stretching the muscles that are spasming is another helpful treatment method. Stretching exercises are a simple way to counter muscle spasms, but they can also help you increase your flexibility and the ability of your muscles and tendons, which decreases the chances of muscle spasms in the long run.
There are various kinds of stretches that you can do; however, visiting a physical therapist will allow you to identify which stretching exercises are suitable for which muscle group. Moreover, a physical therapist will help you create a stretching routine that is suitable for the unique requirements of your body.
Adopt a Healthy Diet
Diet is impactful on almost every bodily function in a person, hence it plays a significant role when it comes to the treatment of muscle spasms. As we have mentioned before, mineral and electrolyte deficiencies are a couple of the most common causes of muscle spasms.
Hence you need to ensure that you are getting a well-balanced and healthy diet, with all the essential nutrients and minerals that your body needs.
A healthy diet rich in minerals and nutrients can have many advantages, it can improve your lymphatic system and immune system as well, which helps in the treatment of muscle spasms.
Related: The Best Foods to Define Your Muscles
Make an Appointment with a Skilled Chiropractor
Chiropractors are like doctors for the biomechanical issues of the body. They deal with issues related to muscles and bones, and if you are having a problem with muscle spasms, you should make an appointment with one.
A chiropractor will help you identify the underlying physical problems that are causing your muscles to twitch uncontrollably, and they will fix the problem once and for all.
Try Massage Therapy
Massage has been used to treat various issues for a very long time, and it is a very effective remedy for muscle spasm as well. Massage therapy can increase your range of motion, and it also improves your blood circulation, which means that more oxygen and nutrients can reach your muscles.
Furthermore, massage therapy can also provide stress relief and anxiety relief, which helps in decreasing the risk of muscle spasms. Therefore, make an appointment with a skilled massage therapist, or visit a local spa for a soothing and relaxing massage
Avoid Sleep Deprivation
Neurotransmitters are integral in the transfer of information from your brain to the nerves that are responsible for coordinating muscle contractions and movement, and sleep deprivation can hurt the operation of these neurotransmitters. Furthermore. Sleep deprivation also causes fatigue, which can lead to muscle spasms.
Hence, you should make sure that you get at least six to eight hours of sleep every day, and try to sleep at night between 10 PM and 7 AM, which is the best time to rest according to experts.
Related: The Best Muscle Building Workout for Each Part of the Body
Stay Properly Hydrated
Seizures can be caused due to many reasons, but if they’re not the symptom of a more severe underlying issue, they are most likely the cause of dehydration. Water makes up for more than 70% of our muscle composition, and if we don’t get enough water, the chances of muscle spasms are increased.
Therefore, ensure that you get at least eight eight-ounce glasses of water every day. Furthermore, you need to understand that water isn’t the only thing that your body is missing when it is dehydrated. Dehydration means that your body is also short of certain minerals and electrolytes. Therefore, you should squeeze a lemon, or add a bit of pink Himalayan salt to your water, especially when you’re working out.
Eliminate Stress and Anxiety
Stress is very detrimental to our health. Aside from the various other problems it causes, chronic stress can also increase the risk of painful muscle spasms.
High levels of stress and anxiety can increase muscle tension, and stress hormones like cortisol can increase the risk of involuntary muscle contractions as well. Moreover, stress is also one of the major cause of sleep deprivation, which is also quite detrimental for a person who is prone to muscle spasms
Therefore. You should try some stress relief, and anxiety relief techniques, like massage therapy and using cannabis to relax and eliminate day to day stress.
Abandon Unhealthy Habits like Smoking and Drinking
Smoking and drinking are very damaging to our minds and body, and they have a devastating impact on our nervous system. many people resort to these harmful habits for stress relief and anxiety relief; however, they can increase the risk of muscle spasms, and they can lead to a whole array of unwanted diseases and disorders. Therefore, try to eliminate these bad habits from your life.
Related: 8 Ultimate Tips to Build Muscle Quickly
Try Cannabis
Though most of the popularity of marijuana can be accredited to its recreational uses, it also has many applications in the medical field. Cannabis is quite effective in providing relief from muscle spasms, especially those caused because of multiple sclerosis.
Cannabis acts as a natural muscle relaxer because the hormones that are released by its cannabinoids loosen our muscles and help us relax. Moreover, cannabis is known to be a very effective natural painkiller and anti-inflammatory substance.
Moreover, weed has also been legalized in the US and Canada; in fact, you can even order your weed online and get it through the mail.
However, most people don’t want to smoke cannabis, because any kind of smoke can be bad for the lungs, therefore, using cannabis oil is a more safe option. Cannabis oil can be applied topically on the muscles which are spasming, and you can also use cannabis oil to make edibles.
Though muscle spasms are a serious problem for many, there are various natural ways for their treatment. There are certain treatments you can employ and certain changes you can make to your lifestyle, which can help quite significantly. By following the treatments mentioned in this post, hopefully, you will also be able to get some relief from muscle spasms.
