How To Achieve Back Spasm Relief
What is a back spasm? A back spasm happens when the muscles in the back contract involuntarily. Muscle spasms can happen all over the body. However, when they take place in the back, lower back pain is often the result.
Why Do We Get Muscle Spasms?
We get muscle spasms for all sorts of reasons. The most common cause of a muscle spasm is as a result of exercise. But, they can happen because of other reasons as well.
Common causes of spasms include:
- Trauma injury including whiplash
- Neurological conditions
- Lack of essential vitamins and minerals
- Poor circulation
- Posture problems
How Can We Lower the Risk?
Back exercises are the best way of lowering the risk of frequently occurring spasms. That does not mean that you have to exercise like an Olympic athlete.
Walking and swimming are two of the best ways to exercise. If you are finding it hard to exercise, you can try other therapies including heat therapy.
Heat therapy helps to relax the muscles. When muscles are relaxed, they are less likely to go into a spasm.
Before you exercise, it is essential that you warm up. Far too many of us go from doing nothing, to running or doing aerobics classes. Cold stretching may not help, but a general warm-up before a workout will lower the risk of muscle cramps or spasms.
Can Supplements Help?
Yes, there are supplements that can help.
When your back muscles spasms are caused by a neurological condition, taking vitamin B on a daily basis often has a positive effect.
Vitamin is water soluble vitamin. That means our body can't manufacture it or store it. If we don't eat enough every day, one of the first signs that we are low in vitamin B, is frequent muscle cramps.
The micromineral magnesium can also stop a muscle spasm in its tracks. Take a magnesium supplement before you go to bed at night, and you will soon notice the difference.
What About Exercises To The Back?
Exercising is the best way to combat muscle spasms.
The problem with exercises is that one size does not fit all. Aerobic exercises are great when you want to stimulate circulation in your back.
But, if you have suffered a trauma injury, aerobic exercises such as swimming and walking are often difficult and can cause pain.
When you find it difficult to exercise, you could instead exercise using more gentle methods. The best exercises include:
- Yoga
- Tai-chi
Local classes are available almost anywhere. If you are having a hard time finding a class, checking out YouTube videos is not a bad idea.
Yoga For Back Pain
Although the medical establishment is sceptical of the more extreme claims, most doctors agree that
Yoga exercises can have a positive effect on your health.
The development of yoga therapy, which uses asanas and breathing techniques to treat medical complaints, is being followed by considerable interest.
Yoga asanas and accompanying relaxation techniques were developed to bring both physical and mental benefits.
The poses that are used in yoga can have a positive impact on the physical body when you do them correctly. They help to stimulate the central nervous system which includes the muscles.
Breathing techniques and meditation are often added. If you add all three together, you will start to feel more relaxed. It is the combination of all three that are thought to help to reduce muscle spasms in the body.
It is well recognized that yoga will help to improve muscle tone and circulation.
Can yoga help to control heart rate? Naturally, when you are more relaxed, your heart will beat at a slower rate.
We often forget that the heart is a muscle. It can suffer spasms just like any other major muscle group in the body.
If you are looking for a more energetic type of yoga, kundalini is for you. As far as back pain and spasms are concerned, socalled hot yoga, or Bikram yoga will help you to feel better.
Tai Chi
Many doctors are beginning to value tai-chi as a form of exercise and relaxation technique. Just like in yoga, breathing the correct way is very important.
When you initially join a tai-chi class, one of the first things you will learn is to breathe according to tai-chi principles
Does tai-chi style breathing have physical benefits? Interestingly enough, doctors have discovered that the breathing techniques have been shown to reduce pain and cramps.
Tai-chi was first practised by Taoist monks in the 13th century. It is actually based on many of the same principles found in martial arts.
As with so many other Chinese practises, qi (energy) forms an important part of tai-chi. As muscle spasms can be caused by energy, there is every possibility that tai-chi can help.
Both yoga and tai-chi help to improve posture. When you think that your spasms are as a result of poor posture, trying a slow gentle exercise is not a bad idea.
We often forget about our posture when we go about our everyday business. The downside is often muscle pain which can be caused by spasms.
At the same time, you should not underestimate the importance of aerobic exercise.
Can Food Help?
Eating the right food is essential when you suffer from pain or spasms. Acidic foods and food high in sugar will make spasms worse.
There is a clear link between acidic foods and juices such as orange juice. When you suffer from any kind of condition affecting your muscles or joints, you should always avoid oranges.
Adding other fresh foods including more vegetables and berries will help to reduce pain. Different colored berries are rich in antioxidants and are associated with a reduction in muscle spasms. Nuts and healthy grains are two more food groups that you should add to your diet.
Muscle spasms in your back are unpleasant but not life threatening. The best thing to do is to follow a natural healthy diet, boost your health with supplements, and exercise for your back.
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