Everybody has felt a sharp pain in their back at some point. If you know you just overexerted yourself, you might just try to avoid making that move in the future. But if your back frequently spasms, you may have a bigger problem that needs addressing. At Kosak Chiropractic in Fairfield, we utilize non-addictive, non-invasive therapies to ease our patients’ discomfort and put their bodies in the optimal position to heal themselves. This week, we’ll take a closer look at what back spasms are and what can be done about them.
A back spasm is a sudden contraction in a back muscle. These muscles are complex and multilayered, with spasms usually occurring in the lower, or lumbar, region of the back. A muscle may spasm if it or one of its supporting tendons is pulled too far or frays. This may be due to an acute injury, or because the muscle is stretched over a herniated disc or a swollen joint, or inflamed for other reasons. People are at greater risk for back spasms when they don’t have strong core muscles to share the back muscles’ load, and when they haven’t warmed up enough to allow their muscles to stretch while engaged in exercise.
When a person suffers a back spasm, they should rest, but that’s not quite the same thing as being inactive. Exercises such as walking and swimming, which don’t put much stress on the back muscles, may be necessary to help the muscles rebuild. If a person has suffered a spinal subluxation, a chiropractic adjustment can return the dislocated parts of the spinal column to their proper place, easing the pressure on their supporting tissues. Therapies such as electric muscle stimulation and ultrasound can be used to reduce inflammation. We’ll also provide patients with more information about how they can avoid injuries in the future by using proper warm-up and lifting techniques, and how quickly they can return to normal activity.
Kosak Chiropractic is located at 1252 Travis Blvd., Suite G, Fairfield, CA, 94533. To schedule an appointment, visit Kosak Chiropractic online or call 707-426-1111.