Chronic back pain is a debilitating issue that can severely impact a person’s quality of life. Spasms can be particularly difficult to endure among the various causes of back pain. As muscles in the back involuntarily contract, pain levels can range from mild discomfort to severe or excruciating pain that limits mobility.
While various treatments, such as medication, exist to treat back spasms, chiropractic care has emerged as a promising, holistic, and all-natural approach to alleviating chronic back spasms. Here, we will explore how chiropractic care is used to treat, prevent, and recover from episodes of back spasms so that patients can get back to their daily activities and improve their quality of life.
What Happens During a Back Spasm?
80% of people in the United States experience some form of back pain in their lives. As one of the most common forms of sudden back pain, back spasms are often triggered by muscle strain or overuse; however, they can also develop as a result of a more serious underlying condition. Back spasms occur when your muscles contract suddenly and against your will. During these contractions, spasms can take the form of a mildly uncomfortable pulse or twinge, or they can completely seize or contract, causing debilitating pain, stiffness, and immobility.
While acute cases of back spasms are usually triggered by injuries or sudden movements, chronic cases of back spasms can stem from underlying spinal issues, such as:
Muscle Strain or Sprain: When back muscles are overstretched or torn — commonly observed in powerlifters — increased inflammation can trigger back spasms as blood rushes to the affected areas.
Disc Herniation: When the discs between the spinal vertebrae bulge or rupture, they can press on nerves, triggering surrounding muscles to spasm as a protective mechanism.
Spinal Stenosis: Similar to disc herniation, narrowing in the spinal canal can put excess pressure on the nerves along the spine, causing pain and back spasms.
Poor Posture: Maintaining poor posture for an extended period can overstrain back muscles and contribute to the development of chronic back spasms.
Stress and Anxiety: Psychological and physical stress can increase muscular tension in the body, putting excess pressure on the nerves and triggering spasms.
Exploring Chiropractic Approaches to Back Spasm Relief
Chiropractic care focuses on the spine and musculoskeletal system as a whole. As a holistic and all-encompassing form of treatment, chiropractors are trained to diagnose and treat musculoskeletal issues, such as chronic back spasms, by identifying the root causes of pain and developing comprehensive treatment plans for recovery. Rather than masking symptoms with prescription medication, chiropractors believe in locating the sources of discomfort and treating underlying issues contributing to larger-scale back spasms.
Chiropractors focus on the spine and nervous system, recognizing their role as crucial information channels within the body, and take a holistic approach to patient care. Visiting a chiropractor as your first line of care offers many benefits for recovery and rehabilitation after a debilitating back spasm, including:
Medication-Free Pain Reduction: By restoring proper alignment in the spine, chiropractors can reduce nerve irritation along nervous system pathways.
Muscle Relaxation: Using manual therapy methods, such as massage therapy, chiropractors can manipulate back muscles to release built-up tension. Commonly used in athletes after playing a sport or in patients who hold extra tension in their bodies, massage therapy relieves tight muscles, reducing pressure on nerves and minimizing the risk of spasms.
Inflammation Reduction: Chiropractors can help reduce back inflammation and improve overall bodily function by restoring proper spinal alignment.
Chiropractic Techniques Used in Treating Back Spasms
Depending on your health history, lifestyle factors, and personal preferences for treatment, chiropractors utilize a wide range of techniques to diagnose, treat, and rehabilitate patients experiencing chronic back pain. After thorough evaluation and assessment, chiropractors develop tailored treatment plans that align with your health goals and needs.
Chiropractors focus on the spine and nervous system to treat back spasms, using spinal manipulation, mobilization, soft tissue therapy, and therapeutic exercise to reduce pain, relax muscles, improve mobility, and reduce inflammation. As a full-service chiropractic clinic, Governor’s Park Chiropractic offers a variety of other treatments for comprehensive spinal care, such as acupuncture, shockwave therapy, and custom orthotics to relieve tension and find relief from debilitating back spasm pain.
Governor’s Park Chiropractic — Helping Patients Take Control of Back Spasms
Chronic back spasms can significantly impact your quality of life, causing immobility and extreme discomfort. Chiropractic care offers a promising and encompassing alternative to prescription medications to alleviate and reduce the development of chronic back spasms and pain. By addressing the root causes of back spasms, chiropractors can deliver treatment that affects not only your back muscles but your body as a whole.
As the premier chiropractic clinic in the Denver Metro area, Governor’s Park Chiropractic provides comprehensive and tailored chiropractic care that helps patients return to the life they love. Our chiropractors take a comprehensive approach to care, providing the highest quality treatment to help patients find relief, improve mobility, and reclaim control of their bodies for a more fulfilling life. For more information or to book an appointment at one of our chiropractic clinics in Denver, Lone Tree, or Wheat Ridge, Colorado, visit our patient scheduling portal or call us at (720) 743-3915 today.
Governor's Park Chiropractic is the Colorado chiropractor team dedicated to helping individuals get out of pain and achieve better health. Offering a range of services and treatment options to meet the specific needs of each patient.