Back spasms are the symptom, not the condition

Let’s define a “back spasm,” as a sudden, involuntary tightening of a muscle in the back. If that doesn’t sound painful enough by itself, imagine that this uncontrollable tightening happens regularly; now that’s a problem. Back spasms are often brought on by excessive strain, acute injury or by repetitive trauma that wears down the spine over time and contributes to nerve compression. 

The anatomy of a back spasm

When a spinal condition or injury creates compression on the nerve roots which exit the spinal cord, a sharp pain occurs; a warning signal telling your body to stop moving in order to prevent further pain. These same nerves control muscle contraction in the back; people often seize up in a natural reflex to the spasm. Conditions that are most often linked to back spasms include:

• Disc herniation
• Muscle and ligament damage
• Degenerative disc disease
• Arthritis
• Ruptured disc
• Other injuries

This makes it all the more important to get a proper diagnosis as to what exactly is causing your spasms and pain. 

Treating back spasms in Sacramento

If you are suffering from recurring back spasms, give our office in Sacramento a call. We begin with a conversation that includes a detailed history of your health and a physical assessment to determine what may be causing your pain. Our plan for treatment involves chiropractic adjustment to correct misalignment and alleviate nerve pressure. This allows you to return to a normal range of motion which in turn helps facilitate a faster healing process. From here, we focus on strengthening key supportive muscles and stretching to keep your muscles limber and less prone to injury.