Muscle spasm is a frequent and painful condition, which can be a sign of a number of ailments. In fact, the causes of muscle spasm can be so varied that, according to Bruno Bordoni, Scientific Director of the CRESO School of Osteopathy, there are no exact worldwide statistics, as current studies take into account factors such as climate, previous physical activity and age, among others. 

With this in mind, this article looks at the most common causes of muscle spasm, how to identify them and the appropriate treatment for each.  

What is a muscle spasm?

A muscle spasm is a sudden involuntary contraction of a group of muscles, a single muscle or individual muscle fibers. When the muscle in question is palpated, a knot is felt, and the muscle contraction can last from a few seconds to several minutes. 

In general, although muscle contraction can occur in any part of the body, it frequently occurs in the limbs and abdomen.

Furthermore, a muscle spasm can occur in people of any age and gender, and most causes of muscle spasm do not involve serious conditions. Therefore, even if it presents itself as a severe muscle spasm, it is unlikely to impact an individual's health.

It's also important not to confuse a muscle spasm with spasticity, which refers to a chronic condition causing muscle stiffness and difficulty in movement. In the case of spasticity, physiotherapy has shown good results in reducing painful symptoms. Finally, although spasticity can be caused by constant muscle contractions, it is not the same condition and may have neurological origins.

Cause of muscle spasm

As has been established, there are several reasons why muscle contractions occur. In most cases, they are associated with the individual's physical activity. We list some of these causes below. 

1. Lack of proper stretching

During any type of exercise, muscles contract and expand. However, continuous movement can lead to muscle spasm, as the muscle becomes exhausted.

However, if stretched correctly before an exercise program, it distends muscle fibers so that they can contract and expand easily, preventing muscles from contracting.

2. Muscular fatigue

As with lack of stretching, overuse of muscles can lead to muscle fatigue, the main symptom of which is muscle spasm. 

This often happens to people unaccustomed to exercise who start with an inappropriate routine and end up tiring themselves out, or to high-level athletes who don't take proper breaks. In this case, the best option is rest, although massages administered by a professional physiotherapist can help speed recovery.

3. Dehydration

This is perhaps one of the most common and best-studied causes of muscle spasm. So, when a person is dehydrated and has lost electrolytes, it's very likely that the muscle will contract, causing a severe muscle spasm .

Dehydration can be caused by heat or exercise, as sweating is the culprit in fluid elimination, so it's easy to identify if this is the cause of a muscle spasm. This is why it's common to hear that to relieve a severe muscle spasm, you need to consume water or an electrolyte drink. 

4. Anxiety contractions

It's common to see muscle spasms without any apparent prior physical effort, so it's possible that this is a stress muscle spasm. However, a stress muscle spasm usually occurs in smaller, localized areas of muscle, for example, in the thigh, face, neck and even eyelids.

According to experts, this is because stress hormones create the instinct to flee or fight, which can increase nervous system activity and cause muscle tension.

If the person suspects that he or she is suffering from stress-related muscle spasms, treatment, unlike for other causes, will not focus on physiotherapy but on psychotherapy and the pursuit of relaxation methods such as meditation or yoga. 

5. Writer's cramp

Focal hand dystonia, or more commonly known as writer's cramp, is a condition characterized mainly by the presence of a muscle spasm in the hands. It occurs in adults and the muscular contraction affects the sections used for writing. 

However, it presents other symptoms such as hand stiffness or a tendency to grip the pencil too tightly when writing. It is generally caused by constant writing, especially if not done with correct posture. 

It's also easy to identify, as symptoms only manifest themselves in the dominant hand and, as we've already mentioned, it affects adults aged from around thirty to sixty.

In terms of treatment, doctors recommend physiotherapy or occupational therapy to restore flexibility to the hand. It is also advisable to reduce stress levels. 

6. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

Finally, while most muscle spasms are not caused by a serious condition and can be safely treated at home, there are more complex conditions whose symptoms include muscle contractions. 

It should be noted, however, that this is an extremely rare genetic disorder. Muscle spasms in this condition occur because it is a degenerative neuromuscular disease. Motor neurons therefore gradually diminish, affecting muscle behavior.

Finally, we hope you found this article useful. For more interesting information on muscle health and physiotherapy, you can visit our blog. If you're interested in physiotherapy in the Montreal area, you can find out more about our services here.