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Muscle Twitching Chiropractor: Back Clinic

Muscle Twitching Chiropractor: Back Clinic

Nerves control muscle fibers. Muscle twitching is an involuntary contraction of the muscle fibers. When individuals play sports/work out vigorously or for a long time, they may experience muscle twitching and can often see and/or feel the twitches happening. The most worked-out muscles are likely to twitch, which includes the biceps, thighs, and calves, but twitches can occur in any muscle. Chiropractic care, massage therapy, and functional medicine can help relax the muscles, improve circulation, restore function, and train individuals to prevent future episodes.

Muscle Twitching Chiropractor

Muscle Twitching

A muscle twitch often occurs after intense physical activity or a hard workout because the muscle or muscles have been overworked, and there is hyper-excitability of the nerve/s that makes the muscle/s continue to contract.

  • A muscle twitch that can be seen is called fasciculation.
  • A muscle twitch that cannot be seen is called fibrillation.
  • If there is pain or the twitching is prolonged, it is a muscle spasm.

Causes

The most common causes include the following:

  • Intense exercise and rigorous physical activity build up lactic acid in the muscles.
  • Dehydration is a very common factor for shaky muscles.
  • Vitamin D and calcium deficiencies could cause muscle spasms in the hand, calves, and eyelids.
  • Using caffeinated products to increase physical performance.
  • Not enough or a lack of healthy sleep.
  • Anxiety or stress.
  • Certain medications like estrogen and corticosteroids.
  • Nicotine and tobacco use.

Physical Activity/Exercise

  • Intense exercise and physical activity can cause muscle fatigue.
  • Muscle fatigue triggers twitching and cramping in overworked muscle fibers.
  • Electrolytes play a role in muscle contraction.
  • Electrolyte loss and imbalances within muscle fibers through sweating can lead to twitching.

Dehydration

  • Muscle mass comprises 75% water.
  • Water carries nutrients and minerals to muscles to support function.
  • Not being properly hydrated can cause twitching and cramping.

Vitamin D Deficiency

  • Nerves need vitamin D to relay messages to and from the brain to the body’s muscles.
  • A vitamin D deficiency can cause muscle weakness and twitching.

Magnesium Deficiency

  • Magnesium deficiency is known as hypomagnesemia.
  • Magnesium plays a role in maintaining nerve and muscle health.
  • Magnesium helps transport calcium across cell membranes to support nerve and muscle function.
  • A magnesium deficiency can cause twitching anywhere in the body, including the face.

Causes of magnesium deficiency include:

  • Poor diet
  • Diarrhea
  • Drinking too much alcohol
  • Not addressing magnesium deficiency can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Caffeine

  • Caffeine is a stimulant.
  • Drinking too much coffee, tea, or energy drinks can cause fasciculation.

Not Enough Sleep

  • Brain chemicals or neurotransmitters transmit information from the brain to the nerves that control muscle contraction.
  • Sleep deprivation can affect how neurotransmitter receptors work.
  • This means excess neurotransmitters can build up in the brain.
  • Lack of sleep can affect neurotransmitter function.
  • A common site of fasciculation tiredness occurs in the eyelids.

Anxiety and Stress

  • Experiencing psychological stress or high anxiety levels can cause excess muscle tension.
  • This can lead to muscle twitching.
  • Muscle fasciculation caused by stress can occur anywhere in the body.

Certain Medications

  • Certain medications can lead to involuntary muscle twitching.
  • The reaction can be a side effect due to interactions with other medications.
  • Individuals should discuss side effects and medication interactions with their doctor when taking a new medication.

Chiropractic Care

Chiropractors are experts on the musculoskeletal system and have many techniques to treat muscle fasciculation and spasms. It often depends on the cause/s, and specific treatment varies on a case-by-case basis. Common chiropractic treatments include:

  • Massage therapy
  • Heat and ice therapy
  • Manual manipulation
  • Joint adjustments
  • Ultrasound
  • Stretches to keep the muscles flexible
  • Exercises to strengthen the muscles
  • Nutritional recommendations

Fasciculation


References

Bergeron, Michael F.. Muscle Cramps during Exercise-Is It Fatigue or Electrolyte Deficit?. Current Sports Medicine Reports July 2008 – Volume 7 – Issue 4 – p S50-S55 doi: 10.1249/JSR.0b013e31817f476a

Gragossian A, Bashir K, Friede R. Hypomagnesemia. [Updated 2022 May 15]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (F.L.): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK500003/

Küçükali, Cem Ismail, et al. “Peripheral nerve hyperexcitability syndromes.” Reviews in the neurosciences vol. 26,2 (2015): 239-51. doi:10.1515/revneuro-2014-0066

Maughan, Ronald J, and Susan M Shirreffs. “Muscle Cramping During Exercise: Causes, Solutions, and Questions Remaining.” Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.) vol. 49, Suppl 2 (2019): 115-124. doi:10.1007/s40279-019-01162-1

Miller, Kevin C et al. “Exercise-associated muscle cramps: causes, treatment, and prevention.” Sports health vol. 2,4 (2010): 279-83. doi:10.1177/1941738109357299

Riebl, Shaun K, and Brenda M Davy. “The Hydration Equation: Update on Water Balance and Cognitive Performance.” ACSM’s health & fitness journal vol. 17,6 (2013): 21-28. doi:10.1249/FIT.0b013e3182a9570f

Low Levels of Choline Can Contribute To Muscle Cramps

Low Levels of Choline Can Contribute To Muscle Cramps

Muscle cramps are sudden and involuntary contractions of one or more of the body’s muscles. They often occur at night or at any moment stopped by a sudden Charley horse. These cramps can cause severe pain, making it impossible to move and use the affected muscle/s. They are usually brought on from:

 

Low Levels of Choline Can Contribute To Muscle Cramps

Affected by muscle cramps

Muscle cramps are common and can happen to anyone, but often occur to:

  • Indoor/outdoor physical work employees
  • Pregnant women
  • The elderly
  • Infants
  • Individuals that are overweight
  • Athletes

Cramping Up

Muscle cramps can be a symptom of a variety of medical issues. It is typically dehydration and muscle strain from overworking/exercising the muscles, but it can also be a sign of medical conditions like:

  • Poor circulation
  • Mineral depletion low levels of magnesium, calcium, potassium, and choline
  • Diuretics
  • Low electrolyte levels
  • Nerve disorders are rare cases, but a pinched nerve or spinal cord injury can cause nerve compression that can lead to cramping
  • Tight muscles, this comes from inactivity and not stretching the body causes the muscles to contract involuntarily
  • Hypothyroidism, a thyroid gland that is less active than normal can cause cramps
  • Liver disease

Muscle cramps can make daily activities difficult if not impossible to perform. They often happen at night affecting proper sleep. This can lead to:

  • Pain hangover
  • Grogginess
  • Fogginess
  • Cautious body behavior – as an individual wants to avoid pain and more cramping they begin to watch how they:
  • Step
  • Reach
  • Bend
  • Move
  • So as not to cause discomfort, pain, and further cramping, they develop awkward body positions that create more health problems from improper body posture.
Muscle cramps can happen to any muscle of the body. However, they present most often in the:
  • Abdomen
  • Ribs
  • Legs
  • Feet
  • Hands
  • Arms

Symptoms

This is usually sudden, sharp pain. Individuals can also feel or see a lump of muscle tissue under the skin.

When to see a professional

They usually go away on their own not requiring medical care. However, seek medical attention if the cramps:

  • Are causing severe discomfort and pain
  • Severe swelling, redness, or changes in skin tone
  • Muscle weakness is present
  • They are occurring frequently
  • They do not improve with self-care
  • There is no connection with an obvious cause, like intense physical activity/exercise

Mineral Depletion

Choline is a nutrient that just as important but not as well known as B vitamins.  Choline has a fundamental role in muscle physiology and low levels could be a cause/contributor of muscle cramping. Choline is well-known for its function as part of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. This is a chemical messenger that transmits signals between nerve cells and muscles. Acetylcholine is the physiological link that tells the muscles to contract. This is where medications can interfere with the messaging system.

Most believe that muscle cramps are caused by magnesium deficiency. This is true, but magnesium is not the only nutrient that could present with muscle issues. Choline regulates intracellular calcium and muscle contraction. This is what helps bind calcium proteins to muscle receptors. Choline keeps minerals like calcium available to the muscles so they can use it instantly when they need to contract. For individuals with skeletal muscle issues, which can be muscle cramping, general soreness, or another type of issue, testing for choline status could be the key.

Prevention and Relief

Home self-care for prevention and relief includes:

  • Heat or ice application to the muscle/s and affected areas
  • Avoiding caffeine
  • Drink plenty of water before and during physical activities, indoor/outdoor work, exercise
  • Self-massaging the cramped muscle/s
  • Stretching before and after physical activities
  • Nightly stretching before bed
  • Chiropractic maintenance

Body Composition Testing


Disclaimer

The information herein is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional, licensed physician, and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make your own health care decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified health care professional. Our information scope is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, sensitive health issues, functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from a wide array of disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the musculoskeletal system’s injuries or disorders. Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and support, directly or indirectly, our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, CTG*
email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com
phone: 915-850-0900
Licensed in Texas & New Mexico

References

American Osteopathic Association. Muscle Cramp. Accessed 12/10/2019.

Merck Manual. Muscle Cramps. Accessed 12/10/2019.

Miller, Timothy M, and Robert B Layzer. “Muscle cramps.” Muscle & nerve vol. 32,4 (2005): 431-42. doi:10.1002/mus.20341

Nutrients, July 202

A Chiropractor’s Guide to Back Spasms

A Chiropractor’s Guide to Back Spasms

Back spasms can be compared to a Charley horse in the back. These are a common complaint in doctors’ clinics throughout the country. Spasms can accompany back pain and neck pain, they can be the result of a traumatic event, like a slip and fall accident or an automobile accident. Here is why they occur and what to do about them. �

 

trapezius anatomy muscles isolated on white d illustration

 

Back Spasms

A back spasm is an involuntary and sustained contraction of one or more muscles of the spine. Spasms can occur without pain when the muscle/s shift, and pulse. But it’s when pain accompanies the spasm that it can become an issue that can lead to a chronic condition.

Example: Runners get the feeling of having a Charley horse in the calf muscle. Having a back spasm is the same. Spinal muscle spasms could be an indication of something serious, like a micro tear around a spinal disc that can generate inflammation to cause the muscles to tense up.

However, with most cases, a back muscle spasm is a symptom of a mild muscle injury, like a sprain. It can be hard to diagnose the pathology of a muscle spasm. One theory is that if there is a noxious stimulus coursing through the body, specifically the back, it can disrupt/disturb the muscles. When this happens the muscles brace/bunch up together to protect the spine. Here’s are five muscle spasm types that can cause back and neck pain.

Cervical Spine

If there is a spasm in the neck, it’s more than likely a contraction of the trapezius muscle. This is the muscle group that runs down the neck into the middle or thoracic spine/back.

neck anatomy

Back spasms in the cervical spine could indicate a contraction of the sternocleidomastoid. This is located at the base of the skull on both sides of the head. When these muscles spasm, the pain is usually localized or in one area that leads to muscle irritation. However, if the spasm is a symptom of underlying inflammation or nerve irritation, then the pain could radiate and spread down.

Thoracic Spine

The trapezius starts at the neck to the last vertebra of the thoracic spine or the middle-back. Therefore, a back spasm can affect the neck as well as the middle of the back as well. Spasms in the midback can also result from a contraction of the rhomboid muscle. These connect the shoulder blades to the rib cage and spine.

Because there is less movement in the middle-back, the muscles in this area are less likely to spasm, compared to the cervical/neck area and the lumbar/low area.

Lumbar Spine

Spasms in the lower back occur from a contraction of the erector spinae muscles. These are the large group of stabilizing muscles that are on either side of the spine or the latissimus dorsi. These muscles are commonly referred to as lats. They are one of the largest muscle groups in the body and cover the middle and lower back.

 

Lats Graphic

 

Relieving Spasms

Treatment for muscle spasms depends on how the injury originated. A full medical history is crucial for a doctor, spine specialist, or chiropractor to be able to look at all the angles in determining and diagnosing the root cause.

It could be from just leaning over and picking up a box to sleeping in an improper/uncomfortable position. This type of pain is less concerning as it is more than likely a sprain or strain, and can be treated rather quickly.

However, if the spasms started after being involved in an automobile accident or falling pretty hard, then there could be serious damage to the area. Back spasms that occur after these types of situations require an immediate full neurologic and muscular examination. This along with advanced imaging, like an MRI.

11860 Vista Del Sol, Ste. 128 The Chiropractors Guide to Back Spasms

Specialists

A spine specialist or chiropractor wants to make sure they’re not missing any underlying injuries or instabilities of the spine that would require extensive and possible invasive treatment. Red flag situations include osteoporosis, which is the loss of bone mass or ankylosing spondylitis, which is a form of arthritis that mainly affects the spine.

  • Osteoporosis can cause an underlying compression fracture.
  • Ankylosing spondylitis can cause parts of the spine to fuse together.

Both underlying conditions can cause muscle spasms. However, conservative treatment for most cases is all that is usually needed to relieve muscle spasms of the spine. These include:

  • Anti-inflammation medications and creams
  • Chiropractic manipulation to improve spinal muscles range of motion
  • Heat and ice application
  • Light activities/exercises like walking that don’t include any bending, twisting, and lifting
  • Massage therapy
  • Physical therapy
  • Therapeutic water exercise rehabilitation program
  • Ultrasound
  • Wearing a soft collar for cervical spasms
11860 Vista Del Sol, Ste. 128 The Chiropractors Guide to Back Spasms

If results do not improve within four to six weeks of conservative treatment, then an MRI or other type of scan of the area will be needed.

All that said preventing back spasms is the way to go. We’ve all heard the phrase to be heart-healthy, which concerns cardiovascular health. Now it’s about being spine healthy. Keeping the abdominal muscles, lumbar extensors, and the erector spinae muscles fit is the key. This can be accomplished with regular stretching and core exercises. Also doing yoga and Pilates will go a long way in minimizing muscle spasms and preventing injuries.

11860 Vista Del Sol, Ste. 128 The Chiropractors Guide to Back Spasms

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