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Back cramps: Causes and treatment

by Alivia Nyhan
Published: Last Updated on
Back cramps

Back cramps are a sudden contraction. They appear involuntarily in the same muscles in response to a muscle tension that may or may not relate to an injury or a previously suffered disorder.

Multiple causes can cause these muscle cramps, from poor posture to excessive muscles or chronic diseases such as arthritis fibromyalgia.

Therefore, I invite you to read this article by FastlyHealin which we answer why they give back cramps and how to get rid of them.

Table of Contents

Why do they get cramps in the back?

Back cramps occur frequently and can appear from several causes, including:

  • Dehydration: dehydration occurs when much more fluid is lost than is ingested and the body does not have enough fluids to perform its functions. In addition, this loss of fluid can lead to the loss of calcium or potassium, bringing with it the appearance of cramps both in the back and in other parts of the body.
  • Poor posture – When sitting at a desk or in a car for a long time, your back muscles can contract, leading to cramps that tend to be very painful.
  • Stress and anxiety: both stress and anxiety can cause a decrease in people’s motivation, resulting in physical inactivity, which could contribute to the appearance of muscle cramps in the back. It should be noted that stress can unintentionally cause muscle tension.
  • Increased effort when lifting heavy objects: lifting objects that exceed the person’s weight generates a great activity that can cause cramps in the back.
  • Carry out strenuous or inappropriate sports activity: the excessive use of any muscle can trigger cramps for a few days, and believe it or not, excessive exercise causes back pain.
  • Low potassium or calcium reserves: the decrease in potassium or calcium can trigger the appearance of cramps. In general, this happens due to dehydration, kidney disorders, or a reduction in the intake of foods that contain these electrolytes.
  • Spinal torsion: this occurs in cases of scoliosis, which is the deviation of the spine as a result of its deformity over time. The muscle weakness can aggravate this alteration that it generates, and those who suffer from it may have back cramps.
  • Weakness of the abdominal muscles: the abdominal muscles help support the back. The defect in them or their stiffness can injure them, making them more vulnerable to diseases in this area.
  • Herniated discs: when a disc is compressed and protrudes from the spine, what is known as a herniated disc occurs. Its rupture can cause more significant pain and, at the same time, cramps in the back.
  • Arthritis in the spine: This disease can cause cramp-like pain, but it is a problem caused by the injury to the spine and the physical inactivity that causes the same condition.
  • Fibromyalgia: it is a chronic condition that is known for pain as well as for the sensitivity that it causes in different parts of the body. Among the most apparent symptoms are the back mentioned above cramps.

How to get rid of back cramps

To eliminate back cramps, it is necessary to visit a doctor to obtain the precise diagnosis and the treatment according to the symptoms you present. The treatment will depend on the cause that gives rise to the symptoms’ appearance.

The medical treatment may include:

  • Analgesics.
  • Muscle relaxants.
  • Physical therapy.
  • Surgery: when it comes to repairing disc damage or spinal compression.
  • Antidepressants or other medications are necessary to control stress anxiety and even relieve pain caused by a mental disorder.

At the same time, he will recommend the following actions in case of severe pain:

  • Alternating hot and cold compresses to the pain site for approximately 20 minutes. When this time is up, it is necessary to remove the compress for 20 minutes to rest.
  • Gentle massages in the area of ​​pain to relax tight muscles.
  • Stretching exercises and walking to maintain physical activity without straining the back.
  • Take pain relievers and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen.
  • Implement relaxation, meditation, and deep breathing techniques.

Can back cramps be prevented?

Sometimes it is not so easy to avoid back cramps. However, you can do it if you keep these recommendations in mind:

  • Stay hydrated and eat all the primary food groups, so your body meets the daily requirements it needs.
  • Follow your coach’s instructions to avoid back cramps if you exercise daily.
  • Relax your back muscles using techniques such as meditation or deep breathing.
  • If you spend many hours in the same position or behind a desk, you should stretch regularly and take a break every hour.
  • Practice good posture. With this, you will reduce the pain generated by adopting incorrect postures for long periods, especially during the workday. In the following article, you can see some tricks to improve posture.

This article is merely informative. At FastlyHeal .com, we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any kind of condition or discomfort.

If you want to read more articles similar to Why do back cramps and how to get rid of them, we recommend that you enter our Bones, Joints, and Muscles category.

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