what causes muscle spasms?

Answer 1

Usually a lack of potassium. Try eating a banana or orange juice more often to prevent this.

Muscle spasms can cause cramps and are usually brought on by the following:

Muscle fatigue
Heavy exercise
Dehydration
Pregnancy
Hypothyroidism
Reduced levels of magnesium or calcium in the body
Other metabolic problems
Alcoholism
Kidney failure
Medications

Answer 2

When a muscle goes into spasm, all the fibers within the core of a muscle contract simultaneously. This most commonly occurs when you suddenly move or overextend a tensed-up muscle that hasn't been properly prepared for the movement.

Quickly bending over after sitting, for example, can overstretch your back muscles and injure the area. In response, the surrounding muscle fibers instantly tighten, forming a kind of protective splint that guards the back against further irritation. This triggers a back-stabbing cycle: Contracted fibers squeeze off blood flow to the muscle, creating irritation and more pain. The additional pain triggers even tighter contractions. You're caught in a painful vise without a chance of the muscle relaxing on its own.

Unlike an ordinary muscle cramp that also involves a sudden contraction, a spasm does not usually release with movement. If your back locks in spasm, you can't move.


Can also be caused by depletion of certain electrolytes in the system

Answer 3

Muscle spasms are telling you something is wrong in an area of your body, when the muscle spasms it's telling something is wrong. Like when you get charly horses that's often letting a person know they have over done running or they have calcium deficincey. They are a great warning system for your body listen to them.

Answer 4

A spasm is a sudden, involuntary contraction of a muscle, a group of muscles, or a hollow organ, or a similarly sudden contraction of an orifice.

Spasmodic muscle contraction may also be due to a large number of medical conditions, however, including the dystonias.

Answer 5

Low calcium and potassium. You can get the supplements at the health food store.

Answer 6

low potassium usually....... that or over doing it (exercising ect)
try eating a banana or drink some orange juice before you begin the day and if it doesn't help...I would see a doctor...there are other things as well, but usually it's just a potassium thing