Causes and Manual Treatment of Muscle Spasms and Cramps

The body activates certain mechanisms to protect the damaged or problematic area. The main mechanisms are spasm and edema. The body tries to immobilize the problematic area, resulting in edema or muscle spasm depending on the situation. In fact, pain is one of these mechanisms. A person does not want to move the painful area or finds the body position where the pain is less. These mentioned mechanisms are interconnected. From a physical perspective, the prolonged activation of these mechanisms can result in delayed healing or the formation of other problems. Due to the protein-rich nature of edema, it can cause adhesions in the tissues if it remains for a long time. Prolonged spasm, especially in spinal problems, reduces the movement of the facet joints responsible for movement and causes them to lock. This increases the load on the discs. Additionally, the effort to stay in a painless position causes postural (alignment) disorders in the body. As a result, these mechanisms create a vicious cycle. In manual therapy, effective treatments are performed using techniques such as manipulation-mobilization, myofascial release, special stretching techniques, and muscle-energy techniques to drain the edema, effectively treat muscle spasm, and unlock locked joints.