Re: Back Spasm - Stacey

[Guest guest]

Stacey -

I agree with what you have been told so far by everybody else that

it sounds like you had a spasm. All of the advice you have been

given was also good.

I had a post awhile back about cramps and spasms but will do a quick

recap for you here. (I really need to start filing some of these so

I can quickly find them when I need them instead of rewriting

things).

At any rate, there are three ways to manually stop a cramp or spasm,

regardless of where it is: direct pressure, reciprocal inhibition,

and origin-insertion approximation. These are the technical names

for the techniques but they are not as complicated as they sound.

Direct pressure is just that. Take your fist and push it into the

muscle as hard as you can and hold the pressure. Works well on the

front of the thigh but not so well if you are trying to do it on

yourself for the middle of your own back.

Reciprocal inhibition basically means make the muscle do the

opposite of the action causing the cramp of spasm. Using your back

as an example, assuming it was one or more of your ESG's (Erector

Spinae Group) that extends or pulls your back straight or backwards,

you would simply bend or roll forward. A muscle can't stay cramped

when the opposite action is performed.

The third technique requires a knowledge of anatomy and kineseology

because you have to know (1) the muscle itself (2) the muscle's

origin and insertion points and (3) the actions that the muscle

does. Assuming you do know all three, the technique is to grasp the

origin point with one hand and the insertion point with the other

and squeeze your hands toward each other. Again, not one you could

do yourself on your own back. I just mention it for info.

As to which muscle it might have been, I can't tell from the

information in your posts. If you can give me more detail, like

exactly where in the back, one side or both, total area involved,

etc, I probably could figure it out for you.

[Guest guest]

>

>

> Direct pressure is just that. Take your fist and push it into the

> muscle as hard as you can and hold the pressure. Works well on the

> front of the thigh but not so well if you are trying to do it on

> yourself for the middle of your own back.

>

>

What can work on your back is a tennis ball - put the tennis ball in

a sock so you have more control - hang it over your shoulder with the

ball in the back - put your back up against a wall - find the place

that hurts - or in other terms feels better when you push on it and

apply pressure.

You can do it laying down if you have a mat or something. Floors are

usually too hard and beds usually too soft - massage mats and

tumbling mats usually work pretty good.

[Guest guest]

Well Mike, I won't argue with you - the direct pressure method is not

usually the fastest way to relieve the spasm - I generally use the

opposite action to relieve acute spasm - esp when they occur in my

calves.

However, you said that direct pressure was hard to do on your own

back and I was just suggesting one way that someone can do direct

pressure on their own backs. I think it works wonderfully and I

always have a sock with a tennis ball handy.

Since most of my pain occurs when I'm not with someone who can help

me I find it invaluable to know self help techniques. I've also

become in tune enough with my body that I can usually tell when

something muscular is starting and head it off before it becomes

acute - that's why I have a date with my tennis ball at least once a

day.

I'm also working hard to determine what triggers my muscle problems

and correct them.

I appreciate all the info you provide - keep it comming :-)

>

> What can work on your back is a tennis ball - put the tennis ball

in

> a sock so you have more control - hang it over your shoulder with

> the ball in the back - put your back up against a wall - find the

> place that hurts - or in other terms feels better when you push on

> it and apply pressure.

>

> ----------------

>

> The problem with the tennis ball, direct pressure, approach is that

> when you are in the middle of a screaming spasm, you don't want to

> take the time to go look for a sock and ball. You want that spasm

> GONE and gone NOW. The fastest way to handle it is to force the

> muscle into the opposite action.

>

> After you get it eased to the point where you can uncross your eyes

> and get a reasonably normal breath - then you go get the sock and

> ball to help further relax the muscle.

>

> As a practitioner, where we find the greatest application for the

> direct pressure method is if someone gets a back spasm or calf

> charlie-horse while face down on the table. For the back, if they

> are prone on the table, you can't move them into a forward bending

> posture without first getting them up on their knees. I would

> IMMEDIATELY apply the direct pressure to the tight back muscle to

> get it to ease up. Then, and only then, would I get them into an

> upright position and go do the reciprocal inhibition to further

> relax the muscle.

>

> And while the muscle is relaxing from the forward bending position,

> I would use some massage techniques to help it along.