Muscle Spasms in Arm - Causes, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention of Muscle Spasms in Arm

What are Muscle Spasms?

Muscle spasms in arm is a painful contraction of involuntary muscle. Muscle spasm is experienced more often in the arms, back, legs and shoulders. It can be of various types and maybe be due to various reasons. Below we have given a detailed look at the causes, prevention and treatment of muscle spasms in arm.

Improper functioning of the motor neurons are the major cause of muscle spasms in arm. In addition, muscle spasms is also experienced when the released calcium ions are not reabsorbed. Here are given some more causes for spasms in the muscles of the arm.

What are the causes of Muscle Spasms In Arm?

Dehydration: Dehydration is the loss of body fluids and salts, and is another major cause of muscle spasms. Sweating due to an exercise or activity can lead to dehydration, which ultimately causes muscle spasms. Especially at high temperatures, there is loss of calcium, sodium and potassium from the body through excessive sweating. The body can not immediately recover from this, and so one may experience muscle spasms.

Apart from these, the low oxygen supply, myotonia, twist in the arm during spot, exercise, cerebral palsy or nerve damage, etc. can also cause muscle spasms and twitching in the arm. The contracture is a permanent muscle shortening as a result of nerve damage.

Muscle Injury: An injury to the muscles, which may be due to an accident or other causes, can also lead to muscle spasms. Physically or sedentary inactive lifestyle, in which a person does not make full use of his muscles for a long period of time, can also cause spasms.

Strenuous Exercise: It is one of the most common reason for the cause of muscle spasms in arm, and every part of that you worked on in the gym can experience spasm. Muscle spasms are more common in people who do not seem to be used to daily strenuous exercise. Lack of fluids in the body can also cause muscle spasms. Too much stress, fatigue and exercise can also cause muscle spasms in hands and arms. Remember that our body starts to give signals when it is tired or fatigued, and one must be aware that it is time to take rest.

Tetanus

Tetanus is also known as lockjaw, which is a bacterial infection. It is so called mainly because once you first experience signs or symptoms, you may have muscle spasms in your jaw, which in turn prevent you from opening it. And as the condition gets worse, you possibly can suffer muscle spasms in the upper arms, thighs and abdomen. A number of children get a total of 4 tetanus vaccines by age 2 and after that a booster shot at close to 4 years of age. And after that, a second booster shot is normally given at around age 11 and after that every 10 years. It is extremely important to be up-to-date with the vaccines to prevent tetanus. And in case, if you ever feel that you might have been infected with tetani bacteria, immediately ask your doctor to get a tetanus shot to help you prevent this bacterial infection. A number of wounds, like animal bites or other injuries can also cause bacterial infection.

Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis may affect any part of the entire body, but it usually attacks the spinal cord and brain and also brings about nerve damage. And once you experience this attack, you could possibly experience some weakness, muscle spasms in legs or arms and sometimes tremors. The attacks usually vary in location and since the disease is unpredictable and progressive, it may differ in severity too. Chances are you may also experience a burning, tingling or crawling feeling in the arms and legs. Certain medications and treatments like methotrexate can slow down the progression and attacks.

A muscle twitch in arm is a common problem faced by many individuals across the world. Twitching is involuntary movement or palpitation of muscle that lasts for a few minutes. These are also known as ‘muscle fasciculation’ and can be sign of muscle fatigue. The movements are generally felt in many parts of body like arms, hands, feet, fingers, stomach and even eyelids, although it is mostly seen in muscles of the arm.

Causes of Muscle Twitch in Arm

There are many factors that may lead to muscle twitches, the leading ones are:

Anxiety: There can be many causes why a person is getting twitches. Most of the time it is found that muscle twitches is a result of anxiety. Anxiety promotes muscle contraction leading to twitches. Such condition can be reversed only by taking out the person from anxiety with implementation of relaxing methods like yoga and meditation.

Exercise: Intense workout may result in contracted muscles and consequently twitches. People who are involved in rigorous exercise and weightlifting to build muscles fast often face twitches. Strenuous aerobics can also result in a muscle twitch in arm and legs.

Caffeine: Elevated levels of caffeine in blood causes twitching of muscles. Caffeine is present in good amount in coffee and tea. Too much consumption of these beverages might result in twitches as caffeine has a tendency to stimulate the nerves that regulates the movement of muscles.

Nutrient deficiency: Deficiency of B Vitamins like Vitamin B6 and B12 results in muscle fatigue and twitches. Deficiency of certain minerals like calcium and magnesium also increases the symptoms.

Chronic diseases: Muscle twitch in arm and other parts of body could be because of chronic diseases like fibromyalgia, Lyme disease, myasthenia gravis, multiple Sclerosis and muscular dystrophy or due to any side effect of drugs or medication.

Muscle Weakness: Muscle weakness and fatigue can also result in twitching. Lack of sleep and dehydration makes muscles twitch. Moreover, there could be genetic reasons for some people to experience twitches.

How to manage muscle twitch in arm

Massaging: The affected area can be massaged gently with fingers to release the tension in the muscles relieving the twitch.

Heating pads: Applying heat on the affected area may help relax the muscles. It soothes the muscles that are stressed.

Warm water treatment: Soaking the affected arm in water may provide instant relief from a muscle twitch in arm.

Cutting down caffeine intake: As mentioned above caffeine promotes muscle contraction so cutting down on tea and coffee can make a big difference.

Avoid dehydration: Dehydration sometimes causes muscle twitches. It is important to keep the muscles well hydrated. Drinking lots of water and juices throughout the day will keep the twitches away.

Relaxing techniques: Relaxing methods like yoga and meditation helps a person come out of anxiety which is the leading cause of twitches.

Proper sleep: Lack of sleep increases the symptom so it is good to avoid the situation and get a complete and peaceful sleep.

Medicines: There are a number of medicines available but they should be administered only under a doctor’s supervision.

Most of the time twitches are curable and goes off with time by managing them, but if the symptom does not go and causes severe pain, a Doctor’s advice may be needed to get the clear picture of its cause and initiate proper treatment.