Back Spasms.. how to get rid of them?

[cjgrappler]

Anyone have or had back spasms? I know if you work your abs, it helps not to get your back overworked. But, once in awhile I will get one. What else is there to do to prevent them, or to get rid of them when you get them?

[BlackDragon]

I've heard that regularly stretching that area helps.

[SuperCrew]

When I have gotten them in the past nothing could beat a good soak in the hottub to get rid of them. As for prevention, I think you and BlackDragon have hit it on the head - strengthen the abs and back muscles and stretching. To be honest, I haven't had any back problems since I began training in TKD last November. And I had some pretty serious issues with my back due to a couple of auto accidents.

[SuperCrew]

Any luck so far? Have you tried anything different for the back spasms?

[Bushido]

A nice long bath in Epsom Salt. I find that to be my cure for minor cuts and bruises and the occasional muscle spasm.

[BlackDragon]

Originally Posted by Bushido

A nice long bath in Epsom Salt. I find that to be my cure for minor cuts and bruises and the occasional muscle spasm.

Yes I have heard that one too.

[apollo]

I sometimes get lower back pain, which is common. As mentioned, work on your abs should help and also if you can find a gym with a roman chair. The roman chair targets lower back muscles and helps to strengthen the lower back. It has helped me a lot.
Yoga stretching exercises can help and a good physio can also help.

[JoeDaddy12]

I’m old school I like to ice & heat if that don’t work buy one of those heating pad raps to wear around your back!

[scoi]

i've ruptured one of my disks so get them regularly. Heat and rest are the best cure. For prevention instead of stregthening the stomach, look at strengthening the core muscles both in a straight line and turning movements. There arnt many stretches that give a proper stretch of the back muscles due to the spine stopping the movement but lots of gentle movements will wake them up before a session. When you feel a twinge stop, its a lot better to miss half a session compared to a week stuck in bed

[kfmomma]

Ice, ice, and more ice to calm the spasm down and then apply heat and rest that area. gently stretches help once it has healed. I have had a ton of back problems and have suffered with pain almost all my life and ice and heat are my friends. Trish

[Jason]

What exactly is a back 'spasm'? I get back pains sometimes when I do sit ups or crunches.

[kfmomma]

Well a spasm feels like someone is stabbing you with a knife. It is this very sharp pain that comes and goes as you move. It isn't a dull nagging pain. The spasm type of pain is enough to jolt you. Almost like an electric shock going thru you. Trish

[Jason]

Hmm I get the stabbing thing, not the shocking.

[kfmomma]

Sounds like a spasm then. Not everyone gets the shock thing. I seem to get it all. Ice is the best thing to calm down any spasm. They use it in any sport.

[Jason]

My, well what sounds like spasms stop when I stop exercising my abs (well that general region).