Involuntary muscle spasms are fairly common in individuals and rarely pose a problem as the misfiring of a particular nerve. It’s when they become chronic, painful, or disruptive, that they demand the oversight of a medical professional. These adverse types of muscle spasms can indicate nerve damage, developing nerve compression, or conditions like cervical dystonia.
Dystonia is a unique disease that causes spasms and spastic movements in the neck and head. It involves nerves that misfire dramatically, causing muscle groups in the neck and shoulders to contract. These contractions appear as tics or twitches, often mistaken for those associated with obsessive compulsive disorder or Tourette’s Syndrome.
At Ideal Spine Health Center in Boise, ID, we’ve seen the crippling effects of dystonia. Using Chiropractic BioPhysics (CBP), we work hard to qualify each unique case of dystonia brought to us, so we can help people cope with the condition and ensure the integrity of their spine as they work to overcome it.
Dystonia’s effect on the spine
What makes dystonia particularly damaging is its effect on the spine. Sufferers of the condition quickly come to grips with the triggers of their condition and thus, teach themselves to avoid them.
For example, dystonia triggered by turning the head to the left may encourage a person to turn their entire body when they want to look in that direction. While this may help prevent spasms, it adversely stresses the spine. It can also disrupt the normal range of motion of the spine and create weakness in areas that aren’t supported by this abnormal tendency.
Adverse habits are only the tip of the iceberg for potential spinal problems caused by dystonia. Poor posture is another grave concern with long-term drawbacks. Sufferers often become preoccupied with preventing dystonia-induced spasms that they craft a posture to avoid them, not realizing the detrimental impact this has on the entirety of the body. Some of the conditions that can come secondary to dystonia-induced posture include:
- Strained soft-tissue;
- Reduced range of motion;
- Muscle weakness;
- Balance issues;
- Vertebral subluxations;
- Pinched nerves.
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Treatment for dystonia-related spinal concerns
While dystonia itself is often treated through more clinical means, the condition’s effects on the spine fall into the realm of chiropractic. Resetting the spine to a normal, supportive posture falls on the shoulders of a chiropractor. And, for long-term improvements to restore spinal integrity, a CBP-trained chiropractor may also employ strengthening, stretching, and massage therapies as part of an ongoing improvement plan.
The goal of any tailored treatment plan is to realign the spine and strengthen it. This frees up nerve pathways, improves total body support, and helps create homeostasis across all of the body’s biomechanical systems. When coupled with clinical treatment for dystonia, the positive effects on morale, wellness, and wellbeing can be profound for a patient.
Succeeding over dystonia spasms
There’s no known cure of dystonia, however modern medicine has opened numerous doors to management of this disease. For those who are seeking to get their dystonia under control, it’s important to also focus on relief for your spine as well. Ideal Spine Health Center in Boise, ID has seen what living with dystonia can do to the spine. Using CBP, we’ll help create a wellness plan for your spine, so you can take the necessary steps to restoring its stability. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Chiropractic BioPhysics, or CBP, is one of the most scientific, researched, and results-oriented corrective care techniques. CBP-trained chiropractors aim to realign the spine back to health, eliminating nerve interference and addressing the source of pain, fatigue, and disease. As with all chiropractic care, CBP is gentle, painless, and non-invasive.