Soft Tissue & Chronic Pain
Muscle Spasm
Sudden, involuntary muscle tightening, often protective.
Also called: Muscle cramp, Back spasm.
Spasm is a sudden, involuntary tightening of a muscle. It is frequently a protective response to an underlying joint or tissue irritation rather than the primary problem itself — the muscle is doing its job of limiting movement around something it perceives as unstable or injured.
It can be brief and mild, or intense enough to stop someone from standing up straight, which understandably feels alarming even when the underlying cause is manageable.
Why this matters
Because spasm is protective, addressing only the tight muscle without identifying what it is protecting tends to bring only short-term relief. Finding and evaluating the underlying irritation is usually the more useful path.
Recurrent spasm in the same area, especially without an obvious trigger, is worth having assessed properly rather than repeatedly managed after the fact.
The brain & nervous-system connection
Where the nervous system fits in
Protective muscle responses are driven by the nervous system's assessment of threat to a joint or tissue, which is why we look for what the muscle is protecting rather than treating the spasm as an isolated event.
Chronic guarding can also reflect a nervous system that is generally on heightened alert, which is part of what a broader evaluation can help clarify.
What we look at
We look for patterns, not a single test
- Detailed health history and consultation
- NeuroInfiniti Stress Response Evaluation
- Posture and movement
- Balance and coordination testing
- Eye movement or neurological screening when appropriate
- Grip or motor-function testing when appropriate
- Palpation and spinal function
- Other examination procedures based on the individual
Not every person receives every test. What we perform depends on your history, your age and what the examination shows as we go.
Scope of care
What this does — and doesn't — mean
What we do
- • We evaluate chiropractic and musculoskeletal function.
- • We look at nervous-system-related functional findings that fall within our scope.
- • We assess movement, balance and coordination findings.
- • We measure stress-response patterns with the NeuroInfiniti evaluation.
- • We make individualized chiropractic care recommendations and re-measure over time.
What we don't claim
- • We do not diagnose, treat or cure diseases.
- • Chiropractic care is not a treatment for dementia, Alzheimer's disease or other neurological diseases.
- • Chiropractic care is not a replacement for medical care, testing or medication.
- • No outcome is promised. Results vary from person to person.
Common questions
- Will I be adjusted on the first visit?
- Generally no. The first visit is an evaluation visit. Dr. Geran reviews the findings and makes recommendations at the follow-up visit.
- Do I need imaging before I come in?
- Not usually. If your history or examination suggests imaging is needed, we will say so and help arrange the right next step.
When medical evaluation may be needed
Some symptoms need medical evaluation first. If anything in your history or examination suggests that, we will say so and help point you in the right direction.
Related at Foothills Chiropractic
- Joint Pain & Staying Active — Shoulders, hips, knees, ankles — extremity function matters as much as the spine.
- Achilles Tendinopathy — Pain and stiffness in the Achilles tendon, usually load-related.
- Ankle Pain — Pain or restriction at the ankle, often after an old injury.
- Ankle Sprain — Ligament injury from rolling or twisting the ankle.
Think Foothills Chiropractic might be right for you?
Start Here walks you through what the process looks like, so you can decide whether taking the next step makes sense for you.