Muscle twitches or spasms occur when a muscle contracts quickly and repeatedly. Twitches are involuntary muscle contractions and while some are noticeable, there are many that you don't feel. Muscle twitching, meantime, is grouped into two categories: twitches caused by a disease, such as Lou Gehrig's disease or other nervous system ailments, and twitches caused by daily elements such as diet and exercise. These are also known as benign twitches.
Twitching and Overworked Muscles
Twitching can be the result of overworked muscles. Nerves control your movements, both voluntary and involuntary movement, by sending messages to your muscles to contract. When you overwork a muscle, you're putting extra strain on your nerves. This heavy burden can make the nerves malfunction and send false messages to your muscles, this causing the twitches.
Ways to Stop the Twitch
While most twitches related to overuse will eventually go away, in some cases they will continue to bother you. If your twitching becomes a common problem, try applying heat or getting massage in order to increase blood flow to the area. If you've identified the specific activity that's causing the twitching, avoid doing it or reduce the intensity with which you do it. Stretching before the specific activity or doing so first thing in the morning can help alleviate twitching as well.
Diet and Medication
If you experience long-term twitching, it may be caused by something other than overworked muscles. One possible cause is dehydration, which can be solved by drinking more fluids throughout your day. Caffeine can also be the culprit, so if you're drinking lots of soda or coffee, try cutting down. Some medications cause muscle twitches as well. Seek advice from your doctor about how long they might last or whether you should cease taking them.
The Serious Side
Muscle twitches can also be a sign of serious conditions that affect the nervous system. Muscular dystrophy is a disease that causes muscles to become weak. Spinal muscular atrophy effects nerve cells in the spine, affecting the body's ability to function. Fibromyalgia is an ailment that causes pain and tension in the muscles along with muscle twitching.
When To See a Doctor
If your muscle twitching continually become worse or is accompanied by decreased muscle mass or muscle weakness -- or you lose feeling in the area that twitches -- talk to a doctor. Your doctor should be able to rule out any nervous system conditions and discuss possible treatment plans.
