What Is Muscle Cramps ?
Have you ever experienced a sudden pain in your leg our hand. Yes then you must know that they are very painful and sometime unbearable. The medical term for this sudden pain is cramps. Muscle Cramps is very common thing and we all have faced them one or the other time. But cramps can be a real nightmare, especially when they wake you at night. Leg cramps most commonly hit your calves and hamstrings, though they can show up in just about any muscle. Sometimes they seem to come out of nowhere. So how to get rid of them well here is all you need to know about Muscle Cramp.
What is Muscle Cramp?
Muscle cramps are sudden, involuntary contractions that occur in various muscles. These contractions are often painful and can affect different muscle groups. Commonly affected muscles include those in the back of your lower leg, the back of your thigh.
Causes of Cramps
“Leg cramps can be caused by many conditions, ranging simply from dehydration to something much more serious such as kidney disease. Overuse of a muscle, dehydration, muscle strain or simply holding a position for a prolonged period can cause a muscle cramp. In many cases, however, the cause isn’t known.
Treatment of Cramps
There are a number ways you can alleviate nighttime leg cramps. Once leg cramps set in, the best method to relieve them is movement, either walking around or simply jiggling or shaking your leg. With this here are some other ways to prevent Leg cramps.
#Stretch and massage
Lengthen the cramping muscle using a gentle, sustained stretch then lightly massage the area until the cramp subsides. If you are unsure how to stretch leg muscles, see your physiotherapist for advice
#Hot Soak
Many professionals like personal trainers, coaches, and physical therapists also recommend magnesium on the outside of your body, in the form of Epsom salts. This old-school remedy can be applied to a wet cloth and pressed onto a cramped muscle, or you can add some to a hot bath for a soak.
#Hydration
Another possible way to stop leg cramps is to hydrate. It might take a little longer to address your pain, but once you have had water or a sports drink with electrolytes, you could prevent another cramp.
#Painkillers
If you have leg pain that persists after an episode of cramping, an over-the-counter painkiller, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen may help reduce the pain.
#Get Moving
“If you are experiencing leg cramps, the best thing that you can do is walk around,” says certified personal trainer Henry Halse. “This will send the signal that your muscle needs to contract and then relax. Think of it as hitting the reset button on the muscle.” If all else fails, and you continue to have regular muscle cramps, Halse advises getting regular massages, which is a nice idea whether you have muscle cramps or not.
Cramps are very normal and they can happen to any one. Remember when Rafael Nadal had one when he was addressing a press conference US open 2011.
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