Muscle Cramps are painful and uncontrollable spasms in a muscle. The exact cause of muscle Cramp is not clear, but possible reasons are nutritional deficiencies, dehydration, overusing, poor physical condition etc. Muscles of the foot and calf are very prone to cramps. Usually a cramp can heal on its own, but you can also learn some Home Remedies to speed the recovery and ease the pain.
Home Remedies for Muscle Cramps
- Drink fluids. Drinking an electrolyte beverage like, Pedialyte can prevent cramping by rebalancing the mineral balance in your body. Be aware not to choose sports drinks with high sugar content, because it will only increase your pain.
- Take multivitamin pills. For cramps caused by vitamin or mineral deficiency, it is better to take multivitamin pills to get magnesium and zinc.
- Stretch and Massage. Massage and stretch the affected muscle lightly and gently until the cramp disappears. You can perform this alone or after any other treatment presented below in this article.
- Ice compress. In order to relax your muscle and ease inflammation, apply an ice pack on your cramped muscle.
- Punching your Lips. Use your index finger and thumb to grasp your upper lip, and massage and wiggle it firmly. This one acts as an immediate pain relief but not for long-term treatment.
- Use an analgesic balm. Similar to Cold compress, an analgesic balm can also reduce pain and loosen the muscle.
How to Prevent Muscle Cramps
- By keeping regular exercise improve your physical condition.
- Warming up by doing light jogging or some stretches before playing sports.
- Drinking plenty of water to keep your body hydrated while you are exercising.
- Keep a balanced diet which includes adequate fresh vegetables and fruits.
- Be careful with high heels and wear comfortable shoes.
Causes of Muscle Cramps
In fact there are no biological explanations for muscle cramp. Most of them are harmless, but some muscle cramps are connected to certain medical conditions:
Atherosclerosis – inadequate blood supply caused by narrowed arteries may increase the risk of getting Muscle Cramps.
Nerve compression – Nerve compression in your spin can cause pain in the buttock or leg. The longer you walk, more pain you will feel. And the pain will go away as soon as you stop exercising.
Mineral deficiency – inadequate supply of magnesium, potassium or calcium can lead to muscle cramps. Some medication like diuretics can break down the mineral balance in your body and contribute to muscle cramps.
Source: www.healthdigezt.com