3 ways to handle muscle cramps;
Muscle cramps are a common problem that many people experience from time to time. Muscle cramps most often affects but the legs and this is because, the muscles in your legs are made up of bundles of fibers that alternately contract and expand to produce movement.
Muscle cramps occur when you have strained or overused a muscle, when you have low levels of electrolytes such as magnesium, potassium, or calcium, when you are dehydrated, when you do not have enough blood getting into your muscles, when you are pregnant, when you stay in one position for a long time and also some medications can cause muscle cramps.
When you have muscle cramp, there is no much rush for you to go to the hospital because you can easily handle it at home.
1. Stretch It Out
In case you have muscle cramp, it is important to stop anything you are doing and stretch. For example if you were exercising and then had muscle cramp during your exercising session, it is advisable to stop and stretch out first. Also, another thing to do is stand up and put your weight on the leg with the cramp and gently bend your knee.
Furthermore, if these two steps are not helping, another thing you can do is sit on the floor with your leg or foot stretched out in front of you. Keep your leg straight while you gently pull your foot back towards you. It will equally help relaxes your muscle.
3. Applying heat
Muscle cramps equally occurs when the muscles are tight, so another way to relax your muscle is to apply heat on the cramped area. What you do is heat some water and place a towel in it, remove the towel and squeeze it a little then place the hot towel on the affected area. The heat from the towel will help relax the muscle.
3. Stay hydrated
Another cause of muscle cramp is dehydration. When you system lacks water and fluids it is most likely for you to have muscle cramps, so when this occurs, you need to drink enough water and fluids.
Basic ways to avoid muscle cramps;
- Exercise regularly
- Drink fluids frequently
- Avoid exercising in hot weather
- Wear shoes that fit you properly
- Stretch your muscles before you go to sleep.
- Avoid medications that may cause muscle cramps.
It is important to note that, muscle cramps does not affect just the legs.
Me when I have cramps, come and see how I will be hitting my leg on the ground, until I will even have a headache ?
Thanks ma am having this cramps now more often don’t know why
Wow great
Wow that’s interesting Mom thanks
Thanks moma. I once helped one mama with blended calcium because her own was chronic and the calcium helped her so much.
Thanks very much, it always affecting my right hsnd
Thank you ma’am ?
Thank you mom
thanks mom
Wow I always suffer with this stuff not really know what to do,but now I have and idea on what to do
I always put my leg in water when I have cramps
Thanks mum
Interesting ….knew only how to hit the leg on the ground still it stops. But now I know oda ways, m gr8tful
Thanks alot for the different ways of managing muscle cramp especially that of hot water.
Thanks mum
Wow thanks for this tips dear,
Wow thanks Ma
My legs suffer alot from this