It often happens when you run, ride a bike or swim, in general, when you do a sport. Suddenly your leg starts to hurt, your muscles are sore, tense and you cannot make any move, remaining completely blocked.
This can be quite dangerous for you, especially when swimming, and do not have someone next to you. Actually you’re just dealing with the unpleasant even painful sensation of a muscle cramp.
Usually, these cramps are not a serious problem, but in some situations as mentioned above when you swim or you’re behind the wheel, can be really dangerous.
Let’s see what are the reasons why muscle cramps occur and how to get rid of them.
What Are Muscle Cramps
Muscle cramps are involuntary and painful contraction of a muscle or group of muscles. They occur mainly in active people such as athletes who make an increased physical effort, in overweight people due to the weight pressure on the muscles, and in people whose blood circulation is quite poor.
Areas of the body where these cramps can occur are usually, the posterior muscles, thighs, feet, legs, arms and neck.
The Causes of Muscle Cramps
Muscle cramps, usually occur when sudden switch from hot to cold. They are determined also by shoes too tight, but also by awkward postures of the legs and by wearing high heels. In pregnant women, cramps occur due to the hormonal changes that occur in the body.
The best solution to prevent these cramps is to make sure you‘re adequately hydrated and to eat plenty of foods rich in calcium, magnesium and potassium. The lack of these minerals and elements causes frequent muscle cramps.
How to Prevent Muscle Cramps
To be sure that you will not have problems with this muscle pains, you need to drink plenty of fluids, especially if you’re an active person, because you lose many minerals through sweating.
1| Be careful what you eat, give up the bad fats and you rely on a diet rich in dairy, fruits, vegetables and grains. Make sure you have your daily needs of vitamins and minerals.
2| Another method of prevention is to avoid the cold, and not to stay too long standing.
3| If you feel that something is wrong with your foot, try to change your shoes, with others more comfortable. It is a good idea when you bathe, to add an effervescent aspirin and to massage your feet with lavender oil.
How to Get Rid of Muscle Cramps
Thoroughly massage your muscles until the pain disappears and apply cold compresses, which help to relax the affected area. However, after easing the muscle spasm, apply a warm compress to restore blood flow. Are also effective apple vinegar or mint tea compresses.
Experts recommend also rubbing the affected area with a mixture of one tablespoon of olive oil and two drops of oil of violets.
Another effective remedy is to drink a glass of warm water in which you can add a teaspoon of honey and one of vinegar.
However, in specialized stores there are plenty of dietary supplements that can help in this matter. They contain vitamins needed to maintain electrolyte balance, and those that help you improve your blood circulation.
