You're sound asleep when all of a sudden you're dreaming of your leg getting sawed off. Or that someone has been standing on your foot for an hour. Perhaps several sharks are feasting on your calves. When suddenly you wake up with such a jolt, that you are experiencing a very real cramp in you leg. The muscles are tense, rock hard, and you haven't a clue on what to do. Luckily these cramps are usually short-lived and seem to come out of the blue. Ever wonder what they are, what causes them, and how can you stop and prevent them?
Cramps in your muscles are caused by the involuntary tightening of the muscles, also known as muscle spasms. Besides your legs, other common body part affected by muscle spasms are the arms, hands, stomach, foot, back, and the rib cage area. A common home remedy for muscle cramps are bananas, as it is believed that muscle spasms and cramps are caused by a lack of potassium. There are many more possibilities for muscle spasms and cramps for instance, dehydration, muscle overuse, not enough stretching before or after working said muscles, calcium or magnesium deficiency, or just plain poor blood circulation. There are also many medications that can increase risk for muscle spasms and cramps.
The best way to prevent muscle attacks in the first place is making sure to stretch plenty before and after your activities. You muscles, just like a well oiled machine, have to be pre-conditioned before activities, and conditioned after your activity too. Also, even if you don't feel necessarily thirsty, it is extremely important to make sure you are drinking enough water.
If you already experience muscle spasms or cramps, please don't hesitate to let me know. While you may not want your muscles touched while they are spasming and cramping, it can bring some relief to those muscle. Muscle spasms are often the product of overuse, where the muscle fibres tighten up to help and protect a strained area. As we work on these muscles, the likelihood of re-injuring that area can lead to fewer spasms.