Treatment And Prevention Of Muscle Cramps

You walk over and suddenly notice a “jerk” that prevents you from moving on. Or you may suddenly wake up to a stabbing pain in the leg. Muscle cramps are involuntary muscle contractions that can be caused by a number of factors. The good news is that there are treatments and techniques you can take advantage of that do not involve changes in your daily routines, and more importantly, they do not involve any pain. Learn more about preventing muscle cramps in this article.

There are many causes that can cause muscle cramps. These are, as previously mentioned, uncontrollable muscle movements. The most common reasons are:

• Excessive loss of fluids or mineral salts.
• Insufficient flow of oxygen and blood to the area.

• Prolonged load.
• Accumulation of lactic acid (common in athletes).
• Sudden, repeated or strong movements of the muscles in the cold.
• Sudden contact with cold water.
• Alcoholism.
• Being overweight.
• Use of specific medications.
• Renal impairment.
• Muscle fatigue.
• Pregnancy.
• Metabolic problems.
• Lack of calcium and magnesium in the body.
• Lack of vitamins.
• Wrong sleeping position.
• Poor attitude while working or studying.
• Emotional tension or anxiety.
• Slight muscle movements.

Stomach cramps are the result of blood flowing directly to the area to digest food. If you instead of sitting still get up and start walking, playing sports or swimming, your stomach starts to suffer and this will lead to cramps.

The hands and wrists are other critical areas of the body that are prone to cramps due to circulatory problems known as “carpal tunnel syndrome” which affects those who write a lot by hand.

The most typical zone where seizures occur is the legs, and that is due to all the causes listed above.

There are two different symptoms associated with leg cramps. The first is a local pain in the exposed area and the second is a sharp pain or feeling of twitching that begins to tingle.

Tips for reducing and preventing muscle cramps

When you suffer from cramps, the best thing you can do is to stretch the affected area lightly to relieve the pain and calm down the muscles you have cramps in. 

Physiotherapy, massages and sleeping without a pillow are great ways to avoid cramps in the neck and shoulders. Exercises such as yoga and tai chi can also help with seizures in general. Start doing this for half an hour every day so that the blood can oxygenate muscles and tissues, as well as repair and nourish them for the prevention of muscle cramps.

If you often experience leg cramps, raise your legs with a pillow as a support, or support them against a wall. You can also sleep with several pillows between your legs, use a hot water bottle or pillow, etc.

Nutritious foods are very important for the prevention of muscle cramps. Include foods rich in calcium in your diet, such as oranges, almonds, broccoli, green leafy vegetables, soy milk and dairy products. Also include foods high in magnesium, such as nuts, whole grains, cocoa, beans, algae and soy flour. Eat a banana every day and do not forget to keep your body hydrated.

If you exercise a lot, remember to drink water or sports drinks to avoid becoming dehydrated, and also remember to stretch well after each workout to prevent muscle cramps. 

Other tips:

• Drink plenty of fluids throughout the day.
• Wear loose clothing, especially panties and socks.
• Take a warm bath before going to bed.
• Practice relaxation techniques.
• Exercise to strengthen your ankles.
• Place the weight on the front of the foot and not on the heel when walking.
• Sleep on your stomach with your legs outstretched.
• Consume natural diuretics.
• Wrap the affected area in an elastic bandage, but not too tight. 

Natural treatments for muscle cramps

Check out the following treatments for cramps. They are all natural and homemade, and show great results. 

Treatment for cramps No. 1

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons gingko biloba
• 1 cup of water

Approach

Boil ginkgo in the water for 10 minutes, then remove from the heat, let it brew, strain and drink the liquid daily.

Treatment for cramps no. 2

Ingredients 

• Essential rosemary oil  (you can also use pine or eucalyptus)

• Olive oil

Approach

Mix the same amount of both oils (a few drops are enough) and heat it between your hands. Apply it on the area affected by the cramps so that the heat and the properties of the oil can help relieve the pain. 

Treatment for cramps no. 3

Ingredients 

• 1 tablespoon ho n ning
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 1 cup warm water

Approach 

Mix everything and drink at once so that the calcium is distributed evenly throughout the body.

Treatment for seizures No. 4

Ingredients 

• 1 tablespoon mustard seeds
• 1 liter of water

Approach 

Boil the mustard seeds in the water for 10 minutes. Then fill the bath with warm water and empty the mixture. Sink into the bath and stay there until the water gets colder. 

Treatment No. 5

Ingredients 

• 1 handful of bay leaf
• 1 pinch of cinnamon
• 1 cup of water

Approach

Make a cup of tea with the ingredients, strain and drink while hot. Repeat daily for a week.