Muscle cramps are uncontrollable and often very painful spasms in a muscle. Till now scientist have not discovered the exact cause of muscle cramps. However there are many possible reasons such as overusing, dehydration, poor physical condition, nutritional deficiencies and many others. Muscles of the foot and the calf are very prone to cramps. Even though the cramp can often heal on his own, here we will present you some homemade remedies that can help you ease the pain and speed your recovery.
Homemade remedies for Muscle Cramps
- The most important thing is to drink a lot of fluids. You can prevent cramping by rebalancing the mineral balance in your body. In order to do that you need to drink an electrolyte beverage such as Pedialyte. It is important for you to remember not to choose sports drinks with high sugar content, because it will aggregate your pain.
- Also it would help a lot if you take multivitamin pills. Assuming that the cramps are caused by mineral or vitamin deficiency, it is better to take multivitamin pills in order to get zinc and magnesium that your body needs.
- Stretching and massaging can be very helpful. All you need to do is stretch and massage the affected muscle gently and lightly until the cramp diminishes. You can do this procedure either alone or after any other treatment that is presented in this article.
- Another thing that can help you is ice compressing. For this treatment you need to apply an ice pack on the cramped muscle in order to ease the inflammation and to relax the muscle.
- Punching your lips can also be very helpful. Grasp your upper lip using your thumb and index finger. Now massage and wiggle it firmly. However this is not a long-term treatment, it only acts as an immediate pain relief.
- You can also use an analgesic balm. The analgesic balm can reduce the pain and loose the muscle.
How to prevent Muscle Cramps
- First of all you need to improve your physical condition by doing exercises on regular basis.
- It is also very important that you warm up before playing any sports. You can warm up by doing some stretches or light jogging.
- The most important thing is to drink plenty of water in order to keep your body hydrated while you are exercising.
- You must consume fresh fruits and vegetables.
- Last but not least you need to wear a comfortable shoes and be very careful with high heels.
Causes of Muscle Cramps
According to some scientist there is no biological explanations for muscle cramp. Most of the muscle cramps are harmless. However some muscle cramps can be linked to certain medical conditions.
Those who are suffering from atherosclerosis are more exposed to muscle cramps. The inadequate blood supply caused by the narrowed arteries may increase the risk of getting a muscle cramp.
If you are suffering from nerve compression you are most likely to have muscle cramps more often. The nerve compression in your spine could cause pain in the leg or the buttock. The longer you walk, more pain you will feel. The pain will go away as soon as you stop exercising.
Mineral deficiency can also be the cause for muscle cramps. Insufficient supply of calcium, potassium or magnesium can lead to muscle cramps.
There are some remedies, like diuretics, that can break down the mineral balance in your body and contribute to muscle cramps.
Source: Health Digezt