When you are experiencing those painful and uncontrollable spasms in your muscles, then you might be experiencing cramps. Science cannot explain the exact causes of getting muscle cramps but there are some possible reasons including dehydration, overusing or straining of the muscles, poor physical conditions and nutritional deficiencies amongst others. Usually cramps will go away on its own, but there are some things that you can do to alleviate the pain and speed up your recovery.
Home Remedies for Treatment of Muscle Cramps
1. Drink a ton of fluids. Drinking fluids that are rich in electrolytes can help balance the minerals in your body. Also, skip sports drinks that have high sugar levels as it will only aggravate the pain you’re experiencing from your cramps.
2. Take multivitamins. It is very rare that a person gets all the mineral and nutrients that their body needs for a day that is why the intake of multivitamins is highly recommended for everyone. Cramps are usually caused by deficiencies in vitamins and minerals and the intake of multivitamins especially of magnesium and zinc can help combat this.
3. Stretching and massaging of the affected muscles can help ease the pain until the cramps subside.
4. Place an ice compress over the cramping muscle. This can help relax the affected muscle and it eases inflammation as well.
Ways to Prevent Muscle Cramps
1. Improve your physical condition by means of exercising regularly.
2. Properly warm your muscles up before doing any strenuous activities like running, lifting weights, or heavy exercising.
3. Drink plenty of water to keep your entire body hydrated, your muscles included.
4. Maintain a balanced diet. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables.
5. Wear comfortable footwear especially if you’re anticipating long walks and other activities that require lots of leg movement.
Muscle Cramps and Its Causes
Muscle cramps are relatively harmless though highly uncomfortable; in fact, there are no biological explanations for having muscle cramps. In some cases, muscles cramps are associated with medical conditions. Having poor blood supply going to the arteries may cause it to narrow and may increase the risk of getting muscle cramps. Nerve compressions may also lead to cramps. Other mineral deficiencies (calcium, magnesium and potassium) may also lead to muscle cramps.
