Leg cramps can be a nightmare especially when they jolt you awake late at night, cringing in pain. Most of the time this cramp can hit your hamstring or your calves and can last for a second or up to a minute. There are times when the cause of leg cramps came from nowhere but it is also possible that it got triggered because of your movement. Regardless of what may have caused your legs to cramp up, you can still find relief from it with the help of the following remedies.
Magnesium. Most doctors recommend magnesium to patients with leg cramps but if you’re pregnant or taking any other medications, make sure that you consult with your physician first. Aside from supplements, you can also add more nuts and fish to your diet as they contain magnesium which can alleviate leg cramps.
Water. Leg cramps may also be triggered by dehydration. If you are an active person, it is important that you replenish your store of liquid in your body so that your muscles won’t contract too much. If you are working out, make sure that you have sufficient amount of water on hand that you can sip in between sets.
Massage. To help ease the pain from the cramps on your legs, try and give the affected area some gentle massage. This can boost blood circulation in this area which can warm the muscles up and release the tension in them. For those who lift weights, use a foam roller on the affected muscles for a deeper massage.
Move around. Another technique that you can use to alleviate muscle cramps is to move. Walk around for a bit. What this does is that it triggers the muscles on your legs to release its contraction so your muscles will loosen up. If this doesn’t work, give your muscles a good massage to ease off the tension.
Potassium. Low potassium levels have been found to trigger leg cramps. Aside from eating bananas to bring your potassium back up, you can also have some apple cider vinegar as it is also high in this mineral. All that you have to do is to mix a teaspoon of honey and two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar in a glass of warm water and drink it. Other sources of potassium include avocado, yogurt, mushrooms, and kefir.
Acupressure. Another effective way to alleviate leg cramps is through acupressure. First, sit down on a chair on the edge of the bed then raise the leg that is cramping up. The acupressure point on your leg can be found at the bottom of your calf muscle bulge. Press on this spot for a minute or until the cramp disappears. Don’t forget to breathe properly.
These are just a few remedies that you can take advantage of the next time you experience leg cramps. Eating right and working out can help strengthen your muscles while ensuring that your body is receiving important nutrients to prevent muscle cramps.
