A muscle cramp is a common issue, and there’s a high chance you have experienced it at one time or another. What does a muscle cramp feel like? You may not know that what you’ve been experiencing is called a muscle cramp. Muscle cramps occur when your muscles feel like they’re going through an involuntary contraction.
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There are a couple of reasons why you may have muscle cramps.
- Sedentary lifestyle or prolonged periods of inactivity
- Dehydration
- Prolonged use of certain medications, like diuretics,
- Lack of essential minerals like magnesium and potassium.
Muscle spasms are often characterized by pain, bulging, or stiff muscles.
Parts of the body where muscle spasms often occur:
- Abdomen
- The back of your lower legs
- The front part of your thighs
- Arms
- Hands, etc.
You are more at risk of getting a muscle cramp if:
- You are pregnant
- You overwork your muscles.
- You’re menstruating
- You’re malnourished
Most of the causes of muscle cramps don’t usually require medical attention. If you are predisposed to coming down with muscle cramps, you can take steps to prevent them. However, when you experience muscle cramps, there is often no cause for alarm.
Six Muscle Cramp Treatments You Should Try
Stretches
When you know the part of your body that is prone to muscle cramps, then you can mindfully stretch that area consistently. This has been proven to help many people treat muscle cramps without stress. It doesn’t matter if the cramp is at your calves, back, thighs or neck, just stretch the muscles and get the relaxing feeling you deserve.
There are various types of stretches that you can research and try. Some are:
- Foam roller
- Stretching with an exercise ball
- Tennis ball
- Shoulder rolls
Cold or Warm Press
The use of cold or hot packs has also been very effective in helping individuals treat muscle spasms. It is so effective that it helps to prevent pain and dramatically reduces spasms. For hot press, you can gently apply a heating pad to the muscle spasm for 15 to 20 minutes. This should be followed by a cold compress because it can worsen your inflammation while the cold pack will shut that down.
You could also use just the cold pack by placing it on the area of muscle spasm for 15 to 20 minutes a couple of times per day. However, wrap the ice in a towel to prevent direct contact with your skin!
Massage
Massaging the area of muscle spasms has proven to work for many people. All you need to do is gently rub the area of muscle spasm. For back spasms, you can pinch the area around it and hold it in position for a few minutes. You could ask someone to help you if you can’t reach that part of your body. Relief will be in a few minutes.
Topical creams
There are non-prescription topical creams that you can apply to the areas of muscle spasm that help reduce pain and inflammation. Such creams contain ingredients like camphor, lidocaine, menthol, etc. These are essentially pain-relieving creams, and some of them help to numb the area of application.
Hydration
The need to stay hydrated cannot be overemphasized, and it is recommended to treat or prevent muscle spasms. When you feel a muscle spasm, drinking water immediately can go a long way to help reduce the spasm in a short time. While women are advised to drink 2.7 liters of water per day, Men are encouraged to drink 3.7 liters of water. While you exercise your body to stay fit and avoid muscle spasms, especially in the summer season, don’t forget to drink water.
Light exercise
Leg cramps are common in most adults, and this can be treated or prevented by doing mild exercises before going to bed. These are simple exercises that don’t require rigor. Such exercises include:
- Bouncing on a trampoline
- Jogging on the spot for a few minutes
- Riding on a stationary bike
It’s just about doing something to keep the muscles flexed and relaxed. However, keep a reasonable time interval between the exercise and your bedtime.
Conclusion
After reading this article, muscle spasms should no longer cause you pain. You have seven treatment plans at your fingertips. Pick the one that you like or a combination that suits your needs and cut off muscle spasms before they disrupt your day or sleep.
