How do cramps form

Call your doctor if you have any problems with your medicine. Drink plenty of fluids. Sports drinks, such as Gatorade, will often help leg cramps. Here are some things you can try for a leg cramp: Walk around, or jiggle your leg. Stretch your calf muscles. You can do this stretch while you sit or stand: While sitting, straighten your leg and flex your foot up toward your knee. It may help to place a rolled towel under the ball of your foot and, while holding the towel at both ends, gently pull the towel toward you while keeping your knee straight.

While standing about 0. Keep the knee of the affected leg straight and the heel on the ground. Do this while you bend the knee of the other leg. See a picture of how to do this calf stretch. If you think a medicine is causing muscle cramps: Before you take another dose, call the doctor who prescribed the medicine. The medicine may need to be stopped or changed, or the dose may need to be adjusted.

If you are taking any medicine not prescribed by a doctor, stop taking it. Talk to your doctor if you think you need to continue taking the medicine. How can you prevent muscle cramps? These tips may help prevent muscle cramps: Drink plenty of water and other fluids, enough so that your urine is light yellow or clear like water. Limit or avoid drinks with alcohol or caffeine. Make sure you are eating healthy foods especially if you are pregnant that are rich in calcium, potassium, and magnesium.

Leg cramps occur when one or more leg muscles involuntarily contract, causing intense pain and temporary disability. Learn about the causes…. A leg cramp, also known as a charley horse, is a painful, involuntary muscle spasm that often occurs during exercise or at night.

Sometimes, a charley…. Muscle spasms can affect anyone and occur in any area of the body, but they are usually not serious. Learn about the causes, symptoms, and treatments….

Leg cramps are often harmless, and most people wait for them to pass or use home remedies. However, they can indicate an underlying problem. Find out…. Hand cramps can occur for a number of reasons. Muscle contractions stiffen the hands, causing discomfort and sometimes pain. Causes range from overuse…. What to know about muscle cramps. Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph. What they are How they feel Causes Treatment Prevention Seeking help Summary A muscle cramp is a painful tightness in a muscle due to a sudden, involuntary contraction.

What are muscle cramps? What do cramps feel like? When to see a doctor. Latest news Adolescent depression: Could school screening help? Exposure to air pollutants may amplify risk for depression in healthy individuals. Related Coverage. Prophylactic stretching of the major muscles of the lower limbs for at least five to 10 minutes during warm-up and cool-down periods can help prevent cramps.

The importance of flexibility cannot be overstated, particularly for older athletes. Other recommendations include minimizing running hills and stairs limiting eccentric contractions ; undergoing a biomechanical evaluation of your exercise technique; making sure shoes and other equipment are appropriate and not excessively worn.

If, after a few months, cramps do not respond to these measures, see a qualified sports physician or physical therapist. Sign up for our email newsletter.

Already a subscriber? Sign in. Thanks for reading Scientific American. Create your free account or Sign in to continue. See Subscription Options. Go Paperless with Digital. Maughan RJ. Exercise-induced muscle cramps: a prospective biochemical study in marathon runners.

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