Most people will experience muscle cramps at some point in their lives, although some of us may experience them more frequently than others. But whenever they happen, it’s hard to think about anything else other than getting relief.
If you often suffer from muscle cramps, it can make your life more painful and uncomfortable than it needs to be. Thankfully, there are several options available that you can use to make managing muscle cramps and spasms easier.
What Causes Muscle Cramps
Muscle cramps or spasms are uncontrolled contractions of one or several muscles. There is nothing that we do consciously to cause this reaction, and often happens out of nowhere and lasts until the muscles relax.
Cramps can often suddenly come on and flare up into pain and discomfort that can prevent us from thinking about anything else until the cramp has eased. They can happen all over the body but are more likely to occur in the legs, feet, and lower back. These home remedies can help get relief from muscle spasms.
Massage
If you have ever had a cramp in your leg or foot, your first reaction might have been to get up and walk around the room, which helps to provide relief. This gets more blood to circulate through the affected area.
Once you find some relief from doing this, gently massaging and stretching the muscle as it begins to relax can help prevent it from cramping again. You can try self-massage to help the cramp subside or ask somebody to do it for you.
Diet
The foods that you eat can often play a part in your risk of muscle cramps and spasms, so it’s a good idea to be careful of your diet and limit your intake of processed foods as much as possible.
While not all processed foods are unhealthy, it’s a good idea to watch out for high levels of fat, sugar, and salt in the ingredients. Fresh food that is cooked at home and includes lots of fruit and vegetables is the best option. Adding more bananas and other sources of potassium to your diet can also help.
Exercise
Living an active lifestyle with regular physical activity can help to retain your muscle mass and subsequently reduce your risk of cramps and muscle spasms.
However, to avoid damaging your muscles with exercise, it should be done carefully with a warm-up and cool-down period before and after your routine to ensure that blood circulation to the muscles is increased before exercising.Â
Kratom Supplements
Kratom supplements are becoming more and more popular for relaxation and pain relief. This can be an ideal supplement to take if you are experiencing muscle cramps due to struggling to relax.
And even when the cramp subsides, you might still experience muscle pain afterward. These supplements can encourage rest and relief – check out this site that covers kratom extensively to find out more.Â
Stay Hydrated
Finally, dehydration can impact your risk of muscle cramps, since water powers everything in your body from your cells to your muscles. Drinking water and staying hydrated throughout the day is important, especially before you do any exercise or if you are going to be exposed to heat.
If you’re already dehydrated, it will make it harder for you to recover in these situations and your muscles may be more susceptible to cramping, spasming and fatigue.Â
Muscle cramps are often harmless, but they can be painful and uncomfortable, especially if you experience them a lot. To reduce the pain and discomfort of experiencing muscle spasms, consider these natural and effective remedies.
Ashley Aston is a specialized fitness instructor who first joined the gym as a trainee to get in the right shape. On achieving fitness goals, she became a fitness fanatic and chose this as a professional career at Born Tough. Although she is a mother with tons of responsibilities at home, she still manages to work hard and excel in her fitness career. She is a staunch believer of being fit despite any age, gender, or profession.