What can you do against muscle cramps?

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With a muscle cramp, your muscle or part of your muscle does not receive enough oxygen. As a result, the muscle fibers suddenly contract violently. It is an involuntary movement that you cannot control yourself. In principle, a muscle cramp can affect any muscle in your body, including the muscles of the uterine and intestinal wall. As a result, you may feel colic pain or menstrual pain. Muscle cramps are most common in less perfused or heavily stressed body parts such as the calves and feet. Although muscle cramps are often harmless, they are annoying. So you better avoid them.

How does a muscle cramp occur?

• For example, if there is a shortage of good substances in the area of ​​the muscle. Certain substances are needed for the contraction and relaxation of muscles, such as magnesium, potassium and calcium. If these substances are not available, for example due to the use of certain medications such as cholesterol-lowering drugs or diuretics, that process is disrupted. Muscle cramps can also occur due to a lack of fluids.
• Due to an incorrect sitting or standing posture throughout the day, certain body parts will temporarily have less blood flow.
• Overly intense muscular effort is not good for your muscles: it exhausts, acidifies or overloads them, which can lead to new cramps.
• Cold will also make it easier for you to get muscle cramps, especially in the legs, calves and feet.
• Finally, a lack of sugar in certain muscles can lead to muscle cramps.

What can you do?

• If your muscle cramps are frequent and painful, it’s best to see a doctor. Especially if the cause is not clear. Even if the cramps disturb your sleep, it is better not to wait with a visit to the doctor.
• As soon as you feel a cramp, stop the effort and stretch the muscle gradually and gently. With a calf cramp, pull the front of the foot up. If you have a cramp in the thigh, straighten your legs. Always make sure that you assume a stable position while stretching.
• Eat a healthy and varied diet to create an optimal environment for the muscles. You can possibly rely on a medicine, such as Spascupreel. It contains ingredients that help with classic muscle cramps as well as with menstrual and gastrointestinal cramps.
• Make sure you stay well hydrated. Drink 1.5 to 2 liters of water per day. It is better to avoid alcohol then.
• Correct a wrong sitting or standing posture during the day by walking now and then. By adopting a correct posture, your muscles will not be overloaded. This reduces the risk of cramps.
• Since muscle cramps are more common with low blood sugar levels, it’s better to keep your blood sugar levels up.
• Keep the muscle warm. For example, use a heat bag or put on warm clothing.

In collaboration with Spascupreel

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