It’s a few hours after a hard track workout. You are sitting down for an nice relaxing dinner when, all of a sudden, you feel a twinge in your left hamstring. You try to ignore this strange sensation, but soon your muscle is in an all-out spasm. You immediately stand up and try to walk/stretch it off, but it is extremely painful. After a few minutes, the muscle finally, and mercifully, beings to relax. You have experienced a muscle cramp. What are muscle cramps and how do you prevent them from happening?
The common advice that most runners hear is that if you want to prevent cramping be sure to drink lots of fluids stay hydrated. Also, ensure that you replenish electrolytes lost through sweating, such as potassium.
The theory is that proper muscle function depends on hydration and electrolytes. However, researchers now believe that a runner can cramp up even if he or she is adequately hydrated and has plenty of electrolytes in his or her system. This theory is known as exercise associated muscle cramping.
According to the theory, sustained uses of muscles that span joints, such as hamstrings and quadriceps will lead to a neuromuscular condition that causes the muscles to get used “firing.” The muscles become used to being an a continually active state, which makes it very difficult for them to relax.
With that said, it is still a good idea to drink plenty of fluids and eat properly before exercise. If you end up suffering from a muscle cramp, here are some tips to treat the cramp:
- Utilize light stretching to try to get the muscle to lengthen and relax
- Try to breath deeply focusing on relaxation to get the muscle to release
- Lightly massage the affected area to loosen the contracted muscle
