A cramp is an involuntary, forcibly contracted muscle that does not relax. Cramps can affect any muscle that is under voluntary control, but muscles in the lower leg, back of the thigh, front of the thigh, feet, hands, arms, abdomen, and along the rib cage are the most commonly affected. In these areas, a muscle cramp may affect all or just part of a muscle. It may even affect several muscles in a muscle group. Muscles that span two joints are more prone to cramping than those that do not.
Causes
Although there are numerous conditions and situations associated with cramped muscles, the exact cause is unknown. Some researchers believe that muscle cramps occur when the muscle are inadequately stretched & experiencing fatigue, which may lead to improper functioning of the mechanisms that control muscle contraction. Muscle are bundles of fibers that contract and expand to create movement. Regular stretching lengthens muscle fibers so that they can contract and tighten more vigorously during exercise. A poorly conditioned body is more likely to experience muscle fatigue, which can lead to a build-up of waste products in the muscle and muscle spasm.
Dehydration can also be a contributing factor. When the body is exercised in hot weather, it sweats, which drains its fluids, including its stores of salt & minerals. Loss of these essential nutrients, such as potassium & magnesium, may lead to a muscle spasm as well. Stress can contribute to muscle cramps, especially in the neck, where many people tend to hold tension. General overuse or an injury can also cause a muscle to cramp. Finally, night cramps are a common form of muscle cramp affecting the muscles in the calf of the leg. They can be extremely painful and often recur.
Certain people are more likely than others to experience muscle cramps. These include people over the age of 65, whose normal muscle loss means that they cannot work as hard as they used to. Infants and young children, and those who overexert during exercise or work, take certain drugs, are overweight, or ill are also quite vulnerable, especially to heat-induced muscle cramps. Athletes are more likely to experience cramps in the preseason when the body is not yet conditioned and at the end of a training session or the night following a hard exertion. Endurance athletes especially are vulnerable to muscle cramps since they tend to have more problems with overuse and fatigue.
Diagnosis
A person experiencing muscle cramps may feel them as a slight, annoying twitch or as an agonizing, gripping pain. It may feel like tightness or like a knot in the muscle. If the cramp is mild, it may hurt to use the muscle. If the cramp is severe, the patient may be completely unable to use the muscle. A cramp during exercise may be extremely painful, and leg cramps that wake one up at night are often debilitating, leaving the muscle feeling bruised and sore.
The cramps may last just a few seconds or up to half an hour or more. They may occur just once or recur several times before finally going away.
A doctor will diagnose muscle cramps by examining the muscles and assessing them for tightness and tenderness to the touch.
Treatment
Cramps usually go away on their own, but those that do not require medical attention.
Self-care tips for treating muscle cramps are usually adequate. A muscle cramp caused by injury should be treated with ice every 20 ~ 30 minutes, every 3 ~ 4 hours, for the first two or three days following the injury. For immediate relief of a muscle that is cramping, the patient should try to stretch the muscle. This can be done by straightening the lower leg & pulling the foot toward the head, if the cramp is in the calf. Stading on the leg that is cramping may also help. Massaging the affected muscles helps to relieve the tightness. Occasionally, doctors will prescribe medication for the people who experience severe leg cramps when sleeping. For our self-treatment course's students, just put your palm on C1 & problematic area all the problem will solve.
Prevention
To prevent cramps, one should keep the body well conditioned and adequately hydrated. Children especially often do not drink enough liquids to replenish fluid lost during exercise. Some tips to prevent cramps :-
* Drink plenty of fluids to maintain adequate hydration.
* Drink water at regular intervals, before getting thirsty.
* Drink more than thirst requires.
* Drink a spots beverage if working in heat or sweating for more than an hour.
* Stretch muscles regularly, the Yi Xue's exercise is very helpful.
* Loosen the covers at the foot of the bed to help prevent night cramps.
* Pratice good posture to help prevent cramps that result from sitting too long in awkward positions.
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