muscle cramp causes

We all experience them at one time or another, but just what are the muscle cramp causes? A cramp is an involuntary and forcibly contracted muscle that does not relax. Although the exact muscle cramp causes are unknown, some researchers believe inadequate stretching and muscle fatigue leads to abnormalities in mechanisms that control muscle contraction. Other factors may also be involved in the muscle cramp causes, including exercising or working in intense heat, dehydration and depletion of salt and minerals. Overexertion depletes a muscle’s oxygen supply, leading to build up of waste product and spasm. Muscle cramps range in intensity from a slight tic to agonising pain. A cramping muscle may feel hard to the touch and/or appear visibly distorted or twitch beneath the skin. A cramp can last a few seconds to 15 minutes or longer. It might recur multiple times before it goes away.

One of the muscle cramp causes is a poorly conditioned body; this includes athletes in their respective pre-seasons before they are in prime shape. Another of the muscle cramp causes would be following or towards the end of, an intense or prolonged exercise; be that training or in full competition. It might not actually occur until the night after! Cramps can affect any muscle under your voluntary control (skeletal muscle). Muscles that span two joints are most prone to cramping. Cramps can involve part or all of a muscle, or several muscles in a group. These muscle cramp causes most commonly affect muscle groups such as the back of lower leg/calf and the back of thigh (hamstrings). They also regularly happen in the feet, hands, arms, abdomen and along the rib cage. Sometimes the slightest movement can be behind the muscle cramp causes as some people are pre-disposed to muscle cramps and get them regularly with any physical exertion or by simply sitting in a certain position.

To rid oneself of a cramp there are several things that can be done. Firstly, and stop doing whatever activity was behind the muscle cramp causes - although because of the likely pain you’ll be in it‘s unlikely that you‘ll be able to continue anyway. Gently stretch and massage the cramping muscle, holding it in stretched position until the cramp stops. Once you’ve relieved this particular of the muscle cramp causes you should if possible apply heat to tense/tight muscles, or cold to sore/tender muscles. Not warming up properly is very high up on the list of muscle cramp causes. Muscles should be stretched, but never to the point of pain. The body needs to be kept hydrated; plenty of water or a sports drink should be consumed, in fact always drink more than your thirst requires.