Muscle Cramps & Leg Pains

If a muscle contracts with great intensity without being stretched out again, you feel the pain of a muscle cramp. Many people experience these during exercise especially in hot weather or at night. This type of cramp generally affects the legs especially the calf muscles and the feet. They occur more frequently in older adults than in younger people. Children (ages 6 – 12) sometimes experience a type of cramp muscle and leg pain often called “growing pains”. Other than growth, the cause is unknown and harmless. Muscle cramping is often due to an unbalance in the body’s level of electrolytes, minerals such as potassium, calcium and magnesium. Add to your diet more bananas, orange juice, potatoes, green leafy vegetables, cornmeal and kelp.

Drink extra fluids every 3 hours throughout the day, especially in hot or humid weather. Cramps are related to dehydration; do not wait until you are dehydrated before you drink. If you feel thirsty, you are already dehydrated. This slows down the re hydration and causes gastric cramping.

To avoid stomach cramps “stitches” during exercise, do side stretches before exercising and learn to breathe with your lower lungs – deep breathing exercises. If cramping occurs after walking and when you stop, suspect impaired circulation. Get a doctor’s opinion. Shin splints are front of the lower leg and after over exertion try to rest the injury for at least 1 – 2 weeks and ice the injury. Message the muscles and use hear to relieve the cramps and pain.

Take a hot bath using mineral salts before bedtime to increase blood flow to the muscles. Go to the doctor if pain in the leg or calf is continuous and swelling, or any redness that is tender to the touch.