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Leg cramps are often sudden and may cause extreme pain for periods of ten seconds up to many minutes. Charley horse is when you get involuntary leg contractions, usually in the calves and this can keep you from doing daily activities or sleeping well. If you get leg cramps at night or on your muscles during the day, being aware of how to manage and avoid them naturally is very useful. Here are five ways you can quickly treat and stop leg cramps at home.
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Once you get a cramp, try to slowly stretch out the muscle affected. If the cramp happens in your calf, bend your foot toward your upper body. Stretch the area out and then use gentle circles to massage it. It may improve blood circulation and ease the tension the muscle spasm causes. Stretching your legs daily before you sleep may prevent cramps at night.
Leg muscle cramps are often due to dehydration. Water supports proper contraction and relaxation of muscles. Drink enough water during the day, mostly when it’s very hot or after exercising. Some electrolyte-rich drinks can make up for the minerals that are lost during sweat.
A heated towel or heating pad may relax your tight calf muscles. Epsom salt in a warm bath is good for your muscles and may reduce your stress. Applying heat to an injury makes blood vessels expand and speeds up muscle recovery.
It is possible for a mineral deficiency to bring about leg cramps. Have more leafy greens, nuts, seeds, bananas, avocados and sweet potatoes in your meals to meet your need for magnesium and potassium. Pregnant individuals with leg muscle cramps must be extra attentive to nutrition requirements.
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Not having sufficient blood flow is sometimes a cause of cramps. Raising your legs several times a day for a few minutes can help circulation and prevent leg calf muscle cramps from happening often. Lying with a pillow beneath your calves supports healthy blood circulation while you are asleep.
These are good home remedies for quickly relieving muscle cramps. Still, having serious or lasting cramping means you should talk to a doctor, especially if it happens with another medical issue.
Q1. What are the usual reasons why people get leg cramps?
Dehydration, imbalanced electrolytes, excessive sitting or standing for long, hard workouts and some medications are the main reasons for leg muscle cramps. Also, decreased circulation and being pregnant can lead to this condition.
Q2. How can you quickly get rid of leg cramps?
To ease a leg cramp quickly, stretch, massage the muscle tenderly, heat the area and try drinking water with electrolytes. Most of the time, these moves will quickly stop a cramp.
Q3. Can leg cramps be common for pregnant women?
Leg muscle cramps can take place during pregnancy, stressing the muscles more as the pregnancy gets closer to the third trimester. Good hydration, a healthy diet high in minerals and using the foot rest during your flight will often help.
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