WHAT CAUSES CRAMPS AND HOW DO I GET RID OF THEM?

A ‘cramp’ is defined as a painful involuntary muscle contraction that occurs suddenly and can be quite debilitating.

Cramps most commonly occur in the leg muscles, particularly the calf muscle or the muscles in the feet. The onset can be quite sudden, but they usually resolve themselves in a few seconds. The muscle can be quite sore for several minutes or even a number of hours.

The cause of cramps is often unclear, however there are some theories. Cramps can occur during or after exercise and may be caused by the continued repetitive muscle contraction during exercise - which is why stretching the affected muscle often offers relief. The stretch needs to be sustained for 20–30 seconds and symptoms should improve within this time.

Exercise induced cramps may also be caused by a loss of ‘electrolytes’ (resulting in a chemical imbalance) which happens when we sweat a lot. Ensuring that you take plenty of fluid when exercising may help prevent cramps, if this is the cause. If you suffer from cramps during or after exercise, then a physio can assist you with an appropriate stretching programme, assessing and correcting any muscle imbalances and ensuring that your muscles are conditioned for the activity that you are wanting to participate in.

Cramps may also be caused by various medications or disease, if this is the case then I would suggest you seek advice from your GP for management of cramps.