Handling of cramps in sports and preventive measures

Most of the cramps that occur in patients during exercise are due to excessive exercise, resulting in muscle and soft tissue injuries. This results in localized pain and spasm, or cramping, due to poor blood flow, stagnation of Qi and blood stasis, and excessive accumulation of lactic acid. If this happens, the first thing to do is to tell the patient to stop exercising and to rest in bed. Secondly, hot compresses, hot baths, and carbohydrate supplements can be applied to the cramped area to relieve the cramps. Again, traditional Chinese medicine massage can be performed on the cramped area to accelerate local blood circulation and promote lactic acid metabolism, which can also relieve the cramp phenomenon. Another specific measure to prevent cramping is to instruct the patient to warm up before exercising, so that the muscles of the whole body can be thoroughly relaxed and then moderate exercise.