In medical terms, leg cramps are spasms of the leg muscles or muscle groups caused by abnormal neuromuscular excitation, when the pulling strength of the muscle bundles is significantly greater than that of the muscle bundles during normal muscle contraction, and therefore, calf cramps are felt as soreness or more intense pain.
The onset of calf cramps is related to those factors?
1, fatigue: fatigue caused by excessive exercise or excessive force in the legs, excessive metabolic products are not metabolized in time and accumulate in the local area, stimulating the nerves, which can cause calf cramps.
2, cold: cold feet and legs can cause muscle cramps in the legs.
3, hypocalcemia: When hypocalcemia occurs in the body, the excitation threshold of the neuromuscular junction is reduced, and the intensity of stimulation below normal can make the neuromuscular excitation, thus it is very easy to produce abnormal contraction and cause calf cramps.
4, blood flow factors: for patients with varicose veins in the legs or deep vein thrombosis, if they sleep for a long time to maintain a certain posture, the leg veins are pressurized, the reflux is blocked, causing blood flow stagnation, when the blood stagnation reaches a certain level, it will cause leg muscle cramps.
5, excessive water and salt loss: severe diarrhea, vomiting cramps, heatstroke cramps, etc. belong to this category, due to excessive water and salt loss, resulting in the loss of water and electrolyte balance in the body, causing leg muscle cramps.
6. Excessive emotional stress, sudden change in ambient temperature, and some causes that have not yet been detected or determined.
What are the best ways to prevent cramps?
1.During the process of prolonged exercise, adequate water and electrolytes should be replenished in time.
2, do sufficient preparation activities before exercise.
3, cold days after exercise must do proper insulation, such as swimming should be immediately after the swimsuit to change up, put on warm clothing.
4, do not wear too tight or too heavy clothing, sheaths, shoes and socks to engage in sports or work.
5. Do proper massage on the muscles prone to cramps before exercise.
What should I do if I have cramps?
The best response to leg cramps is to gently stretch the tense muscles. Hot compresses or massage of the legs and feet can also help the muscles relax. If the muscle cramp is prolonged, you can spray or rub some localized pain relieving salve or ointment. If the cramps occur repeatedly, it is necessary to consider whether the muscles are overworked or have lost too much water and salt, and to stop the activity and rest in the former case, and to replenish water and electrolytes in the latter case.
Two special types of calf cramps that should be taken seriously
1, pregnant women cramps
Pregnant women’s cramps mostly occur after the middle of pregnancy, and these cramps are mainly caused by the lack of calcium in the blood of pregnant women. When the body is deficient in calcium, muscle excitability is increased and muscle cramps are likely to occur. When a cramp strikes, massage the muscles in the cramped area to relieve it; or slowly straighten the leg so that the cramp is slowly relieved. To prevent calf cramps at night, massage your legs before going to bed, or wash your feet and legs with hot water before going to sleep. Normally, you should wear soft-soled shoes and not walk too much to avoid excessive fatigue; you should avoid humidity and cold at night. Pay special attention to the increase in the amount of calcium required by pregnant women, should be supplemented.
2, leg cramps occur when swimming
Before swimming, do the necessary preparatory activities, and massage the parts prone to cramps. Before going into the water, you should shower with cold water or pat your body and limbs with cold water, so that your body can adapt to low temperature. Swimming time should not be too long, fatigue or hunger should not be carried out when swimming. Strengthen a variety of exercises (such as cold water bath), the body’s ability to adapt to improve, can effectively avoid the occurrence of cramps when swimming.
If you have calf cramps while swimming, hold the toes of the cramped leg with the hand on the opposite side of the cramped calf and pull it upward with force while pressing the palm of the same side on the knee of the cramped calf to help straighten the calf, which can be repeated several times, and the muscles will slowly relax and return to their original state. Swimming cramps, should be as soon as possible to dry the body rest, pay attention to warmth, still feel the pain of the parts can do appropriate massage to make it further relief. At this point, if you continue to swim, it is easy to have another cramp accident.