Many of us have experienced leg cramps at some point in our lives. If your leg cramps get too extreme, Progressive Spine & Sports Medicine is the place to go for treatment.
A muscle cramp happens when a muscle contracts involuntarily. Muscle fatigue is the main cause of muscle cramps.
The good news is that leg cramps are rarely a case of a more solemn underlying condition. Therefore, they are easy to treat using simple actions.
The following are some of the remedies you can use when you have a leg cramp:
Stretch
Stretching helps to expand the muscle that is involuntarily contracting. It is especially important to stretch if you exercise regularly.
You can massage the muscle while you stretch it to further relieve the tension. There are many stretches for each body part that you can simply find online.
Yoga is a great practice that can help with stretching. It takes a long time to master the poses which ensures that you will be constantly stretching your muscles.
Heat
Applying heat to the muscle also serves the purpose of expanding it. Many trainers in sports and athletics use heat to remedy leg cramps in the field.
The heat should be progressively applied. So, you can start with a warm washcloth and rub it against the muscle gradually increasing the temperature.
Drink Water
One of the more common reasons for having leg cramps is dehydration. That is why athletes who are losing a lot of water from sweating often have cramps.
Once you feel a leg cramp coming on, you should relax and drink a glass of water. You can even drink a sports drink with electrolytes for relief.
Get Moving
If you have a mild leg cramp, you should try getting up and stretching. If that does not work, you should take a walk and see how it feels.
Sometimes activity can be the remedy to a cramping muscle. However, vigorous activity might cause another leg cramp, so only light activity is recommended.
Massage
Massaging your muscle is a great way to remedy a leg cramp. A massage is a great way to heat up your muscles while relaxing them at the same time.
Regular massages can reduce the severity of your leg cramps if you regularly have painful cramps. If you can afford to get a professional masseuse, the results will be better.
Medication
If the above remedies do not work, it may be time to try some medicine. You can take a muscle relaxer to alleviate a cramped muscle.
There are powerful muscle relaxers that can help even with the most painful leg cramps. However, there are many cases of addiction so it is not recommended as a long-term measure.
Acupuncture
One of the better long-term treatments for leg cramps is acupuncture. It is particularly to be used when the leg cramps are chronic.
Progressive Spine & Sports Medicine proudly provides a full spectrum of pain treatment options, including acupuncture, physical therapy, regenerative medicine injections, osteopathic manipulation, and more. The expert practitioners’ unique approach to patient care and pain relief helps patients get back on their feet faster.
To ensure patients have access to their provider when it’s convenient for them, the team at Progressive Spine & Sports Medicine offers flexible scheduling throughout the week, including late evening hours. The team welcomes new and existing patients to the practice.
You should get the acupuncture done from a licensed professional. You should start feeling better in a matter of weeks, after which you can decide whether to continue with the treatment.
