Everything you need to know about muscle cramps: types and prevention

Many people know about muscle spasms firsthand. Unpleasant and sometimes painful sensations arise unexpectedly and in any situation. A chiropractor told Wday.ru in detail about the ailment.

Manual therapist of the Semeynaya clinic

In the gym or in the country

Intense physical activity, especially if the body is not used to it, causes overstrain, and then muscle wasting. Their functionality decreases, therefore, after a while after hard work, convulsions may appear. This is especially common in older people, as muscle tissue is depleted with age. Overheating and dehydration is another reason you feel unwell. Due to the loss of moisture, the muscles lose their elasticity.

Prevention:

  • it is necessary to “warm up” before any physical activity;

  • not to go for a record, but to adequately assess the load;

  • carry a water bottle with you.

Important: dehydration can also be caused by taking certain medications or disturbances in the functioning of internal organs.

While reading or watching a movie

Resting seizures are most common in children, as well as in pregnant women and the elderly. In the first case, the fact is that the body is still being formed, and in the second, the reason may be a low level of electrolytes in the blood that are responsible for the work of muscles: magnesium and calcium (the spasm is also accompanied by tingling and slight numbness).

Prevention: a balanced diet, which must include cereals and vegetables.

Important: with constant discomfort, it is necessary to check the functioning of the thyroid gland. Perhaps useful substances enter the body in sufficient quantities, but are not fully absorbed.

When working at a computer

Incorrect hand position when using the keyboard and gadgets with constantly repetitive movements (like musicians, seamstresses, painters) lead to a pinching of the nerve in the wrist, and over time, tunnel syndrome develops. It is accompanied by pain, swelling, numbness, and hand cramps.

Prevention:

  • while working, the elbow should lie on the table, and the hand should be straight;

  • you also need to do gymnastics – clench and unclench your fists, rotate your hands, massage your wrists.

Important: due to improper posture, osteochondrosis or carrying a heavy bag on one shoulder, spasm of the muscles of the neck and back occurs, which can cause cramps and numbness in the arm in a certain position. As a rule, overstrain occurs immediately in the muscle group, therefore, it is accompanied by severe pain. The most unpleasant consequence is severe headaches.

In a dream

As with physical activity, muscles can become overstrained from an uncomfortable position in which you have been for a long time. In this case, it is enough to simply rub the spasmodic area, relaxing the muscles and improving blood circulation, and then stretch it.

Prevention:

  • A warm shower or bath before bed can help you relax;

  • the mattress should not be too hard or too soft.

Important: if the cramps recur periodically, accompanied by pulling sensations in the calf muscles, it is worth visiting a phlebologist. Perhaps the problem is impaired blood circulation and beginning varicose veins.

Frequent, prolonged and painful seizures can be a symptom of neurological diseases. In this case, you need to contact a therapist, he will give a referral for examination.

Sometimes a spasm can occur after an injury – a fracture, sprain, or severe injury. Thus, the body tries to minimize the stress on the damaged area.

Help on the water

During bathing, convulsions can begin due to a sharp temperature drop – from hypothermia, the vessels contract sharply, from which part of the body becomes numb. What if this happened?

  • Do not panic, otherwise you can choke or provoke a heart attack.

  • Try to relax, lie on the water.

  • Call for help.

  • If there is no one around, try to stretch the muscle by pressing firmly on the site of the spasm.

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