Suffering from Muscle Cramps?

Do you get muscle cramps during a workout? 

It’s very uncomfortable when you’re in the middle of a workout or taking a walk and suddenly you get hit with a cramp that makes it difficult to move. 

Muscle cramps happen when your muscle forcibly contracts involuntarily. The time that the muscle cramp occurs often depends on the cause. 

Muscle fatigue is a common cause of cramping, both during a workout and when you are resting. Because exercise stimulates muscles and causes them to contract and lengthen, cramps can happen when your muscles become tired. 

If you tend to get muscle cramps during workouts in hot weather, this can be a sign of dehydration muscle cramps. With your body losing fluids through sweat, you don’t have enough sodium and electrolytes, which are vital for functionality. This can affect nerve function causing muscles to contract involuntarily. 

Sadly, there is no way to stop muscle cramps from ever happening but there are some effective methods for reducing the chance of cramping. 

Try these tips to prevent muscle cramps: 

1. Drink plenty of water! Dehydration has many negative effects on your body, including cramping. Make sure you are getting enough water every single day, especially during and after workouts. 
2. Warm-up and cool down. This helps prepare your body for a workout. 
3. Foam roll. Adding foam rolling to your routine helps to increase circulation and boosts blood flow to your muscles and cells. 

If a cramp does hit mid-workout, try one of these tips: 

1. Gently stretch the muscle that is cramping.

2. Take a break from the pace of your workout and rest until the cramp stops. 

3. If it’s not too painful, give the muscle that’s cramping a massage. This can help to relax the area and stimulate blood flow. 

Regular training can also be really helpful for keeping muscle cramps under control. By slowly building your fitness up and training specifically to match your goals, you are helping to prepare your body and mind for what is coming in a workout. 

If you would like a plan for reducing muscle cramps, please contact me here: https://www.scottlathropfitness.com/payment-page/