![]() Quist warns that if cramps are severe, happen frequently, respond poorly to simple treatments, or are not related to obvious causes like strenuous exercise, you should see your doctor. Apply heat to tense/tight muscles, or cold to sore/tender muscles.ĭr.For a front thigh (quadriceps) cramp, use a chair to steady yourself and try pulling your foot on the affected side toward your buttock.This will also help ease a back thigh (hamstring) cramp. If you’re unable to stand, try pulling the top of your foot on the affected side toward your head while your leg is in a straightened position. For a calf cramp, put your weight on your cramped leg and bend your knee slightly.Gently stretch and massage the cramping muscle, holding it in a stretched position until the cramp stops.Stop doing whatever activity triggered the cramp.Here are a few things you can try to get relief: The good news is that muscle cramps usually go away within minutes and typically do not warrant medical attention. “Imbalances in the levels of electrolytes in the blood, such as sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium and phosphate, can also lead to muscle cramps,” Dr. Insufficient stretching before exercise.Īthletes who become fatigued and dehydrated while participating in warm-weather sports frequently develop muscle cramps. ![]() Quist, some common causes of muscle cramps include: Quist adds that infants, the elderly, the overweight, and athletes are at the greatest risk for muscle cramps.Īccording to Dr. “You could be young or old, active or sedentary, and you could develop a muscle cramp doing just about anything.” However, Dr. Muscle cramps can occur anywhere, anytime to anyone. They listen and partner with you to help prevent injury and encourage your body’s natural tendency toward self-healing. “When a person experiences a muscle cramp, the muscle that is cramping feels harder than normal to the touch or may even show visible signs of twitching.”ĭoctors of Osteopathic Medicine, or DOs, look beyond your symptoms to understand how lifestyle and environmental factors affect your well-being. “Cramps can affect any muscle under your control,” explains Carolyn Quist, DO, an osteopathic physician from Fort Worth, Texas. Cramps in the hands, arms, abdomen and along the rib cage are also very common. The most notorious sites for cramps are the calves, thighs and arch of the foot. Has a muscle cramp ever woken you up in the middle of the night? Or stopped you in your tracks in the middle of an activity? Muscle cramps, or “charley horses” as they are sometimes called, are extremely common and occur when muscles involuntarily contract and cannot relax. Learn how simple self-care measures, such as gentle stretching, can help provide relief. Distinction of Advanced Osteopathic Training.
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