Cramp in Calf and Muscle Pain

by Team Traveller under CC BY

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If you are a sports person, chances are that you have experienced a cramp in calf muscles. This condition is caused by the contraction of calf muscles in the lower leg and requires immediate attention. These leg cramps can cause a lot of calf pain and discomfort.

So what causes this condition and what can you do to ensure that it is properly dealt with? These are some of the essential questions that you ought to ask yourself especially if you are an athlete. Remember, this condition can have an adverse effect on your career if it is not properly checked. It is thus vital to understand a few important aspects of this condition.

For starters, cramps in calf muscles happen involuntarily making it hard for the athlete to continue with a race. An extremely painful condition, calf pain mainly affects sports people who indulge in intense workouts. It is especially common in athletes because of the nature of their sports.

Calf cramps causes

These types of leg cramps mainly affect this muscle, which consists of the gastrocnemius muscle and soleus muscle. Unfortunately, the exact cause of leg cramps in the muscle area is yet to be discovered. However, many medical experts believe that this condition might be triggered by a couple of causes.

For instance, you are likely to experience cramp in calf of leg if you are dehydrated. That is why as an athlete you are advised to take sufficient water before the race. This is especially vital if you are running in very hot conditions.

Another possible cause of this condition is low potassium levels. If you are the type of person that takes very small amounts of sodium (salt) chances are that you will experience calf pain during your workouts. It is therefore important to ensure that there is enough salt in your meals to maintain adequate sodium levels.

Low carbohydrate levels are another possible cause of calf muscle cramps. Being an athlete requires you to use a lot of energy. Therefore you must ensure that your body has sufficient energy before you start your race. Therefore, you should increase the amount of carbohydrates in your diet.

You might also develop a muscle cramp if your muscles are too tight. That is why it is imperative to always do some exercises before you embark on your race. Try to stretch your muscles before you start your sports. This will help you to keep your calf muscle loose.

Unfortunately, frequent muscle cramps can cause severe damage to your calf muscle. Therefore do not downplay the situation by assuming that it will come and go. Try to find a lasting solution to your cramp muscle condition.

Calf cramp treatment options

The first thing that you should do whenever you develop a muscle cramp is to try to stretch the calf muscles. Then massage the muscles gently to allow enough blood flow.

Some people also argue that pinching the upper lip helps to get rid of a cramp in calf muscles. You may want to try it to see if it works for you.