Muscle Cramps Causes & Treatment Options

Muscle cramps are common, especially if you’re dehydrated or if you have overused your muscles. Other causes include holding a specific position for an extended. Generally speaking, muscle cramps are self-limited and pose no threat. However, there are instances that a muscle cramp may be a result of an underlying condition, and we have included some of them below:

1. Circulatory problems: arteriosclerosis that causes narrowing of the arteries Leads to poor blood supply. Patients with narrowing of their orders will experience frequent cramps and a non-dehydrated state while exercising or stretching.
2. Electrolyte imbalance: calcium, magnesium, and potassium, or essential minerals needed for proper function. Inadequate hydration, especially during athletic activities, can cause depletion of your electrolytes. Other causes that lead to loss of electrolytes or certain medications, especially those prescribed for blood pressure and diuretics. You will need to visit your pharmacist or your medical doctor to see if the cause of your muscle cramps is related to your medication.
3. Nerve impingement:compressed nerves that exit the spine or impingement of nerves as they pass beneath muscles and tendons can cause muscle cramp-like sensations in the extremities. Neck pain and back pain are often implicated in patients with muscle cramps. Conditions such as slipped discs are bulging, herniated, or extruded discs or are best known for their compressing effects on spinal nerves. If you get muscle cramps frequently, you may benefit from a thorough assessment of your spine and nervous system. 

Chiropractic Specialty Center® (CSC) can help with the evaluation of your spine and nervous systems. Moreover, we provide the most holistic non-invasive treatment for nerve impingement and nerve compressions caused by a slip-disc. CSC provides the best slip-disc therapy in Malaysia; contact us today for more information. 

What Is An Exercise Associated Muscle Cramps (EAMC) 

Exercise associated muscle cramps is a painful contraction of a muscle in a shortened position. The soreness after the cramps can last up to a few days. Acute muscle cramps can be easily alleviated by gentle stretching of the affected muscle. There are a few proposed theories for the cause of EAMC. The dehydration-electrolyte imbalance theory and the neuromuscular theory of EAMC are the most commonly known causes.

The dehydration-electrolyte imbalance theory proposes that EAMC results from fluid and electrolyte depletion due to inadequate fluid ingestion and replacement. This leads to sensitization of select nerve terminals and results in EAMC. Exercise in hot and humid conditions may facilitate muscle cramps by increasing the rate and amount of fluid and electrolytes lost. Miners are more prone to develop muscle cramps due to the hot and humid working environment. There are more cases of muscle cramps during the period of high risk for heat illness. However, there are reported cases where marathon runners developed EAMC in cool, temperature-controlled environments around 10 to 12 degrees Celsius. 

The neuromuscular theory suggests that EAMC (exercise associated muscle cramps) from an imbalance between excitatory impulses from muscle spindles and inhibitory impulses from Golgi tendon organs due to muscle overload and neuromuscular fatigue. A decrease in the inhibition from the GTO and an increase in the excitatory stimuli from muscle spindles may present during neuromuscular fatigue. This will lead to a heightened excitatory state at the spinal level. Therefore, EAMC often occurs when the muscle contracts in a shortened state, especially at the end of competitions and physical work. 

What Can You Do To Get Rid Of Cramps?

Identifying the exact cause of your muscle cramp is the initial stage of recovery. As mentioned, muscle cramps result from vascular issues, lots of electrolytes for nerve impingement. Each of these underlying conditions requires a specific regimen of treatment. The clinical teams of Chiropractic Specialty Center® will be able to help you get rid of and eliminate muscle cramps caused by nerve compressions. We have listed three home care activities you can implement right away in hopes of getting rid of your muscle cramps below:

1. Stretch muscle: His stretching muscles before and after an activity is the easiest and most simple self-care you can implement to decrease or eliminate muscle cramps. Stretching muscles to prevent muscle cramps should be started gradually in progressed slowly, reaching maximum stretch potential within 10 to 25 seconds. If muscle cramps happen at night or during sleep, you should stretch before going to bed using the same technique.
2. Ride a stationary bike: riding stationary bicycles is excellent for those who experience muscle cramps during sleep. We recommend that you write your stationary bike for a few minutes every night before bedtime. Of course, you will need to stretch before and after riding the bike.
3. Stay hydrated: the most common cause of muscle cramps is dehydration, leading to loss of electrolytes, as mentioned above. You will need to make sure that you drink plenty of non-sugary liquids. Lack of electrolytes, especially during activity, will lead to cramps and muscle damage, including muscle strains and degeneration. The best way to avoid cramps after exercise it’s to drink plenty of fluids rich in electrolytes. Also, a banana a day will help you significantly.

Contact CSC for msucle treatment options that gets rid of msucle cramps caused by msucle damage or nerve impagments. This article is brought to you in collaboration with expert teams of corrective chiropractors in Malaysia. For more information or inquiries on spine and joint disorders and injuries, please contact us at 03-2093 1000.