Muscle cramps can be extremely painful and can cause severe discomfort. Fortunately, there are several ways to stop them immediately. One of the most effective methods is to use a warm towel or heating pad on tense or tense muscles. Taking a hot bath or directing the stream of a hot shower to the cramped muscle may also help.
Alternatively, massaging the tight muscle with ice can ease the pain. Bananas are a great source of potassium, magnesium, and calcium, which are all essential nutrients for relieving muscle cramps. Legumes, such as beans and lentils, are also packed with magnesium. A cup of cooked lentils contains approximately 71 milligrams of magnesium, and a cup of cooked black beans has almost twice as much, at 120 milligrams.
In addition, they are high in fiber and studies show that high-fiber foods can help alleviate menstrual cramps, as well as control blood sugar and lower levels of “bad” LDL cholesterol. Nuts and seeds are another great source of magnesium. For example, 1 ounce of roasted sunflower seeds contains approximately 37 milligrams of magnesium, and 1 ounce of roasted and salted almonds has twice as much. Many types of nuts and seeds also contain calcium and magnesium.
Hot or cold therapy can also be extremely effective for treating pain and spasms. Interrupt any activity that may have caused the cramp and stretch the muscle slightly, gently maintaining the stretch. You can even massage the muscle as it stretches or after you finish. Cramps can also occur when a muscle can't relax properly (for example, due to a deficiency of magnesium or potassium in the diet) or when it is irritated by a buildup of lactic acid (which can happen if you don't rest your muscle after a lot of exercise).
If your calf muscle cramps in the middle of the night, stand up and slowly put weight on the affected leg to push the heel down and stretch the muscle. If you're experiencing muscle spasms as a symptom of fibromyalgia, natural muscle relaxants, such as magnesium and cayenne pepper, may help. Overuse of a muscle, dehydration, muscle strain, or simply maintaining a position for a long period of time can cause a muscle cramp. If all else fails and you continue to have regular muscle cramps, consider getting regular massages to help your muscles relax.Although generally harmless, muscle cramps can make it temporarily impossible to use the affected muscle.
Treating pain and spasms with hot or cold therapy can be extremely effective. You can even massage the muscle as it stretches or after you finish.If you ever wake up at night or are suddenly stopped by a Charley horse, you know that muscle cramps can cause severe pain. There's no pill or injection that instantly relieves muscle spasms, so the best thing you can do is stretch the affected muscle and massage it.
