Tricks To Avoid Muscle Cramps

Muscle cramps are involuntary, intensely painful muscle contractions that nearly every athlete has experienced at some point. Some people experience them often and simply seem to be prone to muscle cramps.

No one is immune to muscle cramps. It is often caused by being dehydrated, having poor blood circulation, not stretching enough, or just fatiguing your muscles. Cramps can be very sneaky, occurring up to six hours after exercising or happens in the middle of the night (the notorious charley horse)!

So how do you prevent it? Try these 5 tricks to stop muscle cramps in their tracks.

1. Drinks lots of water.Dehydration is a leading cause of muscle spasms. So drinking water will help you avoid cramps.
2. Consume foods rich in electrolytes. Low levels of sodium and potassium could be the reason for that side spasm.So grab a banana, melons, sweet potato, celery, or even cheese!
3. Try a vitamin.Studies suggest magnesium, zinc, and vitamins B, D, and E can limit the likelihood of getting a muscle cramp or at least ease the pain.
4. Jump around. When small nerves in our muscles get fatigued, cramping can occur. Try some jumping drills like in plyometrics to keep those nerves from tiring. Do them a few times a week after working out to help prevent spasms.
5. Warm up and cool down. A proper warm-up and cool-down, including plenty of stretching, can keep cramps at bay. So make sure to carve out time to get your body moving before working out and relax your muscles once you’re done.