Muscle Cramp
A cramp is an involuntary and forcibly contracted muscle
that does not relax. Cramps can affect any muscle under your voluntary control
(skeletal muscle). Muscles that span two joints are most prone to cramping.
Cramps can involve part or all of a muscle, or several muscles in a group.
The most commonly affected muscle groups are:
- Back of lower
leg/calf (gastrocnemius)
- Back of thigh
(hamstrings)
- Front of thigh
(quadriceps)
Cramps in the feet, hands, arms, abdomen, and along the
rib cage are also very common.
Although the exact cause of muscle cramps is unknown
(idiopathic), some researchers believe inadequate stretching and muscle fatigue
leads to abnormalities in mechanisms that control muscle contraction. Other
factors may also be involved, including poor conditioning, exercising or
working in intense heat, dehydration and depletion of salt and minerals
(electrolytes).
Treatment
Cramps usually go away on their own without seeing a
doctor.
- Stop doing whatever
activity triggered the cramp.
- Gently stretch and
massage the cramping muscle, holding it in stretched position until the
cramp stops.
- Apply heat to
tense/tight muscles, or cold to sore/tender muscles.
Prevention
To avoid future cramps, work toward better overall
fitness. Do regular flexibility exercises before and after you work out to
stretch muscle groups most prone to cramping.
Main Functions of Ares Kinesiology Tape
- Relieves pain and
muscle fatigue
- Improves
circulation and lymphatic flow via superficial activation while reducing
inflammation
- Corrects muscle
function through reduction of muscle tension and strengthening of the weakened
muscle
- Corrects
misalignment of joints
- Returns
body to homeostasis.
- Works
with the body to allow and increase normal range of motion
- May
normalize length/tension ratios to create optimal force
- Assist
and improve tissue recovery
- Restores
epidermal tissue homeostasis
- Decrease
inflammation and pressure on mechanical recept
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