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Essay On Muscle Cramps

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Essay On Muscle Cramps
Any athlete has surely experienced a muscle cramp before and can tell you the indescribable pain they emit. The main question is what is a muscle cramp and how is it caused. Someone who frequently undergoes muscle cramps may also wonder ‘how do I prevent these?’ Muscle cramps can be a nuisance and may stope athletes or everyday people from doing what they like. When a muscle or group of muscles involuntarily contracts this is called a muscle cramp. A muscle contracting causes it to get smaller and tighter, causing pain and temporary unavailability of the muscle or muscles. There are many causes behind muscle cramps but the most frequent are muscle fatigue, dehydration, lack of stretching, poor circulation, and magnesium or calcium insufficiency. When a muscle is …show more content…
The most common and frequently encountered cramp is the “true” cramp. These type of cramps are most commonly caused by hyperexcitability in the muscles. This is when there is too much contracting in the muscles. It can be caused by fatigue, dehydration, and many other things. Muscle cramps can be so distracting a common question with them is, how can they be avoided? To avoid muscle cramps the biggest recommendations are to stretch and to keep hydrated. Being hydrated means before, during, and after the workout, all times of hydration are equally important. Also to avoid post-activity cramps the electrolytes lost during activity need to be replaced, like sodium which is lost during perspiration. That is why exercise for long periods of time in warm weather need to be avoided. All muscle cramps are equally important and just as painful as the next, although cramps are not life threatening steps need to be taken to avoid them. They can interrupt anyone’s daily routine or exercise. Muscle cramps are described as a nuisance but they can be avoided with the right workout precautions and post workout

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