Prevention and treatment of cramps in sports

Cramping is a very common phenomenon. I believe many people who like outdoor sports have experienced it. At the critical moment, cramps can kill people, such as swimming. Therefore, learning how to properly handle cramps and avoid cramps is an important outdoor survival skill. The actual cause of cramps during exercise is currently not conclusive, but it is generally believed to be caused by a combination of factors.

A cramp is actually a muscle spasm. It refers to a phenomenon in which the muscles in one part of the body contract involuntarily and cannot relax quickly. The site of cramping occurs most often at the back of the calf, the back of the thigh, and the front of the thigh. In addition, cramps may occur in small muscles that contain feet, fingers, arms, abdomen, and even ribs.

When cramping, the whole muscle becomes stiff, and sometimes you can even see muscle twitching under the skin. Muscle paralysis may disappear after a few seconds, or it may last more than 15 minutes. If it is not dealt with in time or the original movement is interrupted, it may happen again and again in a short time.

The actual cause of cramping during exercise is currently not conclusive, but it is generally believed that this is due to the interaction of many factors.

The phenomenon of cramps and their causes:

1, lack of sufficient stretching exercise before exercise;

2. Muscular fatigue due to excessive use;

3, exercise in too hot climate;

4, the ambient temperature changes suddenly;

5, excessive water loss;

6, electrolyte imbalance;

7. Incorrect posture of exercise;

8, the mood is too tight;

9, unbalanced diet, drug side effects and so on.

Treatment of cramps:

1, immediately interrupt the ongoing exercise;

2, to a cool and ventilated place, and add water, sports drinks is particularly good;

3, slowly stretch the muscles that are lying, you can also do a moderate massage in the area of ​​cramps;

4, during the treatment, can be supplemented with hyperthermia or cold therapy. Whether it is sports spray or hot and cold packs have a good effect.

Prevention of cramps:

In the <warm-up exercises> and <after-operations> before exercise, strengthen the [stretch] movement. During exercise, the supplement of water can supplement sodium (salt) and electrolyzed water, so that the body of potassium and sodium balance. Drinking sports drinks such as treasure minerals, etc., can supplement sodium and electrolyzed water at the same time, and allow the stomach to quickly absorb water and reduce the burden on the stomach and intestines. (Eating fruits and salt, not only the wind is delicious, but also balance the role of potassium.) Appropriate and progressive exercise. The cramp is the body warns us that the amount of exercise now exceeds our ability. In other words, we usually have insufficient exercise and we must practice more. When cramps occur in outdoor sports, in addition to the above-mentioned emergency treatment, there should be at least a few days of hot compresses and massages after returning home, otherwise the cramps will easily recur.