Almost everybody experiences muscle cramps sometimes in their lives. A cramp is a sudden involuntary muscle contraction, which can be quite severe. Cramping can occur in almost any muscle, and it can last for a few seconds, minutes, or even over several days.
The duration of the cramp will mainly depend on what has caused the muscle to spasm. Therefore, you need to consult a specialist like Wirth Chiropractic in Greenville, NC, who can do the right diagnosis and prescribe an effective treatment plan accordingly.
Causes of Cramps
Cramps that last over a few seconds to minutes are usually caused by electrolyte imbalance, dehydration, or due to fatigue. The spasm is usually a protective mechanism of the muscle to pain, or it can also be caused by an irritated nerve. If you experience frequent cramps and you need to frequently massage or stretch certain muscles, then it is important to consult Wirth Chiropractic in Greenville, NC, to find the underlying cause.
Most of the time the type of muscle that is cramping will provide clues about the underlying cause. For instance, if it is hamstring muscle, calf muscle, or muscles in the feet that are cramping then the cause is usually dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, or fatigue. You can drink water for the dehydration and this is why you should be hydrating all of the time so this does not happen. But it does happen to active people and the solution is to drink some more water or any water for that matter.
Gatorade is a fine choice for any electrolyte deficiency. On top of that, Gatorade is a fantastic liquid for anyone who wants to maintain a decent amount of energy.
If the disc in the spine is injured then surrounding nerves can become irritated, and cause cramp in the neck, lower back, hand, or forearms. Sometimes cramps can be due to some underlying causes such as neurological conditions, bacterial infection, liver disease, toxins in the body, or due to side effects of certain medications.
Treatment Options
It is important to consult Wirth Chiropractic in Greenville, NC to find out the main cause of the cramp. For instance, chiropractic treatment is highly effective in relieving spinal joint sprain, which is causing certain muscles to spasm and cramp. If a chiropractor suspects a muscle imbalance, he will take your full medical history and give you a thorough functional examination. Exercise therapy prescribed by a chiropractor is highly effective in such situations.
Suitable Solutions
If there is nerve irritation or some interference that inhibits the muscle, then chiropractic manipulation can be the best treatment choice for you. For calf cramps, a chiropractor may advise drinking at least two liters of water in a day, and certain stretching exercises for the calf muscles before going to bed. If you do manual work or do intense workouts, water consumption will have to be increased and make sure you include adequate amount of carbohydrates in your diet to maintain right levels of glycogen in your muscles.
