Five Common Causes Of Cramping
- You’re overworking your muscles
If you’re exercising extra hard, you could end up with muscle cramps. These type of muscle cramps are pretty easy to spot because they usually happen after a vigorous workout. The best way to prevent cramps caused by overworked muscles is to tone down your exercise routine and make sure to stretch before you work out. You also may have strained a muscle. A strain happens when you’ve stretched your muscle too far. And muscle cramping is one sign of a serious strain. - You’re dehydrated
Dehydration is probably the most common cause of muscle cramping. That’s because low water levels can lead to low sodium levels. When you’re muscle isn’t getting the sodium it needs, it starts cramping. Of course, there is an easy fix for this… stay well hydrated. - You have a compressed nerve
If the nerves in your spine are compressed, you can experience cramps in your legs. You can tell if this is the cause of cramping because the pain gets worse the longer you walk. The pain should also improve a bit if you walk with your back in a slightly flexed position like you would if you were pushing a shopping cart. - You have poor blood circulation
If your legs aren’t getting enough blood, it’s likely you’ll experience some painful cramping. If poor blood circulation is the cause of your cramping, you’ll feel more pain while you’re exercising. When you stop exercising, the cramps should get better. - You have a mineral deficiency
Missing minerals are a likely culprit if you’re having mysterious muscle cramps. Some mineral deficiencies that can cause muscle cramps are potassium, calcium and magnesium deficiencies.
If you suspect one of these deficiencies is at the root of your constant cramping, you can get a simple blood test to know for sure. Hopefully, you can finally get the bottom of your cramping muscles. Once you do, you’re one step closer to a permanent solution for this pesky problem.
