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Treating and Preventing Muscle Cramps during ExercisePublished by
Exercise-induced muscle cramps are painful, debilitating, and can take an athlete out of competition. They can occur in athletes in all types of sports and are usually associated with muscle fatigue and/or dehydration with an associated loss of electrolytes. It is not uncommon to see an athlete drop to the ground in agony near the end of a competition due to muscle cramps in his/her legs. The muscle cramping is commonly seen in the gastrocnemius/soleus (lower leg) muscles and in the hamstring muscle groups. Even when the muscles are immediately stretched to relieve the muscle cramping, the cramping often returns as soon as the athlete engages the muscle. Sometimes, it is even as soon as when the athlete takes his/her first step. Because of the severity of the cramping, this condition can often end the day’s competition for the athlete. According to a recent review of the literature on the causes of muscle cramps during exercise published by the American College of Sports Medicine (Bergeron, 2008), there appear to be two possible causes for muscle cramping in athletes. Although further research is needed to better understand the underlying physiology of both, the literature provides a basis for understanding the problem and how to prevent muscle cramps from occurring. Read the full article at: www.sportsmd.com
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