Causes of Muscle Cramps and How To Get Rid of Them

Potential Causes of Muscle Cramps

What causes muscle cramps and how to get rid of them?

Unfortunately, not too many people can answer this! But we can offer a few insights and theories:

Fatigue

You rarely see cramps at the start of a game or race. However, it is common to see athletes cramp at the end which leads us to believe that fatigue is a likely contributor.

Dehydration & Electrolyte Imbalance

For many years some researchers have long suggested dehydration and electrolyte imbalance (such as decreased salt content) as a cause. But recent reviews have downplayed this theory, as the evidence is mostly observational. This means while there may be an association between dehydration, salt depletion, and cramps, we can’t prove one caused the other.

In these studies, people who were prone to cramps did NOT have differences in hydration or electrolyte content compared to people who were not prone to cramps!

Furthermore, all the muscles in the body would cramp if electrolyte imbalance was implicated. Cramping is usually experienced in actively used muscles.

Salt tablets and magnesium have been commonly used for cramps, but because electrolyte imbalance and dehydration don’t appear to be the cause, their usefulness is debatable.

Other Causes of Muscle Cramps

Other causes of muscle cramps include side effects from some medications, diet or perhaps have a family history of cramping.

Lack of strength and conditioning may also play a role in exercise-related muscle cramps.

How to Get Rid of Muscle Cramps

Science is now proving there is a fast way of getting rid of muscle cramps

The latest science in relation to getting rid of muscle cramps relates more to a neurological connection. Particularly in terms of rapid relief during activity. Studies conducted with professional rugby players have shown that despite hydration, strength, conditioning & nutrition being monitored, cramping can often still occur. Hence the effectiveness of using a product that stimulates a neural response. Products like CrampFix are able to quickly activate sensory nerves in the mouth, triggering the overactive nerve signals to release the cramp – quickly.

Swallowing and digesting is not required! Cramps disappear just by swirling the liquid around the mouth and discarding it! This is how to get rid of cramps quick enough to stay in the game.

Cyclists commonly suffer muscle cramps.