I just had to battle cramping in my legs, and I haven’t even been seriously working out (though, now that I think of it that could be the reason.. hmm). Whenever you exercise, your muscles go through a fair amount of stress. Sometimes, little tears may form in the muscles; that is why it is important to have rest days in-between workouts to give the muscles time to heal. Asides that, you may also experience soreness and cramping. This is normal, but can be greatly reduced.
Stretching before, but most especially after your routine is key to preventing muscle soreness and cramps. Stretching eases the tension in the muscles and helps your body cool down gradually before total rest.
Using a heat press, can also alleviate the pain caused by muscle cramps. Invest in a hot water bottle, or press a warm towel against the area. Raising the muscle temperature increases the amount of blood flow into the area; which in turn carries oxygen and nutrients to the injured site.
If you’re dealing with acute cramps, then you might need to step it down a notch. Reduce the intensity of your workouts; take up light walking and warm-ups. Keeping the muscle totally idle is not a good idea, so keep moving.
Certain foods have also been shown to alleviate cramping. Because of all the sweat produced during exercise, the body loses a lot of water and electrolytes which include sodium, potassium and various salts. For this reason, foods high in potassium and sodium will be useful to reduce soreness. These include bananas, coconut water, potatoes, oranges and vegetables. Potassium helps muscle activity, while sodium is key in regulating fluid balance and blood pressure.
Magnesium and calcium rich foods also play a part. Magnesium stabilizes the production of adenosine triphosphate (remember that from biology?) which fuels muscle contraction, while Calcium aids the action of the blood vessels including those found in the heart. So fill up on yogurt, dark vegetables, nuts and milk.
As always, remember that moderation is key. Keep your body healthy, but don’t injure yourself. Drinks lots of water and eat healthy. Have a good day folks.