(Image source from: Say bye bye to Charley Horses})
They jolt you awake in the middle of the night or send you clutching for your calf during your morning jog. Like nightmares, these muscle spasms flare up without a sign. The bad news is that despite so many advanced tests and researches, nobody knows what exactly triggers them.
Not all is a mystery here, though. It's believed that these involuntary muscle contractions that most often show up in your feet, hands, legs, or back are caused due to mineral or nutrient deficiencies, dehydration, overworked muscles, circulatory problems, Or a combination of all these factors.
To prevent them Charley's horses raiding you again, here's what you can do.
Keep a Diet and Exercise Log
Before you hit the sack, pen down what you ate and all the physical activities you did during the day. Keep the log for a month or two and then compare the frequency of your spasms with your diet and exercise habits. Looking for patterns—say, you tend to get Charley horses after long weekend runs or when you eat (or don’t eat) certain foods—can help you identify what causes the spasms.
Watch Your Workouts
If you’re someone who sits around all week at the office and works hard at gym during the weekend, then your muscles might be stressed with the rigorous workload.
If exercise seems to trigger spasms, try stretching the affected muscle before and after your workout Common spasm points are often your calf muscles, quadriceps, and hamstrings. Quick static stretches can save the muscle and you some painful tug.
AW: Suchorita Choudhury
