You walk out of there and suddenly a “twitch” prevents you from continuing, or you suddenly wake up with a stabbing pain in the leg. Muscle cramps are involuntary muscle contractions that can be caused by a variety of factors.

The good news is that there are means and techniques that you can take advantage of that do not involve changes in your daily routine and that do not hurt. Learn more about preventing muscle cramps in this article.

There are many causes that can cause a person to suffer from cramps that, as we mentioned earlier, are uncontrollable muscle movements. The most common causes are:

• Excessive loss of fluid or mineral salts.
• Lack of oxygen and lack of blood flow to the area.
• Prolonged drying.
• Accumulation of lactic acid (common in athletes).
• Sudden, repeated or strong movements of the muscles in the cold.

• Sudden contact with cold water.
• Alcoholism
• Overweight.
• Certain types of medicine
• Renal insufficiency
• Muscle fatigue.
• Pregnancy
• Metabolic problems
• Calcium and magnesium are deficient in the body.
• Lack of vitamins.
• Wrong sleeping position.
• Poor posture while working or studying.
• Emotional tension or  anxiety.
• Small muscle movements.

Stomach cramps are the result of blood flowing directly to this area by digesting food.  If, instead of standing still, you get up and start walking, playing sports or swimming, your stomach starts to suffer and it will lead to cramps.

Hands and wrists are other critical areas of the body that are prone to cramps due to circulatory problems, known as ” carpal tunnel syndrome “  which affects people who write a lot.

The most typical zones where seizures are seen are in the legs and are due to all the causes listed above.

There are two different symptoms associated with leg cramps. The first is local pain in the affected area and the second is a sharp pain or a feeling of a jerk  that begins to spin.

Tips to prevent and reduce muscle cramps

When you suffer from a cramp,  the best thing you can do is to stretch the affected area, to ease the pain and relax the cramped muscle.

Physiotherapy, massage and sleeping without a pillow are good ways to avoid cramps in the neck and shoulders. Practices like yoga and tai chi can also help against cramps in general. Start exercising for half an hour a day so that the blood can oxygenate muscles and tissues, while repairing and nourishing them.

If your legs tend to cramp a lot, raise your legs with a pillow or support them against a wall. You can also sleep with several pillows between your legs, use a hot water bottle or heating pad, etc.

Nutrition is really important to avoid muscle cramps.  Include foods rich in calcium in your diet such as oranges, almonds, broccoli, leafy vegetables, soy milk and dairy products, and others that provide a lot of magnesium like nuts, whole grains, cocoa, beans, algae and soy flour. Eat a  banana  daily and do not forget fluid for your body.

If you exercise a lot, remember drinking water or sports drinks to avoid dehydration and make sure to stretch well every time you exercise.

Other tips:

• Drink fluids throughout the day.
• Wear loose-fitting clothing, especially pants and socks.
• Take a warm bath before going to sleep.
• Practice  relaxation techniques.
• Exercise to strengthen the ankles.
• Place the weight on your sole of the foot, not the heel when walking.
• Sleep on your stomach with your legs outstretched.
• Ingest natural diuretics.
• Wrap the affected area in an elastic bandage, but not too tight.

Natural remedies for muscle cramps

Check the following anticonvulsants. They are all natural and homemade, and give great results.

Remedy for cramps No. 1

Ingredients

• 3 tbsp. gingko biloba
• 1 cup of water

Cooking

Boil gingko in water for 10 minutes, remove from heat, let it steep, strain it and drink it daily.

Remedy for cramps No. 2

Ingredients

• Rosemary  essential oil (you can also use pine needles or eucalyptus)
• Olive oil

Cooking

Mix both oils in equal parts (a few drops will be enough) and heat it between your hands. Apply it on the area affected by cramping so that the heat and properties of the oils help relieve the area of ​​pain.

Remedy for cramps no. 3

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon  honey
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 1 cup boiling water

Cooking

Mix everything and drink it immediately (without burning yourself), so that calcium is evenly distributed throughout the body.

Anti-seizure No. 4

Ingredients

• 1 tsp. mustard seeds

• 1 liter of water.

Cooking

Boil the mustard and honey in the water for 10 minutes. Fill your bathtub with warm water and pour in the mixture. Lie down in the bath until the water cools.

Resource No. 5

Ingredients

• 1 handful of bay leaves
• 1 nip  cinnamon
• 1 cup of water

Cooking

Make a tea with the ingredients, say it and drink it while it is hot. Repeat this daily for a week.