Muscle Cramps - What to Do?

Muscle cramps - what to do?

Leg cramps

When the first twitch occurs, it's usually too late: The muscle cramp occurs. As a rule inexorably linked and pungent with a pain that often subsides after minutes. Especially for athletes and elderly people familiar with the phenomenon, but also pregnant women often suffer from leg cramps. In a spasm of the muscle is stretched, a part of a muscle or a muscle group and inadvertently harden painfully. The calf muscle is affected most often. The possible causes are numerous - and the situations in which the pain is very different. The one falls through the muscle cramp at night in his sleep, he stops in the middle of other Sprint and banished them to the sidelines.

The first measure is: stretch! Here, the affected muscle is stretched until the cramp resolves. This strain has on the receptors in the muscle have a similar effect, such as the well-established remedy for muscle cramps - magnesium. "It's always about the excitability of nerves and thus to reduce the muscle," explains Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Vierling from the Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of Munich. "Magnesium works out very quickly. It sets down the excitability of cells and prevents the overload of calcium triggers the spasm. "

Muscle spasm by magnesium deficiency

Approximately one in ten is affected by magnesium deficiency, estimates Vierling. The recommended daily dose of 300 milligrams to 400 milligrams for women and men with a normal diet will not often achieved. Although nuts and chocolate fill the magnesium balance, but are not recommended for any diet plan. Also, certain medications, diet or unilateral abuse of alcohol can lead to magnesium deficiency - and to convulsions. Vierling advises the muscle-relaxing minerals in tablet or powder form: "If you are otherwise healthy, try magnesium as a means against cramps! Up to 600 milligrams can increase the daily dose. "

As a rather controversial alternative to magnesium are sometimes recommended quinine. For example, to prevent Chininsulphat nocturnal leg cramps. ". But the possible side effects are nothing compared to the positive effect," "Quinine affects muscle-relaxing," said Professor Dr. Vierling, while is expected for magnesium in high doses as a common side effect of loose stools, the list reads threatening to quinine: Dizziness , nausea, blurred vision and headaches may occur in overdose, but also cardiac arrhythmias and permanent kidney damage.

Accordingly, formulated by the German Society of Neurology (DGN) in its guidelines on "Cramps": "Magnesium is likely to be effective, quinine is effective, it should because of the (rare) serious side effects but are used only in second place." The most important recommendation the DGN are stretching exercises: In acute cases to the cramped muscle is stretched or the antagonist, so the "other muscle", are tense. This is, of course, but only after dangerous causes have been ruled out for the muscle spasms. Because not only carry overload, electrolyte loss, or taking certain medications, the convulsions. Also, thrombosis, neurological diseases, metabolic diseases, but also improper loading of joints, ligaments and muscles can be the reasons.

Baths and gymnastics bow before

There are numerous tips and home remedies to prevent a "normal" spasm: Along the "4 B" - move, bend, edit, roar - are recommended such as baths, massages, leg and foot exercises. Who sleeps on the stomach should be extend the legs over the bed, back sleeper can anstützen the soles of the feet end of the bed or wall. Liniments and ointments containing arnica and rubbing alcohol are recommended. In the end, however, applies to human muscle and, above all, stay relaxed main thing!