Muscle Cramp Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Understanding
Muscle cramps occur when a person experiences sudden muscle contractions, doesn’t subside immediately and feel very painful. Although they can occur in any muscle, muscle cramps are more common in the following muscles:
- Calf muscle ( gastrocnemius )
- Back thigh muscles ( hamstrings )
- Front thigh muscles ( quadriceps )
Some people have a greater risk factor for muscle cramps, namely:
- Children and elderly
- People who are sick
- Obesity
- Exercise without warming up
- Are taking certain drugs
Symptoms
Muscles that contract suddenly, don’t go away are symptoms of muscle cramps. When seen, the affected muscle area looks tense and feels hard. Muscle cramps can occur several times before the complaint completely disappears.
Reason
The cause of muscle cramps is not known with certainty (idiopathic). However, some things are known to be triggers, such as:
-
Inadequate warm-up before exercise
Lack of warm-up before exercise can make muscles tire more easily. This muscle fatigue will have an impact on the accumulation of waste substances which can then disrupt muscle-nerve coordination and trigger continuous muscle contractions.
-
Muscle injury
Muscle injuries experienced can cause damage to the muscle structure itself and cause muscle cramps.
-
Working in a very hot environment
Hot environmental temperatures during activities can make a person prone to dehydration and can be a cause of muscle cramps.
To work properly, muscles need an adequate blood supply as a source of oxygen and nutrients. When the body is dehydrated, the blood supply to the muscles will decrease and trigger muscle cramps.
-
Lack of electrolytes in the body
In addition to oxygen and nutrients, blood also contains electrolytes needed to regulate muscle work. If the amount of electrolytes in the blood is insufficient, muscle work will be affected and muscle cramps can occur as a side effect.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of muscle cramps is based on the presence of complaints of sudden muscle contractions, which occur in only one or a few areas of the body.
To find out the cause of muscle cramps, additional tests can be carried out, for example, blood electrolyte examination. This examination is necessary if there is a suspicion of an electrolyte imbalance in the body as a trigger for muscle cramps.
Treatment
Generally, the treatment of muscle cramps does not require serious treatment by a doctor. A person experiencing muscle cramps can do a number of things so that the pain they feel subsides more quickly.
- Stop the activity in progress
- Slowly straighten the cramped muscle and gently massage it
- Use warm compresses on tense muscles or cold compresses if the trigger is an impact that causes muscle injury.
Even though it can heal by itself, treatment by a doctor is still needed in the following cases:
- Muscle cramps that cause severe pain, do not go away with steps taken alone
- The muscle looks red, and swollen and feels warm
- There was muscle weakness afterward
- Very often experienced
Complications
Muscle cramps generally only cause temporary discomfort. There are no dangerous complications that arise afterward.
Prevention
To prevent muscle cramps from occurring, there are several actions you can take:
- Avoid dehydration by drinking enough water
- Warm up before exercising
- Exercising with movements that can increase muscle flexibility.