1. Relax, Loosen Clothing and Hydrate
If you're in the throes of a spasm, do not panic or move around quickly. Panicking can further contract your muscles. Move slowly and take slow, deep breaths to mediate the pain. Loosen any clothing in the area of the spasm to free circulation. A common cause of spasms is dehydration. Drinking a glass of water can relax your body and hydrate your muscles. Drink one glass, and then continue breathing deeply to alleviate dehydration.
2. Stretch and Loosen the Cramping Muscle
Walk around to get the blood flowing. Wiggle the limb in which the spasm occurred. Rub your finger gently along the cramped muscle. Loosening the arteries will return blood flow to normal and relax the muscle. This process is usually slow and can be painful, especially if the cramp is located in the leg. If the pain is not excessive, plow through the discomfort and the muscle should remedy itself.
3. Moderate the Temperature of the Muscle
You are probably familiar with treating sore muscles with ice packs or heat. The same practice can alleviate a muscle cramp. Take a hot shower or bath and expose the cramping muscle to the heat. Continue heat for 20 minutes or until the spasm has alleviated. You also can ice the muscle for 20 minutes or until the spasm has been alleviated. After the 20 minutes, switch from heat to cold or vice versa.
4. Identify Underlying Causes
Note if your spasms occur often. Recurring spasms may indicate major disorders, such as anemia or multiple sclerosis. Determine if the cramp is a common spasm due to muscle overuse, or if an imbalance in circulation is the cause. You may detect a circulation issue by feeling for a pulse in the area. If the pulse is faint, a larger issue might be the cause.
