Painful muscle cramps commonly occur during exercise, and generally, they aren't cause for concern. Cramps can usually resolve on their own with minimal treatment within just a few minutes, MedlinePlus reports. If you frequently develop cramps during exercise, you should understand why and how to resolve them.
Causes
Muscle cramps occur when a muscle or muscles contracts involuntarily, often because the muscles are injured or are being overused, MedlinePlus reports. If you often experience muscle cramps when exercising, it also may be because you are not drinking enough fluids or your levels of minerals such as calcium and potassium are depleted.
Where They Occur
Any muscle involved in an exercise can cramp, but some are more likely to do so than others. In particular, a calf muscle called the gastrocnemius, the hamstrings and the quadriceps are prone to cramping, the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons reports. Muscles in the hands, arms, feet, abdomen and rib cage also cramp frequently.
Treatment
In most cases, you can easily treat muscle cramps on your own. Typically, simply stretching the affected muscle or muscles will bring relief, the Hershey Medical Center at Penn State University reports. You can also apply a heating pad or hot pack to the muscle to encourage it to relax. If you still experience discomfort after the cramp, you can try nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or ice packs to help relieve the pain.
Prevention
You can try to head off muscle cramps in the first place by drinking plenty of fluids and staying properly hydrated during and after your workouts, MayoClinic.com reports. Sometimes water alone will not help because of all the electrolytes you lose through sweat. In these cases, try rehydration beverages or electrolyte solutions. You can also try stretching your muscles to make you more flexible. If you have frequent muscle camps that do not stop even with proper hydration and stretching, schedule an appointment with your doctor to see if an underlying condition is contributing to the problem.
