Push-ups are a common form of strength training that use your body mass to place stress on the muscles and bones in your body. They are a routine part of many basic exercise programs, including military basic training, and are a common part of physical education in elementary and middle schools. If you develop muscle cramps during push-ups, the cause of these cramps isn't likely to be caused by the specific exercise itself, but more likely from underlying problems in your muscles.
Identification
Muscle cramps are characterized by sudden contractions of the muscles. You will not have any control over the muscle when the cramp develops, and it is often painful -- according to MayoClinic.com it is similar to the pain experienced during a charley horse. For a short period of time, the muscle will be out of commission, making it impossible to continue with your push-ups or other exercises. Cramps usually endure one or two minutes and then slowly subside.
Causes
The exact cause of a muscle cramp may not be identifiable. Certain factors can increase the odds of developing a muscle cramp, such as extreme exertion of the muscles. Exercise-induced cramping like what you might experience during push-ups can result from an inadequate blood supply that limits the delivery of blood and oxygen to your cells -- this is caused by narrowed arteries and occurs only during or shortly after exercise. Nerve compression in the spine is a cause in some cases, but because push-ups don't put a great amount of stress on the spine, this isn't a likely scenario unless the cramps are occurring in the back. You may also suffer from the depletion of minerals such as potassium, magnesium and calcium, which can be caused by poor nutrition, certain medications or a combination of factors.
Treatment
When muscle cramps develop, stop performing push-ups or any other exercises. Slowly sip water to keep the body and muscles hydrated. Slow, gentle stretching of the muscles that are cramped may help, but be careful not to overexert the muscles and push too hard -- this can cause straining or pulling in the muscles.
Considerations
You can help prevent the occurrence of muscle cramps in two simple ways. The first is to make sure you are hydrated before physical activity -- drink water throughout the day and during exercise to avoid dehydration. You should also stretch muscles prior to working out to warm them up and get blood circulating through the tissue.
