Cramp In The Calf During Walking & Running

Muscle cramps may put a kink in your workout routine. When you try to walk or run, your calf muscle may involuntarily contract, causing a muscle cramp. Muscle cramps may be painful -- so uncomfortable, in fact, that you may have to stop exercising. By learning to soothe and prevent muscle cramps, you'll be able to enjoy a pain-free workout. Talk to your doctor before trying any home remedies to reduce muscle cramps.

Why They Occur

Muscle cramps are common and can happen to anyone, but they are especially common if you're physically active. If you're a runner, you frequently play sports or you spend a lot of your day walking around, you may get more muscle cramps than less-active people do. Although there is not one single cause of muscle cramps, they may occur due to muscle fatigue, dehydration or muscle overuse. Additionally, inadequate stretching before you exercise may cause cramps in the calves.

Prevention

Keeping your leg muscles hydrated and limber and giving them a chance to rest may help prevent cramps in the calves. Drink water before, during and after you exercise and get seven to eight hours of sleep every night.

Warm up for 10 minutes by walking briskly, then stretch your muscles. To stretch the calves, stand 1 foot away from a wall with your body facing the wall. Place both palms against the wall, keeping your elbows straight. Take a big step back with your right foot, then bend your left foot and hold the stretch. Repeat on the opposite leg.

Home Remedies

Sometimes, muscle cramps are unavoidable. When your calf muscle begins to cramp, stop exercising and massage the sore muscle. Drink water or a sports drink that contains electrolytes to rehydrate your body. Apply an ice pack to your calf muscle for 10 minutes, or until the area has turned red. When the calf is red, your blood cells have rushed to the muscle to begin repairing the area. When your muscle has relaxed, you may begin exercising again.

Warnings

In rare cases, muscle cramps may be unrelated to exercise. Instead, they may be the sign of a more serious medical condition, like cirrhosis of the liver, thyroid disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis -- or Lou Gehrig's disease, or stenosis -- spinal canal narrowing. If you experience any symptoms besides calf cramping during exercise, consult your doctor.