Your muscular and skeletal systems play an important role in your day-to-day functioning. Muscles and joints allow you to get out of bed in the morning, workout, perform household chores and work. Muscle joint pain is not uncommon do to aging, stress, overuse and injury. Another cause of pain is linked to potassium deficiency. If you suspect a potassium deficiency, consult your physician.
Muscle Joint Aches
Your skeletal and muscular systems are complex systems that are responsible for the movements of your body, including running, walking, lifting, exercising and performing daily tasks. Wear and tear, overuse, muscular imbalances and injury can all lead to muscle joint aches. The National Institutes of Health indicates that joint aches can affect one or multiple joints in your body. Joint aches can be the result of injury, bursitis, muscle pain, arthritis, the flu, gout and tendinitis. The National Institutes of Health indicates the muscle pain is a common ailment that can affect your ligaments, fascia, tendons and soft tissues. Muscle pain can be the result of exercise, joint pain, cramps, stress, electrolyte imbalance, muscle abscess, the flu, sprains, strains and lupus.
Potassium
Potassium is a mineral that is necessary in order for your body to maintain normal muscle and nerve functions. Potassium is also an electrolyte that helps maintain a strong skeletal system and smooth muscular contractions, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Potassium can be found in a number of food sources, including dairy products, fish, fruits, vegetables, meats and legumes. Other sources of potassium include bananas, oranges, cantaloupes, tomatoes, beans, potatoes and poultry. Potassium is also available in supplement form -- capsules, tablets, powders and liquids.
Potassium Deficiency
A potassium deficiency -- also known as hypokalemia -- can lead to health problems, including problems with your muscles and joints. The Nutritional Supplement Center indicates that low levels of potassium can contribute to muscle spasms. A condition known as restless leg syndrome can also occur as the result of low potassium levels. Restless leg syndrome is commonly associated with muscle spasms and twitches. This condition can wake up people at night with pain causing a restless night's sleep. Low levels of potassium can also leave you feeling tired and achy, including aches and pains in your joints and muscles.The Nutritional Supplement Center also indicates low potassium can cause bone loss, which overtime can lead to osteoporosis.
Potassium Intake
To help reduce muscle joint aches and pains, receive an adequate supply of potassium. Follow the Recommended Dietary Allowance, or RDA, for potassium intake. For adults, the University of Maryland Medical Center recommends 2,000 mg of potassium daily; this includes children over 10 years old, pregnant women and women who are nursing. Children between the ages of 6 and 9 should consume 1,600 mg daily. Children ages 2 to 5 years need 1,400 mg daily. Children should consume 1,000 mg at age 1. Infants ranging from 7 months to 12 months need 700 mg. Newborns to infants ages 6 months should consume 500 mg of potassium daily.
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