Fix my Pain

Ouch, what is that pain in the back of my leg? Why does it hurt to straightened out my knee? Has this ever happened to you? Ladies and gentlemen, you may be suffering from a leg cramp. So what are leg cramps? Today we will look at the muscles of your thigh.

Your hamstrings are the muscle group located on the rear of each upper thigh. It’s common to experience tight, strained or cramped hamstrings, which can occur for several reasons. Hamstring cramps are common among people who are unconditioned and those who participate in seasonal intense sports, reports the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. During strenuous bouts of exercise, your hamstring muscles can fatigue and cramp due to the muscles not getting enough oxygen. When they lack oxygen, your hamstring muscles will contract and spasm involuntarily. Thorough stretching, and then starting out slowly and gradually working up to a more intense level of exercise, can help avoid these types of cramps (Lori Newell, Causes of Hamstring Cramps.)

Exercising in hot, humid conditions can lead to hamstring cramps. When your body loses too much fluid through excessive sweating, you can also develop an electrolyte imbalance. Substances such as calcium, potassium and others are necessary to help your muscles contract properly. If your body is low in any of these substances, either through a poor diet or dehydration, your muscles can involuntarily contract and spasm. Drinking enough water and eating nutritious and well balanced meals before and after exercise can help resolve these kinds of cramps (Lori Newell, Causes of Hamstring Cramps.)

People who are sedentary can find their hamstring muscles feel tight or hard. Hamstring cramps due to tight muscles can happen when you are active, sitting or lying down. A daily program of general stretching or a program geared to your sport can often help you prevent hamstring cramps (Lori Newell, Causes of Hamstring Cramps.)

Once you have survived hamstring cramps, make sure you take steps to prevent them from occurring again by making sure you are hydrated. In addition, make sure that you warm up thoroughly before your exercise bout. Make sure that you progress into your workout instead of diving in hastily. After you finish your exercise bout make sure to cool down and perform static stretching. If you are a sedentary person, at least make an effort to stretch your body throughout the day. A few stretches will go a long way in releasing tension in your muscles and assist with delaying the muscle shortening that occurs from sitting around being inactive. If you have a sedentary job, get up and move around on your break and lunch. You can use this time to stretch your thighs and other body parts.