Cramp Prevention: Tips, Stretches & More

[Suraj M]

Before anybody gets a cramp they would know that they will be getting a cramp in the next few seconds, ( something like a slow contraction)
is there any way to stop it? Like putting pressure on the muscle? Stretching it? Preventing it from stretching?
And why?
Thanks

 

[Evo]

Before anybody gets a cramp they would know that they will be getting a cramp in the next few seconds, ( something like a slow contraction)
is there any way to stop it? Like putting pressure on the muscle? Stretching it? Preventing it from stretching?
And why?
Thanks

Please posts credible sources.

 

[Suraj M]

Please posts credible sources.

No Evo I don't have a source.
I mean source of what are your referring to? Whether you can stop a cramp? Well that's my question. :-/

 

[Bob10]

Stretch the muscle. It will stop the cramp immediately. If you flex the muscle or in other words give into the cramp it will get stronger. Calcium and/or potassium may help also. So if it's in your calf, lock your knee and pull your toes toward head. Don't point your toes. No reference. I'm a doctor thirty years.

 

[Suraj M]

The main reason I posted the question is to get a reason for why that works
You said " don't give into the cramp" what exactly does that mean? Why does just stretching the muscle prevent a cramp?

 

[jim mcnamara]

I'm no physician - but the cause of cramps is not one single thing. Some causes are:

electrolyte levels in the tissue,
motor neuron damage,
pathogens like Clostridium tetanii (Tetanospasmin is the causative toxin)

So it may not just be as simple as 'stopping' a cramp. All of the answers are correct, in some sense, but it seems like your question is not well-founded, as Evo pointed out to start with. Most folks take the term cramp to mean the kind of cramps that results from the first cause. So those are the answers you got.

My point is: the way you put a question together delimits the possible answers. Just try to answer Groucho Marx -
'Have you stopped beating your wife?'

 

[Bob10]

The main reason I posted the question is to get a reason for why that works
You said " don't give into the cramp" what exactly does that mean? Why does just stretching the muscle prevent a cramp?

It works because of the golgi tendon organ. It is a proprioceptive sensory receptor organ that is at the origins and insertion of skeletal muscle fibers into the tendons of skeletal muscle. Stimulates it, resets it. Sends a signal to the brain to let the brain know the tension and position sense of the muscle and joint. It's the system that let's you brain know how many fingers you have up if your eyes are closed. Joint position sense. What Michael Jordan has that you and I don't.

 

[Bob10]

It works because of the golgi tendon organ. It is a proprioceptive sensory receptor organ that is at the origins and insertion of skeletal muscle fibers into the tendons of skeletal muscle. Stimulates it, resets it. Sends a signal to the brain to let the brain know the tension and position sense of the muscle and joint. It's the system that let's you brain know how many fingers you have up if your eyes are closed. Joint position sense. What Michael Jordan has that you and I don't.

Don't give in means don't do the opposite of stretch. Stretch the muscle that's cramping. Easiest example is your calf muscle. Pull your toes back to stretch your calf. If you point your toes, the cramp will get stronger as the muscle contracts more.

 

[gjonesy]

I can fell cramps coming on and If I can I will immediately stretch the muscle. Some times it stops it, Some times it stops it temporarily and as soon as I stop stretching it comes right back. Its not that I have potassium or electrolyte imbalance. I am diabetic, but I'm not sure what's causing mine but its something I have dealt with for years. Stretching does work.

I'm no physician. BUT I have practical experience , I am a long term cramp sufferer.

 

[gjonesy]

Like putting pressure on the muscle?

Yeah that works too, I've had to press my hand against my desk and "hyper flex" my hands and fingers at times, some time my hands and abdomen will cramp for extended periods of time it helps to use surfaces to aid in stretching when this happens so yes pressure does work also.