Beat that sore muscle

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Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night because of a sudden, searing pain in your foot? But a few minutes after you wake up the pain goes away and you don't know if you should be worried or not. What you had was a muscle cramp.

What are muscle cramps?

Cramps are caused be sudden contractions of certain muscles and can leave you momentarily immobilised. According to Chetan Dubey, a physiotherapist, they can occur at any time. "In sensitive parts of the body, they can cause unbearable pain. For example, stomach cramps could render you immovable for quite a while," he explains.

You will generally experience cramps in muscles that are used frequently. Therefore, calf muscles, arms and stomach are more prone to them.

What are the causes?

Muscle cramps are usually due to lack of oxygen in parts of your body. When the body experiences an oxygen shortage, it utilises energy through reactions devoid of oxygen. "This anaerobic reaction results in the formation of lactic acid in the muscles. This makes them contract, leading to a cramp," Dubey explains.

Your muscles could also contract suddenly because of psychosomatic reasons such as problems with the central nervous system.

Getting rid of them

The immediate solution is to massage the affected area. "This increases the flow of oxygen to that area cutting down on the amount of lactic acid. As a result, the spasm of the muscle is reduced," says Dubey. You can also ease the cramps by stretching the affected muscle.

Prevent them

The first step is to stop pushing yourself. Stop when your body says so. This may be tough for some people such as athletes, who don't have an option when preparing for an event. In that case, consume adequate amount of glucose before hectic activities. This maintains the energy levels of your body thus reducing the risk of an anaerobic reaction.

According to Dubey, muscle cramps can be caused by a severe deficiency of Vitamin D. "It is essential to maintain the Vitamin D levels in your body. The best source of Vitamin D is natural morning sunlight," he says.

Remember these tips and prevent cramps that could hamper your everyday activities.