Avoiding Calf Cramps

Anyone out there that runs for fitness is well aware of the dreaded calf cramps. Not only can this hinder your workout, but it can also have a direct impact on your health. Understanding why the cramps happened in the first place can help us avoid them in future workouts so we can continue to build muscle and be fit.

There are many contributing factors for calf cramps such as extra muscle strain, dehydration, loss of salts and decreased blood flow. While there is no definitive answer to what causes cramps these are definitely considered to be contributing factors. In order to prevent this from happening during our workout there are some certain steps that are recommended before we begin.

The first thing to do before working out is to do a proper warm-up. This is pretty obvious. A lot of us who workout often either skip the warm-up all together or end up doing it improperly. A simple brisk walk up some stairs won’t do it. A proper warm-up is one that stretches the muscles and gets the blood flowing. This will help prevent calf cramps but it will also help us to avoid other injuries as well since we won’t be working out cold muscles. With the all talk about warm-ups, it’s equally important not to forget the cool-down period after the workout.

Train hard, run easy is one of the sayings a lot of runners like to use. When we train, we not only practice the necessary skills but everything else as well. This will help us to endure the event we are training for. By training easy and running hard you will be in for some serious cramps.

Most of us also know that we need water to survive. This is especially true for athletes. Sweating is the body’s way of cooling down. When we begin to lose moisture from sweating, it’s extremely important that it is replaced as soon as possible. A small known fact is that we lose body moisture when we breathe. This shows us just how much our bodies really lose when we sweat. Our bodies know when the water needs to be replaced and they aren’t shy about telling us. If you start to feel dizzy or have a rapid heart beat, this is a sign of dehydration. Another sign is that the mouth and lips will start to feel dry.

We also lose nutrients when we sweat, not just water. This has led many researches to state that another reason behind cramps is that athletes lose potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and sodium. The answer to this is simply to eat sensibly. Your body will thank you during your workouts and competition.

A lot of us out there are just worried about looking cool when we work out. Remember, there’s nothing wrong with looking cool but the main thing is to take care of our bodies. Be practical and don’t risk injuring yourself for the sake of looking cool. Sports aren’t around to make us look cool. If they were, everyone would do it. Sports aren’t easy. This leads us to another key: dress properly for the sport you are competing in. Yeah, it might look cool too but it’s also designed that way to serve a purpose to decrease risks of injury and other health hazards that might occur.

While the true cause for calf cramps is unknown, there are several theories for the reasons behind it. Understanding these reasons and using preventative measures will help us avoid agonizing cramps as well as other health issues that could otherwise pop up to hinder our bodies.

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