| Final Fitness Muscle Cramp | |||
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 Muscle cramps range in intensity from a slight twitch or tic to severe pain. A cramped muscle can feel rock-hard and last a few seconds to several minutes or longer. It is not uncommon for cramps to ease up and then return several times before they go away entirely.What Causes Muscle Cramps The exact cause of muscle cramps is still unknown, but the theories most commonly cited include: Dehydration Poor conditioning Muscle fatigue Doing a new activity Other factors that have been associated with muscle cramps include exercising in extreme heat. The belief is that muscle cramps are more common during exercise in the heat because sweat contains fluids as well as electrolyte (salt, potassium, magnesium and calcium). When these nutrients fall to certain levels, the incidence of muscle spasms increases. Because athletes are more likely to get cramps in the preseason, near the end of (or the night after) intense or prolonged exercise, some feel that a lack of conditioning results in cramps. Final Fitness top 4 ways to stop cramp 1. Do not have alcohol the night before your being active, the alcohol will leave your body dehydrated and form perfect conditions for crap. 2. Cramp normally comes when your muscle is repeatedly contracted and relaxed, you will get a warning twinge which means the cramp is on its way. Try to drink isotonic drinks which contain small amounts of salt, this will refuel your muscles and help the cramp go. These sports drinks are in most shops. 3. When you get cramp its important to stretch it out, your muscle is tired and starts to spasm, some times going rock hard for seconds or minutes. After you have stretched your cramp out it is important to take it easy and let you muscle relax for a while or it could come straight back. 4. After you have finished your activity and played through your cramp after stretching it and resting a while you should grab a hand full of salted peanuts this will boost your sodium depletion which you will have got from the cramp. But your not safe yet, that night try and stretch before you go to bed as cramps often come back while you are sleeping, and night cramps can be more intense than day cramps. by David White
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Issue 1. Cover - Photographer - Alex Winn