Cramps, joys, and pains of those who play sports
1 min
Did you know...
Those who practice sports know it well: cramps are an everyday occurrence.
In fact, who has never felt severe pain at least once? If your body is warning you, listen to it - you still have time to decide to stop. This alarm signal is a valuable means through which the body unpleasantly indicates danger or initial damage, precisely to prevent further damage from occurring.
Cramps are an involuntary, persistent contraction of a muscle that does not relax, and those who practice endurance sports know that duration and prolonged exertion can be one of the causes of frequent cramps.
Do you know how to recognize a cramp?
There are different types of pain, depending on the anatomical origin of the stimulus. When we talk about a muscle cramp, we are referring to somatic pain, conveyed by fibers that carry sensations from the head, trunk, and extremities. Abdominal cramps, on the other hand, cause visceral pain because it is carried by fibers that run through nerves originating in the thoracic region. Finally, there is referred pain, which is felt at a distance from the point where the stimulus originates.
What to do in case of cramps?
Cramps usually go away on their own if you follow a few simple measures:
How can cramps be prevented?
Avoiding cramps is difficult, but there are some measures that can help. First of all, maintain consistent training tailored to your physical fitness at that particular time. It is also essential to do stretching exercises before and after sports activities to lengthen the muscles. Remember to always consume the right amount of fluids and mineral salts (sodium, magnesium, potassium). In addition, for those who practice endurance sports, using energy gels during and after training can be very helpful because they contain maltodextrins, which may help prevent cramps.
Those who practice sports know it well: cramps are an everyday occurrence.
In fact, who has never felt severe pain at least once? If your body is warning you, listen to it - you still have time to decide to stop. This alarm signal is a valuable means through which the body unpleasantly indicates danger or initial damage, precisely to prevent further damage from occurring.
Cramps are an involuntary, persistent contraction of a muscle that does not relax, and those who practice endurance sports know that duration and prolonged exertion can be one of the causes of frequent cramps.
Do you know how to recognize a cramp?
There are different types of pain, depending on the anatomical origin of the stimulus. When we talk about a muscle cramp, we are referring to somatic pain, conveyed by fibers that carry sensations from the head, trunk, and extremities. Abdominal cramps, on the other hand, cause visceral pain because it is carried by fibers that run through nerves originating in the thoracic region. Finally, there is referred pain, which is felt at a distance from the point where the stimulus originates.
What to do in case of cramps?
Cramps usually go away on their own if you follow a few simple measures:
- stop any activity that triggered the cramp
- gently stretch and massage the cramped muscle, keeping it in a stretched position until the cramp stops
- apply heat to tense, contracted muscles, or ice to painful, relaxed muscles
How can cramps be prevented?
Avoiding cramps is difficult, but there are some measures that can help. First of all, maintain consistent training tailored to your physical fitness at that particular time. It is also essential to do stretching exercises before and after sports activities to lengthen the muscles. Remember to always consume the right amount of fluids and mineral salts (sodium, magnesium, potassium). In addition, for those who practice endurance sports, using energy gels during and after training can be very helpful because they contain maltodextrins, which may help prevent cramps.