by Shane Allen
Certified Weight Loss Specialist, Personal Trainer, Sports Nutritionist
A guy on Reddit today posted a Snapchat that his friend sent him of a severe muscle cramp in his calf. You first thought may be, “Wait… I thought Snapchats disappeared after you watch them!”
I have the same question; but I don’t have the answer. I do, however, have the answer to what the heck is happening here.
What causes muscle cramps?
Muscle cramps like the one in the video can be caused by many things, including blood flow issues, kidney disease, thyroid disease, multiple sclerosis, standing for a long time or lack of potassium or calcium. It can also be side effects of certain types of medicines.
Judging from the size of this guy’s calves, I’d argue that it may be from overuse or overtraining that particular muscle.
The most frustrating thing is, no one knows exactly why your muscles cramp or spasm.
Stopping a cramp
There are several things you can do when a muscle cramps. The first thing is to stop what it is you’re doing.
Stretch and massage the muscle. Foam roll it if you have access to a foam roller.
You can also take a hot bath with Epsom salts. If you’re not near a bath tub, grab a heating pad.
I’d also take some Tylenol of Advil with lots and lots of water. I’m just have certifications in weight loss, personal training and sports nutrition, so double check with a medical professional. Then drink more water.
About the Writer
Shane Allen joined Personal Trainer Food™ after 12 years in television news where he worked both on air and behind the scenes in news management. Shane is an EMMY, Edward R. Murrow, National Society of Professional Journalists and Texas Associated Press Broadcasters award-winner. Aside from being a fitness and healthy eating enthusiast, he is also a Certified Food Safety Manager.
Leave a Reply