How to relieve cramps (in the leg, stomach or calf)

To relieve any type of cramp it is very important to stretch the affected muscle and, after that, it is recommended to give the muscle a good massage to reduce inflammation and bring relief from discomfort.

A cramp is a muscle spasm, that is, an involuntary contraction of one or more muscles, which can happen after intense exercise, at night or at any time, in case of dehydration or lack of magnesium, for example. See the main causes for the appearance of cramps.

Some strategies to eliminate cramps are:

1. Leg cramp

In the case of leg cramp, what you should do to relieve the pain is:

• Cramp in front of thigh: stand and bend the affected leg backwards, as shown in the image, holding the foot and maintaining this position for 1 minute.
• Cramp behind the thigh: Sit on the floor with your legs straight and bend your body forward, trying to touch your toes with your fingers and stay in this position for 1 minute.

2. Foot cramp

For foot cramp

When the toes are facing down, you can place a cloth on the floor and place your feet on top of the cloth and then pull the top of the cloth upwards and maintain this position for 1 minute. Another option is to sit with your leg straight and hold the toes with your hands, pulling your fingers in the opposite direction of the cramp, as shown in the image.

3. Calf cramp

For calf cramps

The ‘leg’ cramp may not affect the muscles of the feet, and in this case, what you can do is stand about 1 meter from a wall and keep your feet flat on the floor, and lean your body towards it. forward, which causes a stretch in the calf.

Sitting on the floor with your leg straight and asking someone else to push the toe of your foot toward your body is another option. You must remain in any of these positions for about 1 minute.

4. Belly cramp

For cramps in the abdomen

A good way to relieve stomach cramps is:

• Cramps in the abdominals: Lie on your stomach, place your hands at your sides and then stretch your arms, lifting your torso, as shown in the image. Stay in this position for 1 minute.
• Cramp on the side of the belly: Stand up, stretch your arms above your head, clasping your hands, and then bend your torso to the opposite side of the cramp, maintaining this position for about 1 minute.

5. Cramp in the hand or fingers

For cramps in the fingers

Finger cramps happen when the fingers involuntarily contract towards the palm of the hand. In this case, what is recommended is to place your hand open on a table, hold the cramped finger and lift it off the table.

Another option is to hold all fingers with the hand opposite the cramp, as shown in the image. Stay in this position for 1 minute.

Foods to combat cramps

Diet also helps treat and avoid cramps, which is why you should invest in foods rich in magnesium and vitamin B, such as Brazil nuts. Furthermore, you also need to drink more water because dehydration is

When cramps appear more than once a day or take more than 10 minutes to pass, it is recommended to consult your general practitioner to begin appropriate treatment, which may include potassium or magnesium supplements, for example. Cramps are more common during pregnancy, but the obstetrician should be informed about this fact, as it may be necessary to take a magnesium dietary supplement for a few days, for example.