Muscle cramps are characterised by a sudden movement in a muscle, causing painful, involuntary contractions to occur. They can last from a few seconds up to a few minutes. If you’ve ever suffered from cramps, you’ve probably heard different things about what causes them and what to do if you have a cramp. Let’s take a look at 4 of the biggest myths about muscle cramps and why these common beliefs don’t quite stack up.
Myth 1: Cramps can be cured
Muscle cramps, while unpleasant, are quite common. Anyone can get them, but they are typically associated with pregnancy, physical exercise or over-exertion (causing muscle fatigue), or getting older. But why we get them isn’t always clear. There’s no scientific proof to support what causes cramps. And that means they can’t actually be cured – sufferers can only treat the symptoms. That said, there are 4 major causes generally assumed to cause cramps – magnesium deficiency, poor peripheral circulation, spasms and lactic acid build up.
Myth 2: You can fix cramps with magnesium
With magnesium deficiency a commonly understood cause of cramps, it makes sense that taking magnesium should help relieve symptoms for cramp sufferers. However, as magnesium deficiency is only one of four generally assumed causes of cramps, there is a lower chance of cramp relief when taking magnesium supplements – meaning it’s not a magic cure.
Myth 3: Drink more water to treat cramps
Many people believe drinking more water can help treat cramps, especially when exercising. When you exercise, you sweat and lose fluid, so drinking water is important. But there’s no scientific evidence to support this. Studies in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise (2010) and the British Journal of Sports Medicine (2012) determined that even a 3-5% decrease in body weight from sweating after intense exercise wasn’t linked to an increased risk of cramps.
Myth 4: Eat more bananas/pickle juice/salt to treat cramps
This myth comes in a few different variations. You might have heard you should eat more bananas. Or maybe you’ve been told to drink pickle juice. Or perhaps you’ve been told to lick some salt. Whatever you’ve heard, there’s actually no scientific evidence to support that eating or drinking any particular kind of food can provide immediate relief to muscle cramps.
So how do you effectively treat cramps?
While there is no cure for muscle cramps, it is possible to get relief. Magnesium supplements are commonly recommended, however they’re only part of the solution. Crampeze is a multi-combination treatment that is more effective than taking magnesium alone by tackling more than one assumed cause of cramp. It contains:
● Cramp Bark, an antispasmodic traditionally used in western herbal medicine to help relieve muscle cramps, mild muscle spasms and twitches.
● Magnesium to provide muscular relaxation. Magnesium assists with energy production and is necessary for proper muscle and nerve function.
● Ginkgo biloba to support blood circulation to the peripheral areas of the body (legs, hands and feet).
Crampeze is designed for chronic cramp sufferers and is ideal for long-term use.
To learn more about cramp relief, visit www.crampeze.com.au
Image: Shutterstock
This is a sponsored article produced in partnership with Crampeze.
