Part 10: Relieves Cramped Muscles
10 ways Massage can benefit You.
This series is designed to encourage you to 'ReThink Massage' and open up your understanding to the benefits outside of just relaxation.
#10 Relieves Cramped Muscles
We have all had the pleasure of experiencing a surprise muscle cramp. You may have been drifting off to sleep or be engaged in vigorous exercise and suddenly without warning, your foot or calf spasms.
These involuntary cramps can happen in your neck, back, hands, arms, thighs, abdomen and rib cage muscles, but most commonly in your feet or calves.
What causes muscle cramps?
There are a number of possible causes that can trigger these painful spasms.
Electrolyte imbalance.
If you have been exercising intensely and become overheated, you may have lost a lot of fluid through perspiration. Charge carrying electrolytes such as potassium, sodium, calcium & magnesium enter the muscles initiating either a state of relaxation or contraction. It's when your body has lost a lot of these electrolytes that the muscle remains in a contracted state.
Dehydration
Closely linked to the above point but not necessarily due to exercise, lack of adequate hydration can lead to cramps.
Inadequate blood supply
Your muscles are not receiving enough blood often enough to deliver the oxygen and electrolytes to your muscles.
Nerve Compression
Diseases affecting the nervous system & disorders associated with ageing.
Pregnancy
Common especially during the later stages. Both in the abdomen and legs.
How does massage help?
Massage can relieve the symptoms but also gets to the cause of the problem by addressing trigger points and relaxing tense muscles. Massage encourages blood circulation which helps the body to distribute things like potassium and magnesium to the muscles that are deficient, helping them to relax, thus relieving the cramp.
Massage techniques that are most effective
Sports massage
Trigger point massage
Hot stone massage
Well, that is all for this series. I hope that this information has helped you to understand the wide range of issues that massage can benefit and how so many aliments that we suffer from are all closely linked. I would encourage you to find time to exercise, sleep, eat the freshest (Organic) food possible and keep your water intake up. These things coupled with regular massage will do wonders for your mood, well-being, emotional stability, focus and concentration, pain management and overall health.
I hope to see you soon!
Evelyn
*Disclaimer: All products, statements and services are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.
#massage #musclecramps #electrolytedeficiency #relaxation #potassium #magnesium #calcium #pregnancy
