By Team eLifestyle Fitness and Lifestyle Expert Robb Armstrong
In our last Fit Tip we gave you three of our top superfoods to help with your quest in fine-tuning your nutrition for a healthy lifestyle.
This week we tell you how to defend against muscle cramping that can limit your fitness progress during training as well as post-exercise.
If exercise has been cramping your style as of late and you’re not sure how to find the root cause, follow these five no-fail tips to fast-tracking your muscle flexibility and recovery in no time!
It's a fact that athletes and fitness buffs are most prone to muscle cramping during pre-season training when their body conditioning is at a lower capacity.
What to Do
Tip #1 – If the cramping occurs during exercise, stop and hold the muscle in a gently stretched position until the cramp dissipates.
Tip #2 – If muscle cramping happens while resting post-workout, in the leg for example, put weight and walk on it.
Tip #3 – Light massage can sometimes help alleviate the pain.
Tip #4 – Warm-up and adequate stretching is a must before exercise, especially in the muscle groups prone to cramping.
Tip #5 – Maintain sufficient hydration during training using sport beverages instead of water as they can help prevent electrolyte imbalances such as low sodium levels.
Bonus Tip – If you experience frequent or severe muscle cramping not associated with exercise and does not respond to stretching or massage, consult your doctor to determine if it’s a sign of a more serious condition called Intermittent Claudication brought on by poor blood circulation to the legs.
Note: Check back every week for more helpful health and fitness tips from eLifestyle's Fit Tips by Robb!
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