“How can I treat Charley horses?”
I keep getting Charley horses in my legs after long exercises, and I never know what to do about them. Is there any way I can treat them?
2 Answers
There are a number of potential causes and solutions to your issue. First, make sure you are drinking enough water to combat dehydration. If you feel thirsty during or after your workouts, you are not drinking enough water.
You may also have an imbalance in the electrolytes (salts) in your blood— do you take any medicines (diuretics or water pills, for example)? You may need to add some Gatorade or Powerade to your drinking routine during your workouts. Bananas also are high in potassium and may help.
Make sure you stretch and warm up prior to working out. Yes, it takes extra time but may prevent the problems you are having.
Finally, if none of these interventions works, you may need to see a sports medicine specialist to be evaluated for a condition called exercise induced compartment syndrome. This is a condition where increased blood flow to the muscles in the lower legs causes swelling and increased pressure in the muscle compartments (surrounded by tough connective tissue), causing microinjury to the muscle tissue and pain.
You may also have an imbalance in the electrolytes (salts) in your blood— do you take any medicines (diuretics or water pills, for example)? You may need to add some Gatorade or Powerade to your drinking routine during your workouts. Bananas also are high in potassium and may help.
Make sure you stretch and warm up prior to working out. Yes, it takes extra time but may prevent the problems you are having.
Finally, if none of these interventions works, you may need to see a sports medicine specialist to be evaluated for a condition called exercise induced compartment syndrome. This is a condition where increased blood flow to the muscles in the lower legs causes swelling and increased pressure in the muscle compartments (surrounded by tough connective tissue), causing microinjury to the muscle tissue and pain.
Your electrolytes are getting low, leading to these cramps. Before exercise, drink fluids with electrolytes such as gatorade or I like "liquid IV." Look it up on Amazon.
Hope it helps!!
Dr. Bose
Hope it helps!!
Dr. Bose
