Question : I HAVE been suffering from muscle cramps, especially after playing football and exercising. What is the cause of the muscle cramps and how can I prevent them?

Answer : CRAMPS usually occur due to the sudden involuntary contraction of a muscle. Often, there is no obvious cause, but it may occur with over exertion or chilling of the muscles, for example, when doing strenuous physical activity. Common causes of muscle cramps are inadequate flow of blood to muscle, the body is over acidic, exhaustion, muscle injury, poor posture, over exertion of certain muscles and excessive loss of minerals (potassium, magnesium, sodium, calcium). It is uncommon for cramps to be caused by a serious underlying disorder. In most cases, the cramp goes away within a few minutes.

During muscle cramps, try to stretch and then relax the affected muscle. Always warm up and cool down by stretching before and after workouts to prevent cramps. A gentle massage is useful to extend and stretch the contracted muscles. It is also advisable to drink lots of fluids to rehydrate the body.

Increase the intake of minerals that are needed for muscle contraction and nerve conduction such as calcium and magnesium. Take a vitamin B complex, which contains water- soluble vitamins that help maintain the nervous system and muscle tone and possess soothing and relaxing effects.

The ginkgo herb may also help to relieve muscle cramps as it is used to stimulate blood circulation.