For those of you that are athletes out there, cramps can almost get to be a way of life. When you’re out running, the cramp that you get on your side is almost enough to cripple you.

When you’re out hiking more often than not you can get a cramp down in your calf — these hurt like the blazes. A cramp is a sudden, involuntary and painful muscle spasm. There’s 2 things that cause them:

  • Heavy exercise
  • loss of salt through excessive sweating such as in heat exhaustion

To relieve cramps in your calves and thighs, straighten out your leg so that your knee is not bent. If the cramp is in the FRONT of your muscle then bend your knee. Essentially what you are trying to do is make the muscle as long as it can possibly get. If you get the cramp back in your calf not only should you straighten your knee but you should also point your toes up.

In all cases, you should massage the affected area so that you can get the muscle to relax. Also, it’s a good idea to get some fluids into you — sports drinks are great or in a pinch water. The issue with water is that yes it helps to hydrate you, but it can just sometimes pass right through your body and not get absorbed by your tissues.