{"id":1447,"date":"2015-08-18T07:00:51","date_gmt":"2015-08-18T11:00:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.chaneyhealth.com\/healthtips\/?p=1447"},"modified":"2015-08-17T16:30:56","modified_gmt":"2015-08-17T20:30:56","slug":"emergency-treatment-for-calf-cramps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.chaneyhealth.com\/healthtips\/emergency-treatment-for-calf-cramps\/","title":{"rendered":"Emergency Treatment for Calf Cramps"},"content":{"rendered":"

To Stretch or Not To Stretch<\/strong><\/p>\n

Author: Julie Donnelly, LMT \u2013 The Pain Relief Expert<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Editor: Dr. Steve Chaney<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"calf<\/a>A calf cramp is caused by several different conditions, such as dehydration and mineral deficiency.\u00a0 These each need to be addressed to prevent future calf cramps, but when your calf spasms wake you with a jolt at night\u00a0or send you crashing to the ground in agony, you need a solution NOW!<\/p>\n

And, stretching is definitely NOT the first thing to do.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Emergency Treatment for Calf Cramps<\/h2>\n

A muscle always contracts 100% before releasing.\u00a0 Once started, a calf cramp will not partially contract and then reverse because you stretch, as it may cause the muscle fibers to tear, which will cause pain to be felt for days afterward.<\/p>\n

As a result, it is most beneficial to help your muscle complete the painful contraction before you try to stretch it.\u00a0 It sounds counter-intuitive, but it cuts the time of the calf cramp down, and enables you to start\u00a0flushing out the toxins that formed during the sudden spasm.<\/p>\n

Your muscle will be all knotted up, screaming in pain, so it\u2019s good to practice this self-treatment when you are not<\/em> having a calf cramp.<\/p>\n

Grab your calf muscles as shown in this picture.\u00a0 Hold it tightly, and then as hard as you can, push your two hands together.<\/p>\n

The intention is to help the muscle complete the contraction as quickly as possible.\u00a0 During an actual calf cramp it won\u2019t be as \u201cneat\u201d as the picture shows, but anything you can do to shorten the muscle fibers will hasten the completion of the spasm.<\/p>\n

Follow These Steps To Release Your Calf Cramps<\/h3>\n