A cramp is an involuntary and painful contraction of a muscle.
A cramp is a contraction of a muscle that occurs involuntarily and causes pain . The dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy ( RAE ) indicates that the term derives from the French word crampe , which in turn could come from the French word kramp .
For example: "Yesterday, while I was training, I got a cramp in my right thigh," "I'm going to ask my doctor what I can do to stop suffering from these terrible cramps," "If I stay in this position for much longer, I'm going to have a cramp."
What is a cramp
A cramp is an ailment caused by one or more muscles that contract suddenly and for a short period of time. The pain can vary in intensity and be accompanied by swelling or hardening of the area.
The cramp usually disappears when the muscles are stretched or rested. In any case, sometimes doctors may suggest taking an anti-inflammatory or a medication that acts as a muscle relaxant .
Cramps can occur for different reasons: low temperatures, sudden movement, exertion that extends over time , poor oxygenation of the muscles or a low level of mineral salts and fluids. Therefore, to minimize the possibility of cramps occurring, it is necessary to hydrate with isotonic drinks and perform warm-up exercises beforehand.
Pregnant women often suffer from cramps.
How to prevent them
Anyone can get a cramp. However, they are very common, for different reasons, among athletes and also among pregnant women. Therefore, to avoid suffering from this annoying and painful situation, it is recommended that you take into account a series of tips and measures:
- It is important that they consume products rich in potassium, as this prevents cramps. This would be the case, for example, of banana.
- It is vital to wear footwear that is suitable for the foot and comfortable. If it does not fit well or does not offer comfort, it can mean that the person does not walk properly and ends up suffering from cramps.
- It is also necessary to have a healthy, complete and balanced diet where minerals and vitamins take center stage through fruits and vegetables.
- You should not overindulge in foods with high fat content because they do not promote blood circulation.
- When performing exercises, it is essential that the person establishes progressive planning. That is, it increases in intensity and duration gradually and not all at once.
Differences between cramp and contracture
It is important to differentiate between cramp and contracture .
Contractures, which also involve the involuntary and painful contraction of the muscle , last longer than cramps, although with less intense pain. On the other hand, stretching exercises fail to reverse the situation.
A song by Luis Aguilé
In addition to everything indicated, we cannot ignore the existence of a song that has the term in question in its title. We are referring to "Uncle Calambres" , which was performed by the now deceased Luis Aguilé .
Not to mention that there is a singer who, in the same way, goes by the name Uncle Cramps . He is an artist from Madrid who has specialized in rock.