The Latin word contrahĕre , translatable as “to contract” , led to contractūra , which came to our language as contracture . This is the name given to the prolonged contraction , which occurs involuntarily , of one or several muscles .
Contractures differ from cramps in their duration and intensity : while contractures are very painful and can last for several weeks, cramps cause less pain and end more quickly. Additionally, cramps can be relieved immediately with massages or lengthening exercises.
These spasms and contractions are caused by the loss of mineral salts and fluids in the body or by poor oxygenation . These disorders, in turn, can be generated by sudden movement, intense efforts or low temperatures. When the contracture appears, the muscle swells or hardens.
Poor body posture, nervous tension and even a psychological problem can also cause a contracture. Treatment can be developed using antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory drugs .
To prevent muscle problems, it is recommended to stretch and warm up the muscles before carrying out physical activity and drink isotonic drinks during and after exercise . It is also suggested to increase the consumption of foods rich in potassium, such as tomatoes or bananas.
Generally, contractures do not require medical assistance . In any case, if the pain is very intense, you can go to a doctor to prescribe treatment or to identify the exact cause of the muscle contraction, which may be linked to irritation of a nerve.
In most cases, therefore, the treatment we follow to relieve a contracture is homemade, and is based on advice that is passed down through experience. One of the most common is to take an aromatic bath , ideal for relieving pain. To do this, you need a quarter kilo of Epsom salts and five drops of each of the following essential oils: marjoram, lavender and rosemary.
For the best possible results, it is recommended to mix the salts with the essential oils before pouring the mixture into the bathtub. Coarse salt is also ideal for preparing a therapeutic bath to treat contractures. In this case you can also add essential oils, including verbena. A variant of this bath can be done simply by adding two glasses of vinegar to hot water, and then soaking for a minimum of ten minutes, until you feel that the muscles have relaxed.
If we prefer an ointment, then we can prepare an infusion of rosemary or thyme , let it rest for a few minutes, strain it and finally mix it with red or green clay until we achieve a density comparable to that of a cream . It should be applied to the affected area while it is still warm and left for approximately twenty minutes to act.
Among the many recipes from Eastern countries, a recipe based on ginger roots and cabbage leaves stands out, which must be roasted for an hour, cut into slices and applied to the contracted part. If necessary, we can secure them with gauze. Just like the previous remedy , the recommended time is twenty minutes, although the point at which we must remove the vegetables is when they have cooled.
Physical exercise is also highly recommended to treat contractures, although it must be done with caution and technical knowledge to prevent the situation from worsening. Stretching is essential before and after any sports session or physical practice, to help the body transition to and from inactivity.