Transcript muscle cramps

MUSCLE CRAMPS:
NO LINK BETWEEN
HYDRATION AND CRAMPS
Roberto Merchán Baeza
Virgilio Ramírez Romero
ERASMUS OLOMOUC 08/09
Exercise Physiology and Exercise testing
What is a muscle cramp?
Involuntary contraction that happens suddenly to one or some of more
muscles.
This is called “spam”
A forceful and sustained spam
CRAMP (Charley horse)
becomes
CAN RESULT
Intense
pain
Unable
use of
the
muscle
It can last few from a few seconds to a quarter or hour (sometimes even
longer)
CRAMPS are extremely common.
Which are the main symptoms of a
cramp?
1. Sudden and sharp muscle pain (involuntary contraction). Quite often in LEGS.
2. A hard lump of muscle tissue that you can feel or is visible beneath your skin
(visible or palpable hardening of the involved muscle).
Which are the causes of muscle
cramps?
In many cases the exact CAUSE of a muscle cramp is not identified.
Vigorous activity
Dehydration
Overuse muscle
(vigorous use)
It’s the most
common cause
Muscle fatigue
Excessive fluid
loss from
perspiration
During the activity
or many hours
later.
More likely in
warm weather sports
Loss of sodium
Holding position
long time
When a muscle is
contracted long
time
Isotonic contraction
Muscle strain
Cramps are also very common at REST especially in older adults.
This kind of muscle cramps often occur during the night (NOCTURNAL
CRAMPS) in calf muscles or toes.
CAUSES
¿?
The actual cause of night cramps is
unknown
Medications: Numerous medicines can cause
cramps (furosemide, donepezil…)
OTHER POSIBLE CAUSES
Vitamin deficiencies: Several vitamin deficiency
states may directly or indirectly lead to muscle
cramps (thiamine)
Poor circulation: It happens in legs (calf muscles)
in inadequate oxygen to the muscle tissue and can
cause severe pain in the muscle.
What we should do to prevent muscle
cramps?
 AVOID DEHYDRATION: Drink plenty of liquids every day. Fluids help your
muscles contract and relax and keep muscle cells hydrated and less irritable.
Drink fluids before any exercise activity. During the activity, replenish fluids at
regular intervals, and continue drinking water or other fluids (with minerals) after
you're finished.
 STRECHT THE MUSCLES: Stretch before
and after you use any muscle for an extended
period (even before bedtime if the individual
has night cramps)
South African study of ultra-distance
runners
•Competition: Two Oceans Ultra-marathon (56km). Cape Town
•Aim: No link between hydratation and cramps
•Subjects:
72 male runners
45 had previous
•Process:
27 had no previous
a) Weight: Before and after the race
b) Blood samples [Glucose, protein, sodium, potassium, calcium…]:
Before, inmediatly after and 60 min after
•Results:
a) 21 of the 45 (they had) suffered cramps
b) 22 of the 27 (the didn’t have) suffered cramps
• Keys:
a) When: latter half of the race or inmediatly latter finish
b) Muscles affected:
1. Hamstrings (48%)
2.- Quadriceps (38%)
c) No difference in the body weight
d) No difference in hydration status
e)
[Na+] and [Mg]
•Conclusion:
The researchers do not suppor the common hypothesis
and think that they have to search an alternative to
explain the cause.