Calf muscles (Gastrocnemius or Soleus)
What are leg cramps?
Leg cramps are painful contractions of the muscle that happen involuntarily (i.e. without the athlete intending then to happen). Leg cramps affect most people training hard, particularly running at some point and a common site for leg cramps is the calf muscles.
Although the exact cause of leg cramps has not yet been successfully determined there are thought to be a number of possible causes including:
· Dehydration (not taking on enough water, especially in hot conditions).
· Low potassium or sodium (salt) levels.
· Low carbohydrate levels.
· Very tight muscles.
Muscle Cramps
What Are Muscle Cramps?
A cramp is an involuntary and forcibly contracted muscle that does not relax. Cramps can affect any muscle under your voluntary control (skeletal muscle). Muscles that span two joints are most prone to cramping. Cramps can involve part or all of a muscle, or several muscles in a group. The most commonly affected muscle groups are:
Back of lower leg/calf (gastronomies).
Back of thigh (hamstrings).
Front of thigh (quadriceps).
Cramps in the feet, hands, arms, abdomen and along the rib cage are also very common.
Older people are more susceptible to muscle cramps due to normal muscle loss (atrophy) that begins in the mid-40s and accelerates with inactivity. As you age, your muscles cannot work as hard or as quickly as they used to. The body also loses some of its sense of thirst and its ability to sense and respond to changes in temperature.
Some people are pre-disposed to muscle cramps and get them regularly with any physical exertion. Those at greatest risk for cramps and other ailments related to excess heat include infants and young children, people over age 65, and those who are ill, overweight, overexert during work or exercise, or take drugs or certain medications. Muscle cramps are very common among endurance athletes (i.e., marathon runners and triathletes) and older people who perform strenuous physical activities.
Cramp is a sudden contraction, or spasm, of them useless. It most often occurs at night after turning or stretching during sleep. Cramp usually occurs in the calf muscles, which become hard and tense. It can affect people of all ages, but is particularly common in older people.
Cramp can be caused by stress, tiredness or poor posture. Dehydration, especially in hot weather or after exercise, can also cause cramp. It is thought that the dehydration causes a chemical imbalance in the muscle, making it suddenly contract
