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Ask a Physio, Says West Auckland Physio's Newsletter

Tuesday 28 July 2015, 9:47AM

By Beckie Wright

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AUCKLAND

Last month’s newsletter which West Auckland Physio have published on their website, dealt with the problem of cramps. It is quite timely to print the reply to the question, “What causes cramps and how do I get rid of them?” as winter is one of the worst times of the year for this condition. West Auckland Physio is one of Waitakere’s premiere clinics with their team providing a wide range of physio services including manipulative therapy, rehab exercise therapy and acupuncture, always with their patients’ specific condition in mind and they are there to answer all the questions their clients put to them.

Reprinted below is the answer to the mystery of how we get cramps, given by Greg Lynch.

“A ‘cramp’ is defined as a painful involuntary muscle contraction that occurs suddenly and can be quite debilitating. Cramps most commonly occur in the leg muscles, particularly the calf muscle or the muscles in the feet. The onset can be quite sudden, but they usually resolve themselves in a few seconds. The muscle can be quite sore for several minutes or even a number of hours. The cause of cramps is often unclear, however there are some theories. Cramps can occur during or after exercise and may be caused by the continued repetitive muscle contraction during exercise – which is why stretching the affected muscle often offers relief. The stretch needs to be sustained for 20–30 seconds and symptoms should improve within this time.

“Exercise induced cramps may also be caused by a loss of ‘electrolytes’ (resulting in a chemical imbalance) which happens when we sweat a lot. Ensuring that you take plenty of fluid when exercising may help prevent cramps, if this is the cause. If you suffer from cramps during or after exercise, then a physio can assist you with an appropriate stretching programme, assessing and correcting any muscle imbalances and ensuring that your muscles are conditioned for the activity that you are wanting to participate in. Cramps may also be caused by various medications or disease; if this is the case then I would suggest you seek advice from your GP for management of cramps.”

The friendly and welcoming team at West Auckland Physio would love to hear from you, so for more information on their clinic times and services, please visit their website at www.westaucklandphysio.co.nz .