All of us have suffered the terrible pains of muscle cramps. It happens when our muscles have contracted in a way that’s painful and involuntary. Among our body parts which are often affected are the calf, back of thigh, front of thigh, feet, hands, arms, and the abs.

Muscle cramps can be caused by a variety of reasons, from poor exercise habits to over-exertion. You have to know how you can prevent this so that you can always be at your best.

Before an intense workout, always start with a warm-up exercise. Stretching is a good way to make your muscles ready. For best results, allow your body to cool down after a strenuous exercise.

Keep yourself dehydrated. Engaging in sports uses up a lot of water in your body, as seen in your perspiration. This is especially important if you are exercising under very hot temperature as it can lead to heat stroke.

These pesky cramps can attack at night, just when you’re ready to take your deserved rest. Fortunately, stretching before you sleep can also be beneficial to prevent these attacks.

If you’re pregnant, you can prevent muscle cramps by taking calcium and magnesium supplements. But before you do, ask your doctor if the supplements will not harm your vulnerable condition. Another vitamin which is known to reduce instances of cramps is Vitamin E.

Help your body to have good circulation, especially in the legs. If you suffer regular muscle cramps, it is best that you consult your doctor to see if you need a more serious medical treatment.

When you find yourself suffering from cramps, stop doing your activity which is causing the muscle pain. A quick relief would be to gently massage the aching muscle or to hold the painful joint in a stretched position until the pain subsides.