A charley horse is one of the most common types of muscle spasms that mostly occur in the legs, but can occur in any muscle on the body. Exercise and hot weather are the most common causes of charley horse leg cramps. Charley horse often occurs in the middle of the night when the individual is sleeping. In most cases, this type of muscle spasm results from lack of potassium and dehydration.
To prevent charley horse leg cramps, an individual must stretch first before exercising. In addition, modification of the workout routine is recommended to prevent the workout from being strenuous. Drinking plenty of fluid when exercising, especially beverages rich in potassium is recommended to prevent charley horse leg cramps.
4 Home Remedies for Charlie Horse Leg Cramps
There are also plenty of home remedies for Charlie horse leg cramps such as:
1. Walk it Out
If charlie horse leg cramps occur in the middle of the night when you are sleeping, get out of bed and walk around until the pain goes away. This can be annoying, but this is the easiest approach in getting rid of pain in the leg muscles.
2. Water and Yellow Mustard
According to experts, drinking lots of water and a teaspoon of yellow prepared mustard can help get rid muscle spasms in the legs.
3. Vinegar
Taking 1-2 tablespoons of vinegar daily can help you get rid of charley horse leg cramps. People suffering from muscle spasms in the legs can experience relief 20 minutes after taking vinegar. Natural vinegar is rich in vitamins and minerals that the body need. Besides, natural vinegar is a cheaper source of vitamins and minerals compared to buying over the counter drugs.
4. Lemon, Grapefruit, and Orange Extract Mixture
Cut one small grapefruit, 2 small oranges, and three small lemons, and them place them in a blender. After the ingredients are crushed, add a teaspoon of tartar and then blend again. Drink the smoothie to get relief from muscle stiffness caused by charley horse leg cramps. Experts recommend taking two tablespoons of the mixture along with 2 tablespoons of clean water daily to prevent leg cramps from recurring. Ideally, one dose must be taken in the morning, and another should be taken before going into bed.
Charley Horse Leg Cramps Treatment
When charley horse leg cramps happen, there are several things that you can do to ease the muscle stiffness and pain at the back of your thigh. This may include stretching, massage, icing, hot water treatment, etc.
Another way to get rid of charley horse is to put your weight on the painful muscle by slightly bending you knee, or lie, or sit with your leg stretched out straight, and then pull the top of your toe towards your head. For muscle cramps that occurred at the front of the thigh, steady yourself by holding onto a chair and then pull your foot towards your buttock.
To prevent charley horse leg cramps from recurring, you need to eat more foods that are high in magnesium, calcium, and Vitamins. You also need to stay well rehydrated, and stretch properly before exercising.
