Charley Horse is a colloquial term for a painful condition known as muscle cramps. This condition is often noticed when a sports person is struck on his thigh or calf muscle with the knee or foot of another athlete, hence the name Charley horse. Charley horse or muscle cramps is a painful condition that hinders the functioning of the inflected muscle temporarily. Though the name comes due to its sports affiliation, it is a common condition faced by a number of people, who may not necessarily be sports persons.
What is a Muscle Cramp: A muscle cramp can take place when one or more muscles of the body contract suddenly. This sudden contraction causes tremendous amounts of pain in the particular cramping area and leaves the muscle sore for a few moments. In severe cases it can leave the muscles sore for a couple of days. It is a harmless condition generally; however, if left untreated and aggravated further, it could lead to tearing of the affected muscles.
Causes of Muscle Cramps: Dehydration is the most common cause of muscle cramps. The body contains a substantial amount of water that ensures its smooth functioning. All the important parts of the body require water in order to remain healthy. The muscles too, require water in order to function efficiently. When the muscles are drained of this water content they contract quickly in order to resist further depletion of water content, and this results in a painful cramping sensation. This type of cramping is noticed in hot and humid climates and among athletes. Another reason for the occurrence of this condition is maintaining a constant posture that over uses a particular muscle. For example, the simple action of sleeping on one side during the night will give you a stiff neck in the morning. This is because the muscles of your neck were in a particular position for a long duration of time and have now gotten stiff due to the suppression of movement.
Age Related Muscle Cramping: With age the body loses a lot of its elasticity and tenacity. The more you stretch yourself after a particular age the more you feel tired and lifeless. This is because the body starts losing its mineral content after cross the age of 50. Calcium, magnesium and potassium are very important minerals when it comes to maintaining muscle strength and tenacity. A reduction in these minerals could also lead to muscle cramps.
Home Remedies: Now that we have understood the various causes of muscle cramps, here are a few remedies that will help you remedy this condition effectively: