hand cramps

Hand cramps are contractions of muscles that are involuntary. The involuntary contractions of muscles are tighter than you are able to contract them voluntarily. These cramps occur suddenly and can be quite painful. The cramping muscle bulges under your skin and can feel quite rigid or hard. Cramps are very often connected with spasms of the muscle. Your hands may cramp if you have held them awkwardly for long. They may also cramp if the muscles are tired. Sometimes holding a pen clenched for a long period can also cause a writer’s cramp. Heavy exercise can overwork your hand muscles and lead to cramps.
Here are a few remedies to relieve hand cramps:
  • Massage your hand gently and stretch them. The affected joint, in this case your hand, should be kept stretched till the cramp gets better.
  • A warm bath or hot shower could also help relieve cramps. Allow the water to gently flow over your hand. The temperature of water should be as much as you are able to bear as the heat will relax your muscles.
  • If the hand cramps occur often then they could be due to minerals such as potassium and calcium that are lacking in your body. Include foods such as yogurt, skim milk, bananas, and potatoes in your diet to take care of your calcium and potassium deficiencies. Your nutritionist or doctor will be the best person to give you advice on a diet plan that is balanced.
  • Rubbing an ice pack over your cramped hand until it becomes red would also help. As an alternative, you can try using a heating pad to relax the muscles.
  • Try using the little stress toys that are easily available in the market. A stress ball or hand exerciser can help alleviate cramps in the hands. They help relieve the tension in your hands and body. These hand exercises, when done regularly, can help reduce the occurrence of cramps in people who are engaged in strenuous tasks that regularly tend to strain the hands. 
  • Painkillers, gels and drugs could also be tried after consulting your health care provider.
  • A preventive approach to hand cramps is to wear supports and splints while exercising or doing other such activities. Musicians and typists who need to use their hands often should take short breaks after every 50 to 60 minutes or so to shake their hands and stretch them out a bit. This will help reduce cramps and any kind of injuries due to repetitive stress.
 
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