Exercise-Associated Muscle Cramps

By: Mujuthaba

At some stage in our lives we would have got a muscle cramp. If you are someone engaged in regular strenuous exercise, you will experience these cramps more often. These exercise related cramps are known as Exercise-Associated Muscle Cramps or EAMCs. These Exercise-Associated Muscle Cramps, commonly referred to as heat cramps, are painful spasms of skeletal muscles that are usually experienced during long duration, strenuous exercise, often in soaring temperatures that we observe in the Maldives.

Exercise-Associated Muscle Cramps are caused by multiple factors, which could be acting independent or dependant of each other. The main factors that induce Exercise-Associated Muscle Cramps are muscle fatigue, water loss and/or loss of electrolytes/salts (Sodium) from the body. Both dehydration and loss of Sodium (hyponatremia) from the body are associated, as they are both mainly secreted from the body as sweat. Replacing water without any salt (salt is the main source of Sodium) during strenuous long duration exercise has been known to be a predisposing factor for Exercise-Associated Muscle Cramps.

Exercise-Associated Muscle Cramps can be treated from salt-water balance, which can be achieved by intake of 1/8-1/4 teaspoon of table salt added to 300-500ml of fluids or sports drink and 1-2 salt tablets with 300-500 ml of fluid. In some cases Intravenous NS fluids had been effective in treating severe Exercise-Associated Muscle Cramps. It should be noted that Calcium salts, sodium bicarbonate, quinine, and dextrose are ineffective means in treating the condition. In association with the treatment described above, Exercise-Associated Muscle Cramps responds well to rest and long duration stretching of the affected muscle/muscle groups.

I have come across Exercise-Associated Muscle Cramps as a very common picture at sea, especially during a long swim training session. This is commonly caused by a gradual loss of water from the body into the sea. In this case drinking salt water to treat Exercise-Associated Muscle Cramps may not be as effective, as this could pave way for rapid dehydration. To prevent Exercise-Associated Muscle Cramps in the sea, it is always sensible to have water breaks at intervals, as Exercise-Associated Muscle Cramps in the water is and has been life-threatening. Ingesting sea water can also expose an individual to diseases from contaminated salt water in the area.

One should take note that Exercise-Associated Muscle Cramps is not solely the cause of dehydration, low Sodium or heat. As described in the start of the article muscle fatigue also play a role in Exercise-Associated Muscle Cramps. Muscle fatigue is the main factor in which we get Exercise-Associated Muscle Cramps in colder climates. There has been a lot of research done in relationship of Exercise-Associated Muscle Cramps and muscle fatigue, with a number of outcomes. This is still a subject of ongoing research.

In order to prevent Exercise-Associated Muscle Cramps it is extremely important to keep a fluid electrolyte (salt) balance, especially during strenuous exercise sessions and exercise durations that last more than an hour. Since the climate in which we train is very hot and humid, it is crucial for an individual to be rehydrating appropriately.

Biblography:

- Bruckner, P. & Khan, K. (2005) Clinical Sports Medicine (2^nd Ed.) McGraw-Hill, Sidney
- Armstrong, L.E., Casa, D.J. Millard-Stafford, M., Moran, D.S., Pyne, S.W. & Roberts, W.O. (2007) American College of Sports Medicine position stand. Exertional heat illness during training and competition. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 39(3), 556-572