How many times has this happened to you: You’re relaxing at home, watching TV on the couch, when all of a sudden, you feel your leg muscles start to tighten. Or, one minute you’re fast asleep, only to be woken up by an intense charley horse.
Unfortunately, muscle cramps are common, but because they’re not entirely understood, you may have read or heard some pretty peculiar recommendations to treat them, like putting soap in your bed. With all of the folk remedies and misinformation out there, it can be difficult to decipher what’s real, what works and what doesn’t. Here, we will fact check five myths about muscle cramps and offer solutions to not only relieve, but also prevent them.
Myth #1: Only inactive, older adults experience muscle cramps.
Fact: There is still a lot of uncertainty about what causes leg cramps and what causes foot cramps. Whether young or old, active or inactive, anyone can experience muscle cramps at anytime, and most people do at some point in their lives (95 percent according to one estimate). Adults over 65 are more likely to experience muscle cramps, but also infants, people who overexert during exercise, those who are ill and even endurance athletes.
Myth #2: Muscle cramps last just a few minutes.
Fact: Typically, this is true, but some muscle cramps and spasms can last up to 10 minutes, and the resulting tenderness can last up to 24 hours, significantly affecting your sleep, daily activities and overall quality of life. As soon as you feel a muscle cramp or spasm coming on, apply Theraworx Relief to quickly get relief. You can also try stretching and massaging the area until the pain subsides.
Myth #3: Medication is often prescribed to treat muscle cramps.
Fact: According to American Family Physician, “no medication can be recommended for routine treatment of leg cramps.” Quinine was shown to have some effectiveness, but is no longer recommended because of the potentially serious and even deadly side effects. Instead, try safe methods for relieving muscle cramps, like adding more magnesium to your diet and using non-drug Theraworx Relief.
Myth #4: Bananas are the best food to help manage muscle cramps.
Fact: To fight back against muscle cramps and spasms, you want to choose foods that are high in potassium. One medium-sized banana typically contains 422 mg of the essential nutrient—that’s only 9 percent of your daily recommended intake. Better sources of potassium include sweet potatoes (12 percent), watermelon (14 percent) and beans (15 percent for a cup of kidney beans and 17 percent for a cup of black beans).
Myth #5: It’s impossible to prevent muscle cramps.
Fact: By maintaining a healthy lifestyle and diet, you can reduce your risk of muscle cramps and spasms. Drink plenty of water, stretch regularly and avoid foods that can worsen cramps, such as sugar and alcohol. Theraworx Relief, when used daily, can also stop muscle cramps before they happen.
Many users have found simple ways to make Theraworx Relief a part of their routines, like keeping a bottle on their nightstand, in their gym bag or at work. There’s no limit to how often you can use the safe and gentle topical solution, which is available online and in select stores across the U.S. Get your bottle today!