Joanna C
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wtf
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BJ
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Potassium is more for aching legs rather than the jolting, sharp, muscle spasm that is a charlie horse. Rubbing it doesn't help usually or it prolongs the spasm. I've found that the only real way for mine to stop is to straighten my leg and stand up, walk around.
Make sure you are well hydrated if you're working out and that you do the proper stretching afterward to prevent any muscle strain that sometimes leads to these.
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Felicity
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Start taking a low dose Vitamin E daily. That usually will nip it.
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m&fn princess
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yeah bananas relax your muscles. i dont kno about gatorade.
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kina_mileli
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yes eating bananas will help. When I had charlie horses i would eat bananas and they would go away.
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Mizz Peanutbutauh
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i havent heard of any other tricks , but i'm sure that theres more, i dont do the gatorade thing but i do the banana, and it works for me, i havent had one , well i can remember, i hope that helped...
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cheryl r
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I once read somewhere that your missing something in your diet and that is why you get charlie horses. I dont remember what though.
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Tsunami
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well there is something that is wrong. that is why you get them. i would head to doctor are you taking any meds there are some that do this to you. if you canf ind out what is wrong they can help stop it. take care.
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Brenda P
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charlie horse is pain caused by cramped muscles. Anyone who demands too much from his muscles or who makes them perform unaccustomed tasks is sure to feel the painful consequences later on. The time lag varies from a few hours to a day or two. Overworked muscles are sore, sensitive to the touch, and exhausted. The affected muscle groups are prone to cramps during this period. The pains usually reach their peak from one to three days after the muscles have been exercised, and the discomfort may persist for as long as a week before it gradually disappears. Although "charlie horse" heals completely and isn't at all dangerous, aching muscles are very unpleasant and can significantly interfere with your freedom of movement.
Nutrition also plays an important role. The body needs sufficient amounts of Calcium and Magnesium to support optimal muscular function. Because the body cannot manufacture these two minerals, it must be supplied with them in foods and beverages. An inadequate supply of Calcium and Magnesium can lead to problems with muscular coordination. Mineral deficiency generally manifests itself as an increased tendency to suffer muscle cramps and "charlie horse". The best sources of Calcium are milk and dairy products (e.g. yogurt, cultured milk, cheese, etc.). Milk and dairy products are the only sources of Calcium that are worthy of mention; if no such foods are eaten, then one should definitely drink Calcium-rich mineral water (150 mg of Calcium per 100 ml of water) or eat Calcium-enriched foods such as breakfast cereals or special energy bars. The best way to improve one's supply of Magnesium is to drink a suitable mineral water that contains at least 50 mg of Magnesium per 100 ml of water.
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kelsey
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omg i have one right now too but i dont know any tricks i really wish i did all i know i just try to walk it off???
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dlmissinglink
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Jennifer V
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You should stay hydrated. Gatorade and plenty of water. Bananas, yes they have Potassium. Anything with Potassium. LOTS OF WATER. Don't drink to much, you would have to drink a lot to do so.
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Granny
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Leg cramps are sometimes caused from a lack of Potassium, which is in Bananas and Potatoes.
If I get one I usually stand up quickly and walk it off.
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Dental Floss
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Drinking water regularly will help you with charlie horses. Also, as weird as it sounds, if I push firmly just above and on the middle of my upper lip, it often causes my leg cramps to disappear. No explanation why but an aerobics instructor taught me that trick long ago and it works for me.
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justryn2makit
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drinking enough water and stretching before exercise will also help
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Bad Co.
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Gatorade has a good bit of sodium in it, still good to rehydrate with, banana's carry Potassium back into your system. Try to eat a few a week and other foods high in Potassium. Potassium helps reduce cramps. Good Luck
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aminwiththeoutcrowd
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You work through it.., but is ultimately dehydration. Drinking more water will do it for the good. I have found, because I experience this often, that vitamens and water make it go away for good.
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Bo Peep
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I ALWAYS wake up in the middle of the night with those. They are sooooo super painful. But my immediate reaction is to always massage the area with a lot of pressure. I know you might not want to touch your leg/arm whatever because I know it KILLS, but it really helps and works in seconds. :)
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MaddNess
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Bananas and water are good. When you don't get enough Potassium or are dehydrated is usually when you get the leg cramps.
Massage the knotted muscle to work it loose.
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The Orthodox Shop
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Rubbing your muscles is a good idea. Also, if you exercise, or even just go walking, you should stretch first.
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kaysi
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hey the reason y bananas work is because of the pottasium. but wat i do is i put a bar of soap under my covers. it sounds weird and like it wouldnt work but it really does. when it is in action i just rub it and stretch it out. hope it helps
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Brando
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if you want to get rid of one just squeeze the muscle and it will go away
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Sam
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Muscle cramps like that come from lactic acid build up. A good way to battle that build up is consuming food and drinks with Potassium aka bananas. Never heard about the Gatorade thing, but rubbing it out/stretching is also helpful.
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jameslankford
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No, Walk it off..Gatorade may PREVENT you from getting one, but won't alleviate one in action
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Karma
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Yes. Eating healthier things such as bananas help with charlie horse cramps.
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2Cute2B4Got
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Yes it is the Potassium that is in bananas and gatorade. Getting Potassium and plenty of fluids will help eliminate the charlie horses.
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Mendi8a
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drink water. also walking on it, even though it hurts like hell will definately help!
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Soozie Q
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Yes it is true. Because charley horses can be caused by being dehydrated (which drinking gatorade would help) and by being low on Potassium (which eating bananas would help). Here is some useful information on leg cramps or charley horses that I found on web md:
Though nighttime leg cramps are common, experts don't know exactly what causes them. But most of the time it is not because of illness. Some of the things that may cause leg cramps include:
Getting too much exercise or overusing the muscles.
Standing on concrete for a long time, sitting for a long time, or putting your legs in awkward positions while you sleep.
Not having enough Potassium, Calcium, and other minerals in your blood.
Being dehydrated, which means your body has lost too much fluid.
Taking certain medicines, such as antipsychotics, diuretics, statins, and steroids.
Having flat feet.
Having Thyroid disease.
How can you stop a nighttime leg cramp when it happens?
You may need to try several different ways to stop a leg cramp before you find what works best for you. Here are some things you can try:
Walk around, or jiggle your leg.
Stretch your calf muscles. You can do this stretch while you sit or stand:
While sitting, straighten your leg and flex your foot up toward your knee. It may help to place a rolled towel under the ball of your foot and, while holding the towel at both ends, gently pull the towel toward you while keeping your knee straight.
While standing about 2ft from a wall, lean forward against the wall. Keep the knee of the affected leg straight and the heel on the ground. Do this while you bend the knee of the other leg. See a picture of how to do this calf stretch.
These exercises stretch your calf muscles, and you will probably feel the leg cramp go away after a few minutes.
Some people find that a hot shower or a warm bath helps. Others get relief by rubbing the calf with an ice pack.
How can you prevent them?
Use these tips to help prevent nighttime leg cramps:
Drink plenty of water and other fluids during the day.
Limit or avoid drinks with alcohol or caffeine. These can can make you dehydrated, which means your body has lost too much fluid.
Make sure you are eating healthy foods (especially if you are pregnant) that are rich in Calcium, Potassium, and Magnesium.
Ride a stationary bike to condition and stretch your muscles.
Stretch your leg muscles for a few minutes before you go to bed.
Some people find that it helps to drink about 6fl oz of tonic water, which contains a small amount of Quinine, each night.
If you are taking medicines that are known to cause leg cramps, your doctor may prescribe different medicines.
If your leg cramps bother you a lot, your doctor may prescribe medicines that calm leg nerves or relax the muscles.
What if nighttime leg cramps keep coming back?
Talk with your doctor if you have muscle cramps that keep coming back, are severe, or occur in other muscles of your body. These may be symptoms of another problem.
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Marlee
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Sometimes muscle cramps are caused by a Potassium deficiency, so eating or drinking something with Potassium will help. Staying well hydrated, and stretching your muscles will also help prevent cramps.
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