Cramps

[Oh Balls!]

Today I had a client get a cramp in her toe while on my table. It was a small one and went away quickly but it made me wonder what to do if someone got a cramp somewhere else. If someone is on your table and say, they get a big muscle cramp somewhere, what would you do? Thanks!

 

[wer30snfun]

I usually try to get them to gently stretch the area and/or use manual compression.  Stretching the affected muscle in turn contracts the opposing muscle, helping the cramp to release. آ I have only had problems with clients getting cramps in calves or toes. آ Can't recall anywhere else.Once I started using a pillow to support their feet, that helped a lot. آ If they don't have that additional support, they can experience cramps from the foot being flexed for so long.

 

[ddti]

Cramps

i've been told that 'charley horse' cramping in the feet or toes was either a lack of hydration or potassium or both. i've suggested to my clients who cramp to drink more water and orange juice/eat bananas.

 

[uniquefashionista]

Cramps

Blankets or heavy sheets on feet, pushing them into plantar flexion and contracting calves, while supine can cause cramping. Untucking may help prevent it.

 

[Nirvana on a Green Day]

Cramps

Thanks for the tips and technique ideas everyone. Man I love this forum

 

[Deedee]

Interesting...to me, I've always experienced cramping when my muscle has been flexed/extended...not when it's been contracted. So to s-t-r-e-t-c-h a muscle that has cramped does NOT make sense to me. As soon as I start to feel a cramp coming on, I immediately (force) relax that muscle. If I haven't caught it in time, then I try to gently rub/press on the area and even hobble around a little bit to get circulation going more through the area--drinking a BUNCH of water and looking for a banana to munch on doesn't hurt either.  ;DBe well,Jen

 

[Common Sense]

All you need to do to relieve a cramp in a muscle is to activate it's aneforum.xxxonist - the muscle that does the opposite action.  For example, if the gastroc is cramping activate the tibialis anterior by holding your hands over the top of his/her foot (causing resistance) and having him/her pull/flex foot up against your hands (hard to describe in words).  When the aneforum.xxxonist muscle is engaged the cramping muscle must release.I have used this many times in practice and have used it on myself - it has always worked - knock on wood!

 

[Ice_Nova]

Cramps

We just finished studying this in Sports Massage class!!14health describes what they call "reciprocal inhibition". It works really well and fast. Our instructor, who works with runners a lot, said it is the first in his "bag of tricks" that he goes for. If that doesn't do the job, he'll try approximation, and after that it's a call to an MD.

 

[Shorty15c4]

Did you know some sports teams keep a jar of pickle juice around for teammates to chug when they get a cramp? My father, a general contractor in the construction industry, always has a 1/3 full pickle jar in his lunch box. There's never a pickle in it, just the juice. He's been swearing by pickle juice for at least the last eight years.  

 

[Kalaz]

Cramps

I wonder what's in pickle juice. Water, sodium and acetic acid? Maybe it's the combination of water and sodium. Or is there something else?

 

[brwneyes]

Cramps

not sure, but i think the reasoning behind it is the whole apple cider vinegar thing... you know, that it cures everything, just like winddex (big fat greek wedding). sorry no caps(holding my feisty 2-yr old!)jill/sagetherpist

 

[crknapp79]

Cramps

I wonder what's in pickle juice. Water, sodium and acetic acid? Maybe it's the combination of water and sodium. Or is there something else?

I think it's the water and sodium. Though my memory is a bit fuzzy on that.

 

[Fairytale]

I head straight for the sombra and apply light compression until it begins to go away.  Too much movement and my clients get a little dicy with me *winks*, ... and I am not into "dicy".  Once the cramp starts to relieve then, I can stretch the muscle better and give them even more relief.