How to Treat a Cramped Muscle

Co-authored by Eric Christensen, DPT

Last Updated: February 20, 2022 References Approved

A muscle cramp is a sudden, involuntary contraction of one or more muscles. A swift contraction is a muscle spasm; a cramp occurs if the muscle continues to contract. Muscle cramps cause the muscle to harden in a way that you can often both see and feel. The treatment for a cramped muscle depends both on its location and the duration of the cramp.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Treating Cramps At Home

1
Stretch. A cramping muscle can relax when stretched correctly. Stretching warm muscles regularly lengthens muscle fibers so they can contract and tighten more vigorously during exercise and you are less likely to experience cramping.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Eric Christensen, DPT
Physical Therapist
Expert Interview. 17 March 2021.} A stretch should never feel painful. If you feel something sharp or stabbing, relax your stretch.^{[2]
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- For a calf cramp, stand with your feet set apart, placing the affected leg in front of the other. Lean your body weight towards the front leg, bending slightly at the knee. Keep the heels of both feet on the floor. Hold for 15 – 30 seconds.
- Another calf stretch is seated with both legs extended together in front of your body. Hold the feet in a relaxed position, and keep your back straight. Place hands on the floor on the outside of each leg. Gently slide forward, leaning toward your feet. When you reach the edge of the curve, hold this stretch for 30 seconds.
- Stretch your thighs one at a time. Standing, raise one foot towards your buttocks, bending at the knee. Hold your raised leg by the ankle or back of your foot. Pull as close as you can to your buttocks, stretching the thigh muscle, and hold for 30 seconds. You may want to hold the wall or a chair with your free hand for balance.
2
Apply heat or cold. Applying a heating pad or ice pack on a cramped muscle can help soothe pain. Apply cold or heat for about 20 minutes at a time. Never apply ice or a cold pack directly on your skin — be sure to wrap it in a towel or other covering first. Be careful when using heating pads in bed. Falling asleep with a heating pad on can cause a fire.
- If you are using a hot shower for muscle cramps, direct the water flow towards the affected area. If you have a high-pressure water stream, this will provide additional massaging benefits.
- Keep in mind that ice works better for injuries. If you are in intense pain and your skin feels hot, use ice. Use heat for muscles that are sore due to chronic pain or stress.^{[3]
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3
Massage the cramped muscle. If your cramped muscle is in an area you can reach with your hands, such as your legs, try to massage it. Grasp your leg muscle tightly with both hands, and rub deeply and firmly to help it relax.^{[4]
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- Having a second person who can help massage areas you may not be able to reach will help. It's not necessary that the person be a trained specialist. Simply deep rubbing of your muscle often helps the muscle relax.
- A massage should not be painful. If your muscles are tightly bound by cramping, certain types of massage can cause injury. Never continue with a massage that is painful.
- A massage therapist works with deep tissue relaxation, and therapeutic treatment of muscle cramps. Seeing a professional massage therapist weekly or monthly should be considered for chronic cramps that don't respond to your own treatment.
- You can also try foam-rolling. Place the foam roller beneath the affected area. Roll over it, applying gentle pressure, for about five to 10 minutes. This can also work with a tennis ball.
4
Try medication to help with the pain. Over-the-counter medications including ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve) can be effective at relieving pain caused by cramped muscles, though they don't actually treat the cramp itself.^{[5]
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National Health Service (UK)
Public healthcare system of the UK
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- Check with your medical professional if you have health conditions that may be negatively affected by taking painkillers or consume more than three alcoholic beverages daily.
- Muscle relaxants such as cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), orphenadrine (Norflex), and baclofen (Lioresal) can be helpful to relax cramping muscles. Speak with your doctor to learn if this is an option for you.
5
Try home remedies. If the above methods are not working, try home remedies. While these do not work for everyone, they might help you.
- Pour half a cup of Epsom salt into a warm bath. Let dissolve and then soak for about 20 minutes.^{[6]
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- Mix one part wintergreen oil with four parts vegetable oil. Massage into the cramped muscle before bed.^{[7]
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- Some studies indicate vitamin E supplements may help with overnight cramps. Keep in mind that you should talk to your doctor before adding any dietary supplements to your routine.^{[8]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Addressing Underlying Issues

1
Drink more water. One of the more common preventable cause of cramped muscles is dehydration. You should especially aim to drink water before, during, and after exercise. However, simply not drinking enough water throughout the day can also lead to muscle cramps.^{[9]
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- Try to drink 16 – 24 ounces of water at least an hour before working out. This will ensure that your body is sufficiently hydrated for exercise.
- Keep water within reach during your workout.
- Follow your exercise with drinking more water. You may also choose to drink a sports drink with electrolytes.
2
Change your eating habits. Muscle cramps can be caused by unbalanced electrolytes, such as calcium, potassium, magnesium and sodium. If you're experiencing muscle cramps, try changing up your diet.
- It's not a good idea to self-treat with supplements. You should talk to a doctor before trying any nutritional supplements as, in excess, such pills can be harmful.^{[10]
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  Cleveland Clinic
  Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
  Go to source}
- The best means to work on balancing your electrolytes is to eat a balanced diet. Eat a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables, especially leafy greens like lettuce and spinach. Eating bananas can also help as they're high in potassium.^{[11]
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  Trustworthy Source
  Cleveland Clinic
  Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
  Go to source}
- In addition, make sure you are eating at least a few hours before you exercise.
3
Check your existing medications. Some prescription medications can cause muscle cramps as a side effect. If your cramps started shortly after trying a new medication, that might be the cause. Check the bottle for a listing of side effects. If the cramping persists, talk to your doctor about switching doses or types of your medications.^{[12]
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Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Preventing Cramps

1
Warm up and stretch before exercise, cool down afterwards. If you work out, warming up and stretching before exercise and cooling down afterwards can help prevent cramping. Make sure you spend around 10 minutes exercising lightly and stretching before beginning a workout routine. You want to stretch after you warm up so your muscles are warm. Allow yourself five to 10 minutes after a workout to stretch again and cool down.^{[13]
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American Heart Association
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2
Consider magnesium and calcium supplements if you're pregnant. Muscle cramps sometimes occur during pregnancy. Ask your doctor about magnesium or calcium supplements as these can sometimes help with cramps.^{[14]
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PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
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3
Wear proper shoes. High heels and other uncomfortable shoes can cause muscle cramps. Make sure you only purchase shoes that fit you correctly. If you're unsure of your shoe size, have your feet measured at a shoe store.^{[15]
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Trustworthy Source
Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}
4
See a doctor for cramping that worsens when you walk. Cramping that gets worse when you walk is a sign of a circulation problem. Cramps that don't stop can also point to poor circulation. As poor circulation can be a sign of a variety of medical ailments, make an appointment with your doctor to have these cramps evaluated.

Warnings

If cramping persists, or if pain increases, see your medical provider. Cramping may be a sign of other physical difficulties.

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