http://www.newsday.com/news/health/the-daily-apple-1.4760551/brian-dessart-answers-your-health-and-fitness-questions-1.6010167
Q: I have looked all over to find some kind of relief for muscle
cramps in my legs. Since this has been happening, I have found how
prevalent this is even in younger adults. I have been to doctors and an
acupuncturist with no results. I started taking magnesium with the hope
that it would help, but it didn‘t. Do you have any suggestions?
-Celia Sanchez, Lindenhurst, NY
A: Muscle cramps are very common among the general population and can
affect athletes, those moderately active and the sedentary. These
painful contractions, which are also referred to as a charley horse, can
be caused by a nerve malfunction, dehydration, muscle overuse/strain,
lack of blood flowing to the muscles or not getting enough
electrolytes/minerals in your diet.
When the cramps occur there are several self-remedies you can take
advantage of, such as gently massaging the cramped region, stretching,
and applying ice to sore muscles and heat to tight muscles.
The American
Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons makes specific recommendations in regard
to stretching:
Calf Stretch: Lean forward against a wall with one leg in front of the
other. Straighten your back leg and press your heel into the floor. Your
front knee is bent. Hold for 15 to 30 seconds.
Hamstring Stretch: Sit up tall with both legs extended straight in
front of you. Your feet are neutral -- not pointed or flexed. Place your
palms on the floor and slide your hands toward your ankles. Hold for 30
seconds.
Quadriceps Stretch: Hold on to a wall or the back of a chair for
balance. Lift one foot and bring your heel up toward your buttocks.
Grasp your ankle with your hand and pull your heel closer to your body.
Hold the stretch for 30 seconds.
Keep in mind -- you should never stretch to the point of pain, and each
stretch should be preceded by a warm-up, such as lightly jogging in
place or walking briskly.
If the muscle cramps are happening often or if there’s no obvious
cause, you should see your doctor, as this could be a sign of an
underlying medical condition and may require different treatment.
Q: Say you've had a long day at work and feel exhausted. But you've
managed to make it to the gym. What strategies do you use to get
yourself in the right mindset for a great workout? Is there a particular
exercise or kind of exercise you choose? A warm-up? An energy drink?
Back squatting a relatively heavy weight works for me, but I'm hoping
for a secondary strategy.
-Newsday’s Adam Fusfeld, New York, NY
A: It's definitely difficult to get in the right mindset after an
exhausting day of work, but I would recommend some type of light
cardiovascular warm-up preceding your resistance workout. The bikes and
elliptical gliders work very well and are relatively low impact on the
joints. The warm-up doesn't have to be anything too aggressive -- its
purpose is to increase blood flow throughout the body's muscles, which
is normally achieved when you begin to reach a light sweat. But keep the
resistance on the cardio machines low. Turn it up enough to add a light
amount of tension, so you're doing the work and the machine isn't in
motion by itself. You don't want to be exhausted, even further, after
finishing your warm-up.
If you don't want to use cardio machines, another idea would be to do a
round of body weight calisthenics -- jumping-jacks, push-ups, sit-ups,
etc. Either way, make sure you bring your body to a light sweat before
beginning your resistance workout.
You should warm-up before every resistance training workout. This will
help to make your muscles more fluid and allow for less chance of
injury. If you decide to stretch, do this after your warm-up and never
before. Stretching cold can actually tear muscle fibers.
Stay away from energy drinks. They are loaded with sugars and
caffeine-like ingredients, and can provide a large energy crash, as
well. I'm not a fan of any type of unnecessary nutritional/dietary
supplementation. Been there, tried that. I’ve even ended up in the
hospital, from the ingestion of creatine monohydrate, which was
considered a "safe" supplement.
Q: Is there a way to prevent RLS -- Restless Leg Syndrome?
-Lorraine McDonnell Dessart (AKA my mom), North Ft. Myers, Fla. (formerly of East Rockaway, NY)
A: To my wonderful mother: Even though you know my phone number very well, I will be more than happy to answer your question.
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
defines RLS as a neurological disorder characterized by throbbing,
pulling, creeping or other unpleasant sensations in the legs and an
uncontrollable, and sometimes overwhelming, urge to move them.
Symptoms occur primarily at night when a person is relaxing, or at
rest, and can increase in severity during the night. Moving the legs
relieves the discomfort. Often called paresthesias (abnormal sensations)
or dysesthesias (unpleasant abnormal sensations), the sensations range
in severity from uncomfortable to irritating to painful. Restless Leg
Syndrome affects as many as 10-percent of the U.S. population, according
to the Institute.
According to NINDS, Restless Leg Syndrome is generally a lifelong
condition, with no cure, and in most cases its cause is unknown. But
there are lifestyle changes and activities that may help to reduce
symptoms in those mildly to moderately affected by RLS.
NINDS recommends the following: decreased use of caffeine, alcohol and
tobacco; correcting deficiencies in iron, folate and magnesium; changing
or maintaining a regular sleep pattern; a program of moderate exercise;
and massaging the legs, taking a hot bath, or using a heating pad or
ice pack.
Note: A trial of iron supplements is recommended by NINDS, only for
individuals with low iron levels. Although many people find some relief
with such measures, rarely do these efforts completely eliminate
symptoms. Medications are usually helpful but no single medication
effectively manages RLS for all individuals.
Trials of different drugs may be necessary, and your doctor will help
in prescribing common drugs used to treat RLS. In addition, medications
taken regularly may lose their effect over time, making it necessary to
change medications periodically.
Q: My 14-year-old son wants to weight train this summer, and he’s in puberty already. Will this affect his growth?
-Peter Cullen, Huntington, NY
A: If resistance training is done correctly, with good form and under
proper supervision, your son shouldn’t have any problems. In fact,
resistance training at an early age can help your child’s sports
performance, increase his resistance to sports-related injuries and help
in the development of motor skills.
There’s always been the worry of stunting growth if resistance training
is started at an early age. While this is a reasonable concern, it’s
not as common as many are led to believe. The National Strength and
Conditioning Association notes that a growth plate fracture has not been
reported in any youth resistance training study that adhered to
established training guidelines.
Of course, you should consult with your family doctor before your son
starts a training regimen. For further information on this topic, please
refer to Newsday’s Daily Apple post: Is resistance training a safe option for children?