Muscle cramps are described as involuntary and temporary contractions of muscles or muscle groups, which usually manifest during or after physical activity. The sensation is usually described as being very unpleasant associated with lack of control over the affected muscles and strong contraction that can cause pain. There are numerous causes for muscle cramps to take place, however the most common factor contributing to their development is the lack of proper warm up before physical activity, especially before training in athletes.

Warming up in a correct fashion involves two main stages: general warm up (cardio exercises), which increases the overall body temperature; and specific warm up, which addresses the main muscle groups and joints that will be involved in the training process. Unfortunately, most people forget about one of these stages or completely avoid warming up before training either due to lack of time or simple ignorance. And that's why cramps can occur.

The second important part of any training that as crucial as the warm up process is the relaxation phase after the training. Just as with warming up, relaxation involves two stages: dynamic (aerobic activity) and static (stretching). As you may guess from the name, the relaxation phase is needed to calm the body down, easing muscle tension and eliminating the catabolic products synthesized in the course of training. Avoiding proper relaxation after the training can make the recovery process longer and lead to muscle cramps during the next training sessions.

Muscle cramps are also known to be caused by electrolytic imbalance, resulting from excessive perspiration that eliminates too much electrolytes from the body. In order to recover the balance, one must employ a special diet rich with fruits and vegetables, as well as supported by periodically using vitamin and mineral supplements.

In case you experience symptoms of muscle cramps during physical activity, the first thing you should do is stop the training. Try to relax and ease the tension in the affected area by massaging it. This will make more blood to flow into the affected area and eliminate the catabolic products much faster.

Another good thing to do is to stretch the affected area. This will help putting the muscle fibers in place and relaxing the overall muscle group in the region. This will also make the muscles more elastic, which will contribute to faster recovery.

You can also benefit from having a warm shower. It will help relaxing the muscles and reduce the tension in the body. It's best done while you're still in the gym.

If these measures do not help, you may need a much stronger medication aid with drugs like Carisoprodol. Make sure to ask your doctor or the medic at the gym if you can use such drugs.

Ignoring muscle cramps can lead to more serious problems such as muscle rupture and periodical relapse. This can be especially traumatizing for athletes, who will be unable to give their best during trainings or sports events. Moreover, muscle cramps can even affect the everyday activity of a person, making it hard to control and use the affected muscle group. If muscle cramps have affected some key areas such as back, neck, or joints, it can be even hard to sit, walk and do things around the house. So if you experience symptoms of muscle cramps, make sure to do everything to eliminate them, even if it means taking drugs like Carisoprodol.