Muscle Cramps First Aid

A cramp is an involuntary tightening that can make a muscle feel hard, knotted and painful. It may follow exercise, prolonged sitting, sweating or an awkward position. The muscle can remain tender after it relaxes. Sudden pain after a blow, fall or forceful movement may instead suggest a muscle strain. Cramps that repeatedly occur at rest deserve a broader review.

Stop what you are doing and put the muscle in a comfortable position. Stretch slowly until you feel mild tension, not sharp pain; hold the position while breathing normally. Gentle massage or a warm shower may help the muscle release. Once the pain eases, move carefully and avoid heavy exertion for a while. If heat or sweating contributed, go somewhere cool and take small sips of fluid. Do not forcefully pull, strike or aggressively knead the area.

Seek urgent help for a cramp with fainting, confusion, severe weakness, chest pain, breathing difficulty or an inability to move normally. Contact a clinician when pain is severe, the limb is swollen or discoloured, the episode followed an injury, or cramps keep returning. Review is also sensible if cramps occur with new medicines or known kidney, thyroid or circulation problems.

Ask what may be triggering the cramps, whether your medicines need review, which stretches fit your activity, and whether you need tests for hydration, minerals or another condition.