Barb DelPrete

The best cream for muscle cramps depends on whether you are experiencing an active cramp, lingering soreness, general muscle tightness, or post-exercise discomfort. Creams, gels, balms, foams, and roll-ons may provide temporary comfort and make massage easier, but they have not been shown to reliably stop an active muscle cramp or address its underlying causes. […]

Your calf or hamstring tightens late in a run, game, ride, or workout, then locks hard enough to make you stop. Exercise-associated muscle cramps are involuntary contractions that usually have more than one cause. Muscle fatigue, a training load your body was not prepared for, and high exercise intensity often play central roles. Heat, heavy

The best drinks for muscle cramp prevention depend on what is contributing to the cramp. Water may be enough in some situations, while prolonged or heavy sweating can increase the need to replace sodium and other electrolytes. But dehydration is only part of the picture, because muscle cramps can also involve neuromuscular fatigue and other

Electrolytes may help prevent muscle cramps when dehydration or electrolyte losses are contributing factors, but drinking electrolytes is unlikely to provide immediate relief once a cramp has started. Sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium all play roles in normal nerve signaling and muscle contraction, but many cramps, particularly those associated with exercise, can also be related

Whether you’re dealing with muscle cramps during a workout or waking up with painful leg cramps at night, you’ve probably wondered whether dehydration is to blame. While drinking more water is often the first recommendation, the relationship between hydration and muscle cramps is more complicated than it seems. In many cases, factors such as electrolyte