Muscle cramps can be caused by overexertion of the calf muscles while exercising, insufficient stretching before exercise, muscle fatigue and dehydration.
Muscle cramps are a common and usually harmless condition where the muscle suddenly becomes tight and painful, from a few seconds to 10 minutes. It usually occurs in the calf muscles, although it can affect any part of your leg, including your feet and thighs.
If you do things you enjoy and feel free, you are more likely to feel good about yourself. Try exercise – the endorphins released make us feel better about ourselves.
Have you tried the free NHS Fitness Studio? They have 10-45 minute instructor-led videos: aerobics, strength & resistance, pilates & yoga, so you can take your exercise classes in your own home.
Physical activity can boost self-esteem, mood, sleep quality and energy, as well as reducing your risk of stress, depression, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Exercise can reduce your risk of major illnesses, such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer by up to 50% and lower your risk of early death by up to 30%.
If you are exercising, pay close attention to and enjoy the moving of the body, the feeling of exertion, the flow of blood through your brain, the focus.
Get your heart beating faster and your lungs working harder for at least 10 minutes. Try it for 20-30 minutes each day, building up to a total of 150 minutes a week.
Achieving 150 minutes of exercise a week can reduce your likelihood of developing heart disease and stroke in later life.
Ages 5-16 should do 60 minutes of exercise each day that gets their heart beating faster than usual; 16+ should do 150 minutes per week.