Dr. Chad SmalleyQ: My daughter plays soccer and often gets muscle cramps in the heat of summer. What can she do to prevent them as it continues to get warmer?
A: Muscle cramps can be caused by dehydration, an electrolyte imbalance or an inadequate supply of blood to a muscle. The most common type of muscle cramp is a heat cramp, which is caused by profuse sweating while exercising in hot conditions.
The best preventative measure in your daughter's situation is fluid replacement at the rate of 8 ounces for every 20 minutes of activity. In some cases, an electrolyte imbalance - usually involving a sodium, magnesium or potassium deficiency - may develop over prolonged exercise periods.
Your daughter can minimize her chance of this by sprinkling her food with a light layer of salt (assuming she is not on a low-sodium diet). She also can obtain additional electrolytes by including more fresh vegetables, bananas and oranges in her diet.
Finally, she should check to see whether any brace or tape she is wearing is too tight, as this can restrict blood supply to an exercising muscle.
If these suggestions do not bring relief and she continues to have frequent leg cramps, she should see a physician.
- Dr. Chad Smalley, Center for Sports Medicine & Orthopaedics; member, Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society