Leg cramps caused by overworking muscles
I’ve invested into hydration booster packs that I add to my water bottle after the workout
Over the last six months, I have developed issues with leg cramps. They are typically restricted to when I go to bed and hope to sleep. I can’t relax because of the painful cramping in my calves. I’m then forced to get out of bed, stretch and apply pain relieving ointments. I often need to wrap my legs in heating pads to alleviate the pain. It’s awful. Not only am I unable to sleep but the pain is excruciating. I’ve done some research into the problem. I believe the cramps are caused by a combination of overworking the muscles and poor hydration habits. I workout on a daily basis for anywhere from sixty to ninety minutes. The majority of my exercises involve the legs. I sometimes go for an eight-mile run or ride my bike. There are training sessions where I jump rope for a full hour. I often go through a series of burpees, mountain climbers and jumping jacks. When I focus on low impact aerobics, I still do lunges and squats. Everything creates stress on the calf muscles. I now prioritize my warmup and cool down. I devote more time to loosening up my muscles and stretching them. I hold each stretch for longer duration and strive for greater flexibility. I make sure that several training sessions per week entirely avoid leg-style exercises. I stick with swimming, weight lifting and crunches. I’ve also increased the amount of water I drink. I’ve invested into hydration booster packs that I add to my water bottle after the workout. I make a point to drink the entire bottle.