Comment Se Débarrasser D'un Cheval Charley (crampes Aux Jambes) - Causes, Régime

2024 Auteur: Cecilia Ryder | [email protected]. Dernière modifié: 2023-12-17 14:20

Personne ne sait pourquoi les crampes aux jambes sont appelées cheval charley. Cependant, certains disent que cette condition porte le nom d'un lanceur de baseball, Charley Radbourne (surnommé Old Hoss), qui en a souffert lors d'un match dans les années 80. Ces crampes fréquentes dans les muscles de vos jambes et de vos mollets qui surviennent à la suite de divers déclencheurs peuvent toutes être qualifiées de chevaux charley. Aimeriez-vous trouver des moyens naturels pour faire face à ce problème médical? Continuez à lire pour savoir-faire!

Table des matières

• Qu'est-ce qu'un cheval Charley?
• Signes et symptômes des chevaux Charley
• Quelles sont les causes d'un cheval Charley?
• Facteurs de risque pour le cheval Charley
• Que faire lorsque vous avez une crampe à la jambe
• Comment réparer un cheval Charley naturellement
• Conseils diététiques
• Conseils de prévention pour les crampes aux jambes

Qu'est-ce qu'un cheval Charley?

Le cheval Charley est juste un autre nom pour les spasmes musculaires qui sont marqués par des contractions musculaires inconfortables. Cela se produit principalement dans les jambes. Les chevaux Charley sont principalement des spasmes dans les muscles du mollet qui surviennent particulièrement la nuit. Lorsque ces spasmes musculaires ne s'arrêtent pas pendant plusieurs secondes, cela peut entraîner une douleur intense.

Cette condition est identifiée par l'apparition des symptômes suivants.

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Signes et symptômes des chevaux Charley

Les symptômes les plus courants sont:

• Vos muscles peuvent se resserrer et faire mal.
• Les muscles peuvent commencer à se contracter, entraînant des spasmes musculaires incontrôlables.
• Bien que ces spasmes soient souvent brefs, ils peuvent parfois durer plusieurs minutes.
• Les spasmes prolongés peuvent provoquer une douleur et un inconfort intenses.

Les chevaux Charley peuvent être brefs ou durer plusieurs minutes, mais pas plus de 10 minutes chez la plupart des individus. Cette condition est généralement peu fréquente, mais des spasmes fréquents peuvent suggérer un problème de santé sous-jacent. Quelques facteurs qui peuvent être tenus responsables de la cause d'un cheval charley sont discutés ci-dessous.

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Quelles sont les causes d'un cheval Charley?

Les causes les plus courantes d'un cheval charley sont:

• Flux sanguin insuffisant ou faible vers les muscles
• Blessures musculaires
• Faire de l'exercice dans un environnement extrêmement chaud ou froid
• Surutilisation de muscles spécifiques
• Stress, en particulier dans les muscles du cou
• Ne pas s'échauffer avant les exercices
• Un nerf comprimé dans la colonne vertébrale
• Consommation de diurétiques, ce qui peut entraîner de faibles taux de potassium
• Carence en minéraux comme le sodium, le potassium et le calcium dans le sang
• Modification de la concentration du pH dans le sang
• Déshydratation

Quelques facteurs peuvent vous exposer à un risque plus élevé de développer un cheval charley. Ils sont discutés ci-dessous.

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Facteurs de risque pour le cheval Charley

• Activités qui impliquent du sport ou de l'athlétisme
• Âge - Les nourrissons et les adultes plus âgés courent un risque plus élevé.
• Obésité
• Médicaments comme les diurétiques ou les statines
• Tabac à fumer

Avant de passer aux remèdes naturels qui peuvent aider dans le traitement d'un cheval charley, voici quelques conseils de base que vous pouvez suivre pour obtenir un soulagement juste après une crampe aux jambes.

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Que faire lorsque vous avez une crampe à la jambe

Lorsque vous ressentez une crampe dans les jambes, les actions suivantes peuvent apporter un soulagement immédiat:

• Étirez la jambe crampée et massez-la doucement.
• Si vous avez une crampe au mollet, mettez votre poids sur la jambe affectée et pliez légèrement le genou.
• Si vous ne pouvez pas vous tenir debout, asseyez-vous sur une chaise ou sur le sol et étirez votre jambe.
• Poursuivez avec l'application d'une compresse chaude ou froide sur les muscles contractés.

Bien que ces étapes puissent apporter un soulagement, ce ne sont pas des remèdes permanents. Par conséquent, vous pouvez donner à l'un ou à une combinaison des remèdes suivants une chance de combattre avec succès le cheval charley.

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Comment réparer un cheval Charley naturellement

1. Massage des pieds
2. Jus de cornichon
3. Bain de sel d'Epsom
4. Les vitamines
5. Huile essentielle
6. Savonette
7. Chaleur ou glace
8. Vinaigre de cidre de pomme
9. Safran des Indes
10. Cannelle
11. Mon chéri
12. Bicarbonate de soude

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Remèdes à la maison pour arrêter Charlie Horse

1. Massage des pieds

Tu auras besoin de

Huile de noix de coco ou d'olive (facultatif)

Ce que tu as à faire

1. Étirez votre jambe affectée à son maximum.
2. Fléchissez votre pied vers votre genou.
3. Vous pouvez également saisir vos orteils et les plier doucement vers votre genou.
4. Massez les muscles affectés sur la jambe étirée avec ou sans huile.
5. Prenez un bain chaud.

À quelle fréquence vous devriez le faire

Do this whenever you experience leg cramps.

Why This Works

Stretching and massaging the cramped muscles can help relax them. This also enhances blood flow to the affected region and offers quick relief from a charley horse (1).

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2. Pickle Juice

You Will Need

2-3 ounces of pickle juice

What You Have To Do

Consume pickle juice.

How Often You Should Do This

You must do this until the symptoms disappear completely.

Why This Works

Pickle juice is packed with minerals like potassium, sodium, magnesium, and calcium. Leg cramps can be caused due to a deficiency in these electrolytes, and intake of pickle juice helps in restoring their levels (2).

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3. Epsom Salt Bath

You Will Need

• 1 cup of Epsom salt
• Water

What You Have To Do

1. Add a cup of Epsom salt to a tub of water.
2. Soak in this for about 15 to 20 minutes.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this once daily or every alternate day.

Why This Works

As you are aware, magnesium deficiency is responsible for recurring charley horses. Soaking in an Epsom salt bath replenishes the magnesium levels in your body, which, in turn, reduces the inflammation and pain associated with leg cramps (3).

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4. Vitamins

Your body requires various vitamins and minerals to function properly. Vitamins B complex and D are believed to work wonders for muscle cramps. In fact, a study has concluded that intake of B complex vitamin reduced muscle cramps in about 86% of the patients (4). Low vitamin D levels in your blood can also trigger muscle cramps (5).

Thus, it is important to consume foods rich in these vitamins like meat, eggs, dairy products, whole grains, and green leafy veggies.

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5. Lavender Oil

You Will Need

• 6 drops of lavender oil
• 1 teaspoon of coconut oil

What You Have To Do

1. Mix six drops of lavender oil with a teaspoon of coconut oil.
2. Apply it to the cramped muscles and massage gently.

How Often You Should Do This

You must do this right after you experience a leg cramp.

Why This Works

The very aroma of lavender calms you down and soothes your anxiety (6). This, in turn, helps in relaxing your muscles. Also, the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of lavender oil help relieve inflammation, swelling, and pain in the affected area (7).

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6. A Bar Of Soap

You Will Need

A small bar of soap

What You Have To Do

1. Before going to sleep, slip a small bar of soap under the covers, preferably near your feet.
2. Take the soap out the following morning.

How Often You Should Do This

You must do this every night.

Why This Works

Although there is no scientific evidence for this remedy, many individuals affected by charley horse or leg cramps swear by this. It is believed that placing a bar of soap underneath your sheets, near your feet, can provide relief from charley horses in due course of time.

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7. Heat Or Ice

You Will Need

A hot or cold pack

What You Have To Do

1. Stretch the affected leg.
2. Apply a hot or cold pack to the cramped muscles.
3. Leave it on for 2 to 3 minutes and then remove it.
4. Repeat thrice.

How Often You Should Do This

You should do this whenever you are affected by a charley horse.

Why This Works

A hot pack increases blood circulation to the affected area, providing immediate relief from cramps. Whereas, a cold pack can numb the pain and reduce swelling (if any) (8).

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8. Apple Cider Vinegar

You Will Need

• 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon of honey
• 1 glass of warm water

What You Have To Do

1. Add two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar and a teaspoon of honey to a glass of warm water.
2. Mix well and consume.

How Often You Should Do This

You must do this once daily.

Why This Works

Apple cider vinegar is packed with nutrients like calcium and potassium. Since leg cramps are often caused due to mineral deficiency, restoring the lost minerals by consuming ACV can offer relief from this condition (9).

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9. Turmeric

You Will Need

• 1 tablespoon of turmeric powder
• Coconut oil (as required)

What You Have To Do

1. Take a tablespoon of turmeric powder and add a little coconut oil to it.
2. Apply the turmeric-coconut oil paste to the affected muscles and massage gently.
3. Leave it on for about 30 minutes before washing it off.
4. You can also mix a teaspoon of turmeric powder in a glass of hot milk and consume daily.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this whenever the leg cramp strikes for immediate relief.

Why This Works

Turmeric contains curcumin, which is an anti-inflammatory compound. The topical application, as well as consumption, of turmeric can help reduce the inflammation, pain, and swelling associated with a charley horse (10).

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10. Cinnamon

You Will Need

• 1 teaspoon of cinnamon powder
• 1 teaspoon of honey
• ½ cup of warm water

What You Have To Do

1. Mix a teaspoon each of cinnamon powder and honey in a glass of warm water.
2. Consume this concoction.

How Often You Should Do This

Consume this mixture twice daily, preferably every morning and evening.

Why This Works

Cinnamon is a multifaceted medicinal plant with a wide range of benefits. Given its anti-inflammatory properties, it is no surprise that cinnamon can work well in relieving muscle soreness and leg cramps (11).

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11. Honey

You Will Need

2 teaspoons of honey

What You Have To Do

1. Consume two teaspoons of honey daily.
2. You can also mix honey with sunflower seeds or apple cider vinegar for additional benefits.

How Often You Should Do This

You must do this once daily.

Why This Works

Honey has powerful anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties that can soothe the inflammation and pain that accompany leg cramps (12).

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12. Baking Soda

You Will Need

• ¼ teaspoon of baking soda
• 1 glass of water

What You Have To Do

1. Add one-fourth teaspoon of baking soda to a glass of water.
2. Mix well and consume immediately.

How Often You Should Do This

You must drink this right after you get a leg cramp.

Why This Works

Baking soda is also known as sodium bicarbonate. Sodium deficiency can also be a possible trigger of your leg cramp. The intake of baking soda restores the lost sodium in your body and helps you get rid of a charley horse (13).

You must also make some changes to your diet to combat recurrent leg cramps. Following the diet tips that are given below can help you recover faster from a charley horse.

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Diet Tips

Foods that can help you fight charley horses are:

• Sodium-rich foods like cheese, beetroot, celery, carrots, meat, and fish.
• Potassium-rich foods like melons, citrus fruits, bananas, avocados, and dairy.
• Foods containing calcium like sardines, salmons, leafy vegetables, nuts, and tofu.
• Magnesium-containing foods like legumes, soybeans, pumpkin seeds, cocoa, dark chocolate, dried fruits, and yogurt.

Since deficiency in minerals is one of the leading causes of charley horses or leg cramps, following these diet tips ought to help.

There are also a few additional tips you must incorporate into your daily life to prevent the recurrence of this condition.

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Prevention Tips For Leg Cramps

• Stretch before and after doing intense exercises.
• Do not strain the same muscles on consecutive days while exercising.
• Do not exercise in severe weather conditions.
• Keep yourself hydrated by drinking enough water throughout the day.
• Drink electrolyte-rich sports drinks like Gatorade.
• Stretch before bedtime.
• Indulge in yoga exercises that require stretching like the Cobbler Pose, Stick Pose, Palm Tree Pose, etc.
• Quit smoking.
• Avoid consuming caffeinated drinks and drugs.

The remedies discussed here will only exhibit their full potential if you lead a healthy lifestyle as well. So, keep that in mind if you wish to achieve permanent relief from your leg cramps.

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Do you use any other remedies to get rid of a charley horse? Let us know how they worked for you in the comments section below.

Expert’s Answers for Readers Questions

When should I call the doctor for a charley horse?

You must see a doctor for a charley horse if:

• there is a swelling in the leg
• you are suffering from severe pain
• there are skin discolorations

Is charley horse a sign of early pregnancy?

Leg cramps or charley horses are quite common during pregnancy, especially in the third trimester.

Is charley horse a sign of a blood clot?

Charley horses are usually a symptom of a medical condition called deep vein thrombosis. This is often a result of a blood clot in one of the deep veins of your body.

How long does a charley horse last?

Charley horses usually last for a few seconds. However, in some individuals, they may last for a few minutes – but not more than 10 minutes.