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Mend Physical Therapy Blog and Injury Information

Muscle cramping can be a frustrating and painful consequence of individual and team sport athletic participation leading to decreased sports performance. The internet is filled with reported remedies to cramping from creams to sports drinks. Many aim to resolve possible imbalances of hydration and electrolyte balance (sodium and potassium) from sweating during an athlete’s training...

Hydration, electrolytes, salt and pickle water are all common internet solutions for muscle cramping.  These remedies are based off the assumption that muscle cramping is secondary to imbalances in electrolyes (potassium, sodium) or hydration levels.  In particular, when athletes are dehydrated there is a decrease in the water content, concentrating many elements in the bloodstream...