What are muscle cramps ?
A muscle cramp occurs when a tightly contracted muscle refuses to relax at all. The twitch may affect a portion of a muscle, the entire muscle, or several muscles that frequently move together. A cramp can be of any type. It can also happen when two body parts move in opposite directions.
Causes of muscle cramps ?
- Dehydration
- Overuse of muscles
- Blood circulation is not good
- Certain medicines
Muscle cramps can occur anywhere, including during exercise, at night, and while you might be stretching the legs. Muscle cramps are excruciating, and they can last anywhere from a few seconds to one hour or even more. It is not uncommon for a cramp to happen several times before finally, it stops.
Treatment for Muscle Cramps
Acupressure works wonders for almost all body and health problems, and it can treat entire muscle problems in the whole body. Let us look at some acupressure points which can treat muscle cramps.
UB 62 (Shenmai) – Acupressure Point
Location – In the depression directly under the outer part of the malleolus.
Apply pressure on this point firmly but gently for 15 to 20 seconds. Then give it some rest, and after that, repeat the process. This method will provide you with some relief from your muscle cramps. This point also treats headaches and neck rigidity.
Si 3 (Houxi) – Acupressure Point
Location: When making a loose fist, the point is on the ulnar aspect of the hand, proximal to the 5th metacarpophalangeal joint, at the end of the metacarpophalangeal joint’s cross-crease, at the meeting point of the red and white skin.
This point can cure cramps in the muscles. Massage the point firmly but gently. You can hold it down or apply a circular motion. Do this for 20 seconds. Take a rest and repeat the procedure. You can do this as many times in the day as you wish to.
The other benefits of applying Acupressure on this point are –
It can treat Scapula pain, arm pain, and local points accompanying the hand. Relieves the Neck stiffness, and cervical strain/sprain, and works on back and neck pain.
Treat ears, eye redness, inflammation, dizziness, earache, tinnitus, and sore throat. It makes you calmer, reduces anxiety, and lessens manic depression.
UB 57 (Chengshan) – Acupressure Point
Location: This acupressure point is located halfway between the knee and heel creased. And it is located in the center of the muscle on the back of our legs. This point relieves cramps in the legs and helps reduce foot pain, knee pain, and lower back pain. Regularly, Apply pressure to the acupoint for at least 2 minutes. After 2 minutes, please rest and then repeat the action.
Instead of applying direct pressure, you can also circularly massage the point. You can perform this procedure as many times in the day as you wish to. Don’t do massage if there is an injury in that place or swelling or if it hurts a lot for any reason.
Liv 3 (Taichong) – Acupressure Point
Location – On the back/dorsum of the foot, in the depression proximal to the 1st metatarsal space.
Other benefits of this point-
1. Headache, vertigo, redness, pain, and swelling of the eye can be treated when applied on this point.
2. Depression, hypochondrium pain, abdominal distension, hiccups are also treated using this acupoint.
3. When you experience pain, numbness, and pain of the lower extremities and find it difficult to walk, you can try this method
4. Those who are suffering from Irregular menstruation cycles, enuresis, etc
Let us discuss how we massage this part. Hold down the point with your middle finger, applying firm yet gentle pressure on the point for 15 – 20 seconds. Please give it some rest and then pressurize again. You can repeat this procedure as many times in the day as you wish to. The process of Acupressure is free of side effects.
GB 34 (Yanglingquan) – Acupressure Point
Location: It lies in the depression anterior and inferior to the head of the fibula on the lateral aspect of the lower leg.
It is a crucial acupoint to treat cramps. Gently and firmly apply pressure on the acupoint. Hold the force for 20 seconds and then take a rest. Repeat this process. You can repeat this as many times in the day as you feel comfortable.
GB 40 (Qiuxu) – Acupressure Point
Location: On the foot, anterior/front and inferior to the external malleolus, in the depression on the lateral side of the tendon of extensor digitorum longus.
Besides relieving pain from muscle cramps, it is also helpful in distention and pain in the hypochondrium and chest, weakness, numbness, pain in the lower extremities, swelling, and external malleolus.
What does it do – It moves the liver Qi, activates the meridian, benefits the joints, and relieves pain.
Conclusion of Treating muscle cramps with Acupressure
We have seen the pressure points we need to stimulate to alleviate the pain from cramps. We have discussed six acupoints where stimulation relieves the pain. I am sure one of the points will benefit and relieve you if you suffer from cramps. I hope you liked reading this article as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. Concluded our topic Treating muscle cramps with Acupressure.
