Reasons for Foot Cramps while Exercising
#1 Lack of Warming Up
Foot cramps while running occur because of lack of oxygen being supplied to the muscles, which makes them contract more than they need to. The reason why this condition occurs, is because there is insufficient blood circulation taking place. As a result, not enough oxygenated blood reaches the leg and foot muscles. Blood does not get pumped unless the body is made to go through some basic warming up exercises. Ask any exercise enthusiast and they will all agree to this fact. However, what we do not realize is that seasoned athletes do not suffer from this condition, and even if they do, the instances are rare and few. So the question is, how to prevent cramps from occurring again?
Prevention
The reason why athletes do not suffer foot cramps is because they stretch and warm up their muscles before they even think about beginning one of their grueling training sessions. The body needs revving up, so that all the organs, tissues and nerves in the body receive adequate signal that they are about to indulge in some form of physical exercise. Since the body is not as fast as the mind, an effort has to be made by you to help your body get ready. You can do this by doing some breathing exercises, touching your toes a few times, moving your limbs in a circular motion, jogging and jumping on one single spot or on an invisible square on the ground. Do these exercises for 10 – 15 minutes after which you may start your running.
#2 Uncomfortable Shoes
What many often fail to notice is that, our new running shoes may not be adequately comfortable for exercising. The reason being that new shoes, are hard and inflexible. Another reason could be that the shoes are simply too tight and is thus restricting the blood circulation by not letting the feet move inside the shoe.
Prevention
These shoes need to be softened and made more supple, so as to be more comfortable. When you buy a new pair of shoes, you will need to be patient for a few weeks. Try going on walks or to the shopping center wearing your shoes, for the next few weeks. This will help the shoes get used to your feet and vice versa. Also try to loosen the shoelace a bit, while you wear you shoes, so that there is sufficient space for the feet to maneuver. This will ensure that there is ample blood circulation happening as well. Remember not to tie your laces too loose, as that will leave your ankle free for injuries such as sprains.
#3 Impact of Hard Grounds
Running on solid grounds such as on roads, pavements, cemented surfaces is a very bad idea. It’s a simple fact that these surfaces do not absorb the pressure being put on them and instead they revert it all back, to its original source. Which means that when you run on hard grounds, the muscles, the bones and especially the ankle and the knee are absorbing way too much force and pressure than it can handle. This also depends a lot on your total body weight, which if more will add to the impact and cause harm to the lower body.
Prevention
The first solution, would be to run on soft grounds such as on mud tracks or on grass tracks. Soil absorbs most of the impact and helps the feet feel more comfortable and lighter. The long term repercussions of running on hard ground can cause severe damage to the bones and tendons of the legs and feet. So it’s best to avoid such dilemmas in later years. Secondly, if you cannot or do not wish to run on soft grounds, you will need to switch to more cushioned shoes. Go in for shock absorbent shoes, which will help mitigate the pressure to an extent. Continue Reading »
