Why pulls the muscles of the legs and what to do about it?

Virtually every person, regardless of gender and age, is familiar with the feeling when leg muscles ache. Most often this occurs after intense and non-systematic exercise. Such pain delivers some minor discomfort and, as a rule, passes independently after a short time. However, often pulls the muscles of the legs and for other, sometimes much more serious reasons.

To begin with, you need to understand where the pain arises: whether it's joints, or leg muscles. Anatomy divides the leg muscles into 4 groups: the muscles of the lower leg, the buttocks, the anterior and posterior femoral groups. Unpleasant sensations, as a rule, arise precisely in the muscles of the shins. Let's look at their reasons.

• Violation of the local circulation. When a person takes a long enough period of time in an uncomfortable position or just does not change it for long, the limb becomes "numb" - everyone is familiar with a feeling of light numbness and "thorns", which then "run" over the skin. In this case, it is best to massage your stiff leg slightly.
• Various pathological conditions of blood vessels, especially varicose veins, also cause pain in the legs. Muscles of the legs can pull, tingle. Periodically, there is a heaviness in the legs. In this situation, you should immediately consult a doctor, since such diseases are fraught with serious consequences.
• In addition, the muscles of the legs often pulls even if there is no obvious reason. So, diseases of the spine, pinching of the nerves can well give to the legs, creating an erroneous opinion that the problem is in the muscles.
• Tendons can also cause pain in the legs. It can be both inflammatory processes and micro-trauma. In this situation, it is also possible to avoid visiting a doctor.
• General health problems also affect the condition of the legs. This is overweight, a violation of blood circulation (including a stroke) and others.
• However, the most common reason for pulling leg muscles is cramps. They arise spontaneously, last only a few seconds, but, nevertheless, cause almost unbearable pain. The occurrence of seizures can be associated with common diseases (vascular pathology, diabetes, rheumatism, thyroid dysfunction and others), as well as with an imbalance in the body of trace elements. So, often a spasm occurs when the transmission of a nervous impulse from a neuron to a muscle is impaired. Responsible for this are minerals such as magnesium and calcium. It is their deficiency or excess that can cause systematic repetition of seizures. In addition, there is also a hidden component of this chain - vitamin D, necessary for the assimilation of these minerals from food.

First aid, or What to do when pulling the leg muscles?

• First of all, provide legs with a comfortable and physiologically natural position: lower them down, free from shoes and tight clothes, evenly distribute the load.
• Massage is the easiest way to relieve discomfort. Thus, you will restore the blood circulation and relax the muscles.
• A warm foot bath with broths of herbs and a warming cream after it will also have their own curative effect.
• If the cause of your anxiety is a spasm, not lightly, but pinch yourself sensitively or prick in the place of a spasm.
• However, remember that all of the above is by no means an alternative to visiting a doctor!

Finally, let's talk about how to prevent leg disease.

• The best remedy, as always, is a healthy lifestyle! In the first place - sports. One of the good options for reasonable loads is the now popular yoga. It gently stretches the muscles, giving them elasticity, and improves blood circulation.
• Rational nutrition is the second most important component of a healthy lifestyle.
• Do not let the transition of acute diseases into a chronic form: sooner or later an untreated disease will make itself felt.
• The key to leg health is the right choice of shoes, especially for women. Daily wearing of pins deforms the foot, and if not now, so in a few years they will let themselves know about their problems with their feet.

Muscles of the legs are the most important component of the human musculoskeletal system - with a load on them, only the back can be compared. Therefore, one should not allow a disregarding attitude towards them - even trivial, seemingly indispositions, can turn into serious health problems in the future.