eli5: why do muscles sometimes cramp while stretching first thing in the morning?
In: 30
When you sleep your muscles relax causing them to be stiff and tight. This makes them more likely to cramp when stretching. To avoid this you should probably do an activity like walking before stretching.
Muscle cramping is more common when dehydrated. When you sleep you don’t drink for a long period of time which increases dehydration.
Drink more water before bed.
Water at night, even if you have to get up and pee, hydrated flesh cramps less. Potassium levels need to be satisfactory too. Do you eat a banana a day? Take multiples with a Potassium supplement?
What others have said is certainly correct, but here is one additional possibility to keep in mind. Lumbar spinal stenosis (basically a vertebral disc pinching a nerve root) can contribute to nocturnal cramping that is not related to stretching or electrolyte imbalance. This is something to consider only if you have a history of lower back injury and it would need to be assessed by your physician.
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