Cramp occurs when a muscle suddenly contracts, causing pain. It’s more likely if you’ve been exercising for a long time or are dehydrated.
If it starts, stop moving and try to gently stretch out the muscle. If it really hurts you can try clenching your fists! By tensing a muscle elsewhere in the body, it seems to relax the one that’s cramped.
Plateau
Seeing results takes time and practice, and even then, it’s common for progress to eventually come to a halt. Since the body naturally adapts to the stresses of exercise (especially if performing the same routine daily), try varying the programme and revving up the intensity to push past workout slumps.
Studies show that muscular tension is on the rise in all of us. For shoulder and neck pain, massage therapy has been shown to increase levels of your body’s natural painkillers – endorphins and serotonin – which help to reduce stress hormone levels.
If your jaw is tense, it’s often because you are clenching, or grinding, your teeth overnight, which can lead to headaches.
Try this resisted-opening technique:
1. Open your jaw as far as is comfortable.
2. Put your thumb (or hand) underneath your chin and apply gentle pressure.
3. Now open your jaw a little further while applying resistance with your thumb.
4. Hold for up to 10 seconds, then repeat between five and ten times. You should feel a sense of easing.