Most of us go to bed, expecting to wake up in the morning feeling healthy and refreshed. A few unlucky people, however, wake up with tight calves in the morning. It is both uncomfortable and annoying.
If you often feel fatigued in the morning, you might be having tight calf muscles.
That is why you will wake up feeling heavy, stiff, or with a slight ache. By reading this article, you will understand why you have tight calves in the morning.
Additionally, you will get other tips like how to manage tight calves.
CAUSES OF TIGHT CALVES IN THE MORNING
Many people who have experienced tight calves say it is a nuisance.
At times you will even experience pain. Although it is not common, in worse cases, tight calves will render people motionless.
It is hard to understand how you can have tight calves for no reason. But there is an explanation.
There are numerous reasons why you suffer from tired legs or tight calves in the morning. Most of these depend on your general health and lifestyle.
1. CRAMPS
Cramps are the most causative factors of tight calf muscles. When you experience a cramp, your muscle has involuntarily contracted without relaxing.
Experts from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons say that cramps are very common in calf muscles.
Possible causes of cramps are not stretching before exercises, lack of minerals, and weak calf muscles.
You can prevent muscle cramps by eating a balanced diet and stretching before workouts. You will be saving yourself from tight calves in the morning.
2. POOR SLEEPING HABITS
It is not a coincidence that you will go to sleep feeling okay but wake up in distress. Tight calf muscles and foot pain are a result of poor sleeping habits.
We have to give our bodies time to heal and rest after a long day. Failure to do so, your body will not recover, and that’s why you will feel tired during the next day.
Again, if you don’t get enough sleep or get disturbed during sleeping, your legs will hurt. As a result, you will wake up with tight muscles.
Now that you know the effect of poor sleeping habits, try and get enough sleep at night.
3. POOR BLOOD CIRCULATION.
There are several reasons why your body will have poor blood circulation. One could be that you sit at a desk for long hours during the day.
A sedentary lifestyle may cause your legs to feel tired and painful.
The effects of prolonged sitting hours can go on to the night and the next morning. If you have poor circulation, your legs won’t get sufficient oxygen and nutrients.
That is why you will wake up with tight calves in the morning.
Walking around improves blood circulation. Therefore, stand and walk around even for a few minutes.
4. VARICOSE VEINS
Varicose veins are a medical condition that affects your legs. When you suffer from this disease, your veins are damaged.
Therefore, they struggle to pump blood efficiently. In an attempt to keep pumping blood, the veins become exhausted.
Since blood is not being pumped effectively, there will be a pooling of toxins and blood. This will make your calves tighten, and you might experience pain.
Several factors cause varicose veins. They include age, hormone fluctuations, family history, obesity, and lack of physical activity.
You might not have control over some of the causes, but others have solutions.
5. STRAINING YOUR LEGS
People often strain their legs a lot, especially during the daytime. There are many ways you strain your legs. At times it will even happen without your awareness.
It could be that you stand for too long or you walk around a lot. If you are a lady, maybe you are wearing high heels for too long. All these could be making you wake up with tight calves in the morning.
Check what you are doing wrong and make the right adjustments. Avoid standing and walking for long periods. Wear comfortable shoes and avoid standing in heels for too long.
6. NUTRIENT DEFICIENCY
Nutrients are essential in the body. They are actually the body’s fuel. The body’s functioning is not optimal in the absence of nutrients.
Calcium and magnesium are vital for normal muscle functions. Lack of these two nutrients will lead to poor bone health.
One of the most affected muscles will be the calves since they are the most active. Once your muscles are affected, you will experience leg problems such as tight calves in the morning.
Correct this by eating a balanced diet. You can also look for supplements.
7. FALLEN ARCHES
Another reason you are waking up with tight calves is that you have flat feet. Calf muscles support arches in your feet.
In case your feet roll inwards, naturally, your inner calf muscle will be pulled. Once this muscle gets pulled, you will experience a certain level of tightness.
Other potential causes of tight calves include dehydration, limited movements, side effects of certain medications, and lack of physical activities.
BEST STRETCHES TO TIGHT CALVES.
Tight calves might get worse for some people to the extent they can’t walk after waking up. If you have experienced this before, then you ought to look for a solution. Stretching your calves provides a short-term and long-term solution.
Here are good stretches you can do to reduce calf tightness:
Doing static stretches: By doing these stretches, you will loosen up the filaments found in your calf muscles. You will have reduced a lot of pressure from your calves.
The American College of Sports Medicine recommendation is that you should hold the stretch for about 15 seconds.
Dynamic stretches are also significant: This type of stretch involves active movement. Good examples of dynamic stretches are squats and lunges. Such exercises will help you relax your calves a big deal.
Sitting on the wall stretches: It is as simple as it sounds. Stand against a wall and pretend that you are sitting on an “imaginary” chair. Ensure you drop down your heels and hold for 30 seconds.
You will have stretched your hamstrings and hips, which will, in turn, reduce the calf tightness.
Elevate your legs at night: Although this is so much of a stretch, it’s a good way of relaxing your calves. Elevating your legs boosts circulation. Your legs will feel more relaxed, and there won’t be muscle tightness.
If you follow and practice these few stretches before you sleep, you won’t deal with tight calves in the morning.
Check out more calf exercises here.
CONCLUSION
Tight calves in the morning syndrome is a problem that many people deal with silently. The problem is common and very easy to manage. However, the people that suffer in silence lack information about calf tightness.
By reading through this article, you’re in a better position to understand the causes of calf tightness. Most importantly, you know some tips that will help you solve your problem.
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