Rafa Nadal is one of the best tennis players of the time. However, this has not spared him from fighting every game with sweat, tears and a few muscle cramps. Luckily, he assures that there is a perfect trick to eliminate this fatal consequence.
Among all the injuries and illnesses that Rafa Nadal suffers from, there are times when he also notices cramps in his forearm, due to humidity and dehydration during the match. Keep in mind that he sometimes takes more than two hours to proclaim himself the winner, so these fatal cramps can increase the suffering of the sustained effort.
drink salt water
Our body can react in worrying ways when dehydrated. There are people who experience tremors, while others faint. Humid environments favor sweating more and losing fluids to the point of dehydration. Although Rafa Nadal seems to us from another world, he has had to ask his assistants for assistance in some other game.
Even so, the tennis player has overcome cramps without major problems thanks to one of the best tricks to avoid muscle cramps. The trick most used by the Majorcan is to take salt. This remedy has been used for quite some time and seems to be the perfect solution to his cramps.
And not surprisingly, the sodium in salt mixed with water helps muscles relax and return to their optimal point. We already know the importance of electrolytes in the body, so this remedy prevents the same thing from happening to us as Rafa Nadal in training.
How do you drink?
Although the remedy may seem fantastic for any athlete, keep in mind that a high sodium intake is not suitable for everyone. If we want to drink salt water to reduce muscle cramps, we can follow these steps:
- Mix the salt water in a bottle or pitcher of water. The key to drinking salt water to prevent cramps is having a convenient water source to drink regularly.
- Add about 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of salt per liter of water. We will decrease the amount of salt for recreational activities and increase the amount for extreme activities or extreme environmental conditions such as heat or humidity.
- Add sports drink mixes or water flavoring. The added flavor improves the drinkability of the water, so we are more likely to drink during physical activity. These mixes often contain additional nutrients that help salt prevent cramps.
- Drink the salt water every 20 to 30 minutes during exercise or physical activity. This constant drink prevents dehydration and cramps.