Cramp cure?

A common explanation for muscle cramps is that they’re the result of electrolyte losses in your sweat. But the evidence for this explanation has always been weak, and many runners suffer from persistent cramps no matter how much sports drink or how many salt tablets they choke down. Many scientists now view cramps as a result of disturbances in the neuromuscular signals that travel between the brain and the muscle, a theory proposed by South African researcher Martin Schwellnus in the 1990s.

Earlier this year, a company called Flex Pharma launched a new cramp remedy based on this theory of “altered neuromuscular control.” Their HotShots product is an eye-watering drink that activates your “wasabi receptors” – a group of receptors in your mouth and throat that respond to strong triggers like capsaicin and pickle juice. The jolt to your nerves is apparently enough to clear up the neuromuscular issues causing the cramp.

At the American College of Sports Medicine conference earlier this year, the company presented lab data suggesting that HotShots lower your risk of cramping within about 15 minutes of drinking, and maintain their effect for six to eight hours. Whether those results will translate into real-world improvement for runners remains to be seen. The results are far from definitive, but for those struggling with recurring muscle cramps, it’s a new approach to consider.