Leg Cramps

Leg Cramps... a frequent complaint
Health news from the Colorado Gerontological Society

"Health After 50" reports that the editors receive more questions about leg cramps than almost any other problem, and studies show that about 70% of older adults experience benign nocturnal leg cramps. Leg cramps occur when an involuntary contraction of the calf muscle causes an uncontrollable spasm. Pain can be mild to severe. Some people have frequent episodes while others have occasional ones. The cause of benign leg cramps is unknown. However dehydration may play a role and leg cramps can be a side effect of many medications. Underlying medical problems, such as thyroid disease, may also contribute to the problem.

Nocturnal leg cramps usually awaken the sufferer with a spasm-like pain in the calf like a charley horse. The incident lasts a few seconds or minutes and may be repeated throughout the night. Some bouts of leg cramps occur frequently over weeks and months, while other people have isolated occurrences and still others may regularly have leg cramps.

Some of the following remedies can help relieve leg cramps:

- Drink six to eight glasses of water daily.
- Stretch calves regularly throughout the day and again at night.
- While lying in bed, gently pull toes toward knees. Do not let feet point down.
- Sleep under loose covers that make it less likely to point your toes.
- Place a pillow at the end of the bed to prop up feet.
- Lie on the stomach with feet hooked over the edge of the bed.

To relieve a cramp, extend the leg straight and flex foot toward the knees, or grab toes and pull them upward. Also, gently stretch the calf by standing up, bending the affected leg at the knee and putting weight on the leg for several minutes. Massage the muscles that are in spasm or apply heat or cold to ease pain and promote muscle relaxation.