Have you ever been through a leg cramp? You are walking when suddenly leg cramps occur. It makes you think that the legs are tired of walking. Is it really the cause?
Leg cramps can happen at any time of the day. There are leg cramps at night with several causes during the daytime. So, it is important to understand why they happen.
Leg cramps
Leg cramps are painful. However, the condition is harmless. The pain can only last for a short time.
Leg cramps can happen when your leg muscles are tightened. It causes sudden pain. It makes it hard for you to move. It lasts from a few seconds to ten minutes. Cramps affect the following:
- calf muscle
- feet and thigh muscles
The muscle feels sore for up to 24 hours after the cramp has stopped.
Understanding when leg cramps happen
Leg cramps suddenly happen. It frequently happens at night without warning. They call it nocturnal cramps, which happen:
- during or after strenuous exercise
- in a maintained fixed position for too long
To-dos during leg cramps
During a cramp
Massaging and stretching the muscle eases the pain during a cramp. You can still do something to ease the pain, even though cramps go away by doing nothing. It helps if you stand up and put weight on the leg with the cramp.
OTC medicines can help ease the muscle soreness after a cramp. Yet, it does not help when it is happening. It takes too long to work.
Prevent cramps
You can reduce cramps with regular calf stretching exercises. But the cramps do not stop from occurring, since it is natural. See a general practitioner if these happen to you:
- Leg cramps disturb your sleep.
- Numbness or swelling in your legs
Leg cramps and their triggers
Knowing when leg cramps occur helps you identify the triggers.
At night
Nocturnal cramps happen when:
- resting
- sleeping
It can wake you up suddenly. The exact cause is not always known. But it is triggered by the natural downward pointing position of the feet while sleeping. It shortens the calf muscles, leading to spasms.
The contributing factors are:
- prolonged sitting during the day
- poor posture
- underlying nerve compression
During or after exercise
Leg cramps happen while working out. It occurs immediately after or even hours after doing exercise. Here is why it happens:
- pushing muscles too hard
- exercising without a proper warm-up
- muscle fatigue
The contributing factors are:
- sweating leads to dehydration
- loss of essential minerals, such as:
- potassium
- calcium
- magnesium
These are necessary for proper muscle and nerve function.
Standing or sitting for a long period
Leg cramps occur after working on your feet all day. It occurs because of prolonged pressure and inactivity, which reduce healthy blood flow to the legs. This can lead to:
- muscle fatigue
- involuntary nerve discharges
FAQs
How long cramps can last?
Cramps last longer, probably in minutes.
What are the other triggers?
Leg cramps are triggered by:
People experiencing leg cramps should not worry, as it is harmless.
Who gets leg cramps?
You are more prone to leg cramps when your age is increasing. It is because the tendons naturally shorten as you age. Most who get cramps are women.
An estimate of 40% of children and teenagers experience leg cramps. 60% of adults experienced them at night.
Is it normal to have leg cramps in seniors?
Yes. Nighttime leg cramps happen to seniors. It is because of being in a steady position or while asleep. It can wake them up, which makes it harder to fall back asleep, as it can leave them sore all night.
