Why does my calves often cramp? Causes of night cramps in the calf muscles. Toes

People of all ages often wonder why their calves cramp even in the absence of prolonged physical activity. Fatigue, swelling, cramps are just an incomplete list of external manifestations that can significantly reduce physical activity. Doctors urge not to take this situation lightly. Quite often, the above symptoms indicate the onset of a serious illness that requires immediate medical intervention.

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Development of clinical manifestations

The first thing you need to remember when your calf begins to cramp is that you don’t need to immediately grab onto medications. It is enough to take a short break, during which you can massage your lower limb. In most cases, this is quite enough to get rid of discomfort. More attention should be paid to this issue if this is not the first time your leg has cramped. In such a situation, it would not be a bad idea to visit a medical facility.

IN for preventive purposes You should consult a phlebologist. As a result of a short examination, the physician will carry out the necessary diagnostic procedures. Based on the collected data, it is concluded why the lower limb is bothered by unpleasant symptoms. Patients should remember that early diagnosis is the key to quick and effective treatment.

In addition to varicose veins, flat feet in any form can be the culprit of discomfort. Doctors note that this disease may not manifest itself for a long time. As a result, the person does not have a compelling reason to seek medical help. In fact, you can suspect something is wrong. Firstly, even with the initial degree of flat feet, the legs quickly get tired.

It is enough to pay attention to the usual rhythm of life. If formerly man I went through the whole day calmly without significant problems, but as flat feet develop, even 2-3 km a day turns into an impossible task. In this case, you need to visit a therapist who will give you a referral to a more specialized specialist. Orthopedic shoes will help get rid of unpleasant sensations, thanks to which the foot experiences less stress.

The need to eliminate the human factor

Doctors tend to blame not only objective factors that worsen the condition lower limbs, but also the behavior of the person himself. A frivolous attitude towards one's own health can make even healthy person, who will be haunted by spasm. In addition to the listed factors, muscle spasms in the lower extremities can be provoked by the following reasons:

1. Lack of nutrients and vitamins - in order to cope with the daily load, muscles need regular replenishment. This is about useful substances ah, obtained from food. If in the morning a citizen notices that his legs “ache,” then he should consult a doctor. You probably need to review your diet.
2. Bad habits - this point is largely related to the above. Long-term use of alcohol and tobacco products leads to “washing out” of beneficial substances from cells. As a result of weakness of the muscular frame, the lower limbs may cramp.
3. Incorrect posture - often people themselves provoke pathological changes in the muscle structure of the legs. We are talking about staying in an uncomfortable position for a long time. An example of this is professions where it is necessary to remain in one position for a long time. In order to make such work less tiring for the legs, it is necessary to take breaks from time to time. The therapist will tell you what simple exercises will help relieve accumulated tension.
4. Addiction to coffee and tea - the more of these fluids in the body, the more difficult it is to sleep peacefully. We are talking not only about the stimulating effect of caffeine, but also about its negative impact on the muscle structure. If clinical manifestations occur at night, then this is the first sign that you need to “quit” with these drinks. Those who actively consume sugar should do the same.

The most common cases of clinical manifestations

To answer the question of why the calves are cramped, it is often necessary to conduct an examination of the entire body. We are talking about those cases when the initial examination does not reveal the culprit. On the one hand, clinical manifestations may be cyclical. We are talking about a long remission, followed by an exacerbation phase. On the other hand, a person’s calf muscle may suddenly become sore at night.

Epilepsy in its initial form opens the list of dangerous diseases in all respects. It manifests itself as spontaneous spasms of the lower extremities. Moreover, they can occur without significant physical exertion. However, this list includes:

• oncological neoplasms;
• spasmophilia;
• eclampsia;
• hidden injuries that weaken bone or muscle tissue;
• a latent inflammatory process often provokes a spasm in the morning;
• infection;
• neurological pathology.

As you can see from the list above, muscles can work incorrectly for a variety of reasons. A comprehensive examination conducted in medical institution. The more timely it is done, the faster it will stop hurting while moving.

First aid

Until you visit a doctor, leg cramps that occur can be reduced at home. To do this you need to perform a number of simple exercises. Pinching yourself is the simplest tip to quickly reduce unpleasant symptoms. It is important to remember that the spasm that cramps the leg will disappear only with a slight impact. No need to pinch soft fabrics until the blood starts flowing.

In most cases, it is enough to do this 2-3 times. If after this it was not possible to reduce the intensity of unpleasant manifestations, then you should immediately go to a medical facility. There is a high probability that the leg is cramping as a result of the activation of a serious disease. Any delay will only reduce the chance positive development events. In second place in terms of frequency of occurrence is the recommendation to rub the limb with a special ointment.

This can only be done after consulting a doctor. If the patient has chronic diseases, then the independent use of medications is strictly prohibited. This applies not only to varicose veins, but also to many neurological pathologies. Despite the assurances of manufacturers that their ointments are harmless, if your lower limb cramps, you should not experiment with your own health.

A similar recommendation applies to the widespread folk medicine mustard oil. It will be harmless only for a healthy person whose muscles have become overstrained. At the same time, we should not forget that only on the basis of the results of the examination can a conclusion be made about the degree of human health. If this recommendation is neglected, the course of varicose veins can be complicated.

Increased attention should be paid to shoes. In order for the muscles to cope with their work, it should not be tight. Even a slight obstruction of blood flow in the lower extremities leads to stagnation. Those, in turn, do not have the best effect on motor activity. It becomes difficult for a person to walk. Even after minor physical activity, a feeling of heaviness occurs, complemented by “aching” pain.

If we talk about the fair sex, they should give up high heels. The desire to comply with fashion trends should not cross boundaries common sense. The longer a lady walks in such heels, the more the leg muscles are exposed to excess stress. Rate of occurrence pathological changes largely depends on the anatomical characteristics of each lady.

Daily physical exercise

It's never too late to take care of your health, so every morning you need to make it a rule to do simple exercises. On the one hand, they will help those who are in pain after waking up in the lower extremities. On the other hand, they will strengthen the muscle structure of those who do not yet experience such manifestations. To perform a set of exercises you must do the following:

• lie on your back;
• extend both legs;
• one by one, slowly pull each sock towards you, and the second - away from you;
• stand on the floor;
• stand on one leg so that the entire body weight is concentrated on the limb that is experiencing spasm;
• duration similar actions is more than 2-3 minutes;
• if sleep is often interrupted by spasms, then you should abandon the exercise described above;
• apply a piece of ice to the surface of the leg, which you need to massage the sore spot;
• the duration of cold therapy is no more than 3 minutes, otherwise there is a high probability of damage to the upper skin;
• in order not to remember the spasm in a dream, it is recommended to place a small cushion under your feet;
• For preventive purposes, it is recommended to rinse the lower extremities cool water before going to bed;
• If the patient has a moderate degree of varicose veins, then cold baths should be abandoned.

If we talk about preventive and therapeutic methods, then a person with a spasm or cramp should not grab the first medicine that he finds in the medicine cabinet. Without a proper examination, it is impossible to determine the culprit of the deterioration in health. The wrong choice of painkiller will only lead to a worsening of well-being if we're talking about about varicose veins.

No less caution must be exercised by those who seek to get rid of cramps when stretching. These arise as a result of serious neurological pathologies. It is strictly forbidden to use painkillers that have not been prescribed by a doctor. For staging correct diagnosis The physician needs to find out exactly what the patient is experiencing. No less important for the doctor is the answer to the question about the location of the pain.

If, due to self-administration of medications, the patient is unable to describe how he feels, this will only worsen the situation. The disease will have enough time to develop. The doctor will not dare to begin a therapeutic course without having good reasons for choosing a method of restoring lost health. That is why patients should know: if they cramp their calves, only a qualified physician can decide what to do in this situation.

The duration of the diagnostic stage is about 3-5 days. It all depends on the severity of the patient’s condition. The initial appointment and referral to specialists is carried out by the local therapist. If the doctor suspects that there is a threat to the life or health of the patient, the patient is hospitalized. In this case, the development of the disease can be observed. If suddenly it arises sharp deterioration course of the disease, the staff of the medical institution will have time to intervene.

The therapeutic course is carried out conservatively. It is extremely rare for a doctor to raise the question of the need for surgical intervention. The pros and cons of such a decision are communicated to the patient.

Why sometimes your legs cramp, how to quickly stop an attack of pain and whether you need to see a doctor - we’ll figure it out in this article.

Everyone has probably experienced sudden sharp pain in the feet, calves and toes once in their life. An attack of “cramping” pain can happen during sleep, at the end of the working day, or, conversely, early in the morning. Why leg cramps occur, how to quickly stop an attack of pain and whether you need to see a doctor - we’ll figure it out in this article.

My leg cramped: how do cramps manifest?

To experience the fullness of the “convulsive” sensations, it is not necessary to swim in ice water or exercise until exhaustion. Seizures may begin without obvious reasons: we stretched out in bed after a night's sleep, awkwardly turned our leg - and then... The fingers seemed to spread apart different sides, the foot turns into a kind of “fan”. A few minutes pass and the pain seems to have subsided. But as soon as you accidentally move your leg, the attack begins with renewed vigor. A person experiences similar and even more unpleasant sensations when he cramps the calf muscle.

A cramp is caused by involuntary muscle contractions caused by intense tension. In other words, the muscle contracted sharply, but was unable to relax on its own.

Causes that cause cramps in the legs, calves and toes

Most common causes of seizures:

hypothermia (swimming in cold water, not warm enough shoes)

tight, uncomfortable shoes

flat feet

excessive strain during sports or muscle strain during the day (work “on your feet”)




• lack of microelements (most often calcium, magnesium, potassium), vitamin D

  stress (causes muscle tension, leads to loss of calcium)

  pregnancy (a pleasant “burden” is heavy on the legs expectant mother. Hence – overexertion and convulsions. A lack of microelements may also have an effect).

Almost every one of these factors can be fixed by yourself(pregnancy does not count), without visiting a doctor. The exception is the selection of microelements: you should not “prescribe” vitamins and supplements for yourself without consulting a doctor. If you have flat feet It also doesn’t hurt to contact a specialist - an orthopedist, podiatrist, and together choose the right insoles that suit the characteristics of the foot.

The causes of seizures can be either quite harmless or very serious. In the second case, seizures are just the tip of the iceberg of possible problems.

Frequent seizures may indicate:

varicose veins

hidden injuries and inflammatory processes

disruption thyroid gland(including due to diabetes)

neurological diseases

If cramps in your calves, feet or toes have become your constant companion– see a doctor, first – a therapist. He will appoint biochemical analysis blood to check whether cramps are associated with a lack of microelements. If this is the reason, he will prescribe a course of supplements and vitamins. You may need to undergo an ultrasound of the lower extremities. If a specialist finds pathologies during an ultrasound, go to an appointment with a phlebologist. To exclude neurological diseases and thyroid diseases, you need to contact a neurologist and endocrinologist.

Emergency help when your legs are cramping. How to stop a cramp

If your legs are cramped at night, in the morning or before bed:

• sit up in bed, then slowly lower your legs down and stand on the cool floor (not the carpet). Feet together, body position as straight as possible. After a few minutes, blood circulation normalizes - the pain will begin to recede. With both hands, grab the toes of the “cramped” leg (or legs), pull them towards you and up. Try to pull and “swing” your leg at the same time. When the pain subsides a little, massage the cramped muscle

  If the cramps do not go away, firmly pinch the sore spot. Then massage your calf and foot. The movements should be rubbing and patting: from the toes to the heel, from the heel to the knee

  Place a folded blanket under your feet or elevate them for a few minutes. This will help prevent recurrent seizures.

To make the unpleasant sensations go away faster, try to relax as much as possible, even if it’s not easy.

If a cramp occurs while you are awake, apply warm, damp compresses to your legs or rub a warming ointment into your leg muscles (not for varicose veins and problems with blood vessels).

So that it doesn't hurt excruciatingly

What to do to prevent leg cramps (calves, feet, toes)

First of all, eliminate the most obvious “culprits” of seizures - tight shoes, shoes with too high heels. For winter, choose warm shoes. Otherwise, your legs will be repaid for the long “freezing” at stops with painful cramps.

To prevent seizures from recurring, strengthen ligaments. A simple one will help set of exercises:

Curl your toes, count to 10, then straighten your toes and count to 10 again

rise on your toes (your feet should come off the floor) and sharply lower your heels to the floor

bend and straighten your toes intensely

stand so that your feet are crosswise, lean on their outer edges

Perform all exercises barefoot, each 5-10 times.

Try to avoid overstraining your legs during the day. Do it in the evening massage of calves, feet, fingers. If there are no problems with blood vessels, take contrast foot baths before bed. First, lower your feet into hot (about 40 degrees) water for a few seconds, then into cold water. You can add medicinal herbs to the water - horsetail, mint, valerian. Remember to gradually increase the bath time.

To replenish the balance of microelements, add to your diet fresh vegetables, fruits, prunes, dried apricots, legumes, seaweed, cereals - they are rich in magnesium. Magnesium will be better absorbed along with foods that contain vitamin B6 - fish, beef liver, walnuts. Consume more dairy and fermented milk products, broccoli - it contains a lot of calcium.

Cramps are a very unpleasant and painful muscle numbness that occurs involuntarily. These abbreviations have different duration, intensity and prevalence. In medicine, cramps are classified depending on their duration, degree of muscle involvement, and location.

There are many causes of seizures. Sometimes they are episodic and do not require special treatment.

But if cramps bother you quite often, then this may be a signal of some serious diseases.

Variants of seizures

Leg cramps at night

Leg cramps at night are especially unpleasant and painful. A sharp pain leads to awakening; the cramped muscle does not immediately stop hurting. Night cramps occur in both children and adults, but at the same time it should be noted that the age factor plays an important role in this regard.

Causes of night cramps can be:

1. Muscle fatigue;
2. Problems in the functioning of the nervous system;
3. Pregnancy period;
4. Certain diseases that result in decreased normal blood flow to the extremities;
5. Taking certain medications;
6. Flat feet;

There is an opinion that cramps at night are associated with a person’s posture in sleep: the knees are slightly bent and the feet are down. This provokes muscle shortening, resulting in painful spasms.

Toe cramps

Let's try to figure out why the feet cramp.

Toe cramps always occur abruptly and unexpectedly. Can pull one or several fingers at once. Possible reasons:

1. Wearing uncomfortable, tight shoes;
2. Hypothermia of the legs;
3. Lack of vitamins and microelements;
4. Disruption of normal blood circulation in the feet;

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Calf muscle cramps

Calf cramps are the most painful of all types of cramps. A few moments before the spasm, you can feel a slight tugging of the muscle.

The calf muscle cramps more often than all other muscle groups.

Symptoms of calf cramps:

1. Sharp pain;
2. The leg is very tense at the site of the spasm;
3. It is impossible to stand on your entire foot;
4. The muscles become very elastic and dense;

Causes of calf cramps:

1. Deficiency of vitamins and microelements;
2. Chronic fatigue as a result long stay on your feet, grueling sports;
3. Venous insufficiency;
4. Atherosclerosis;
5. Swelling of the legs;
6. Use of diuretics;
7. Diseases lumbar region spine.

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Causes of seizures

Primary causes of seizures

Primary (idiopathic) seizures occur for no apparent reason. Presumably, the appearance of primary muscle spasms can be influenced by:

1. Muscle strain as a result of physical activity. If a person has spent the entire day on his feet without rest, is very tired while playing sports, has been carrying heavy objects, or has walked a long distance in uncomfortable shoes, a malfunction of the muscles occurs. In such cases, the likelihood of occurrence increases muscle spasms;
2. Sudden loss of blood circulation in the extremities;
3. Natural shortening of tendons that occurs in old age;
4. Uncomfortable posture during sleep;

Secondary causes of seizures

Secondary The causes of seizures are symptoms of certain diseases, as well as disorders in the functioning of the human body:

Magnesium deficiency

This trace element is necessary for the normal process of muscle contractions. Magnesium deficiency may be associated with poor nutrition.

Sometimes the cause of deficiency of this microelement There may be diseases that prevent the normal absorption of magnesium entering the body.

Symptoms of magnesium deficiency are:

• insomnia, fatigue;
• depression;
• back pain;
• frequent fractures and dislocations;
• headache;
• high blood pressure;
• arthritis;
• heart disease;
• frequent convulsions and nervous tics of the eyes;

Calcium deficiency

Calcium is the physiological “partner” of magnesium.

Lack of calcium can also trigger seizures.

The main signs of calcium deficiency in the body include:

• brittle and painful bones;
• split ends, unhealthy hair, brittle nails;
• unhealthy teeth;
• loss of strength, irritability;
• convulsions;

Calcium and magnesium deficiency can lead to significant changes over time biochemical composition blood.

Lack of iron in the body (anemia)

Since iron is involved in saturating cells with oxygen, its lack can trigger muscle spasms.

Glucose deficiency in the body

It can occur during diets, as well as as a result of using glucose-lowering drugs.

Sudden changes in human body temperature

Usually causes short-term convulsions. They can occur during the course of the disease, as well as as a result of sunstroke.

Irritation of the motor area of ​​the brain

The area of ​​the brain that controls muscle contraction may be affected nerve impulses:

• with the flu;
• during a stroke, as well as during the rehabilitation period after it;
• with ARVI;
• with alcohol poisoning;

Vascular diseases of the legs

During vascular diseases, normal blood flow is disrupted, as a result of which tissues do not receive the required amount of oxygen. Local hypoxia develops.

Diseases of the lower spine

During these diseases, nerve endings are pinched, which leads to impaired sensitivity of certain muscle groups.

High temperature outside the window

During the heat, the body loses a lot of fluid and salts through sweat, which can lead to cramps.

Taking hormonal contraceptives

Causes of frequent seizures

If cramps do not occur occasionally, but quite often, the reasons for this may be:

1. Muscle fatigue;
2. Excess weight;
3. Frequent stress and emotional tension;
4. Disturbances of the endocrine and nervous systems;

Frequent muscle spasms should never be ignored.

You should definitely consult a doctor, as regular seizures can be a signal of many serious diseases.

Cramps in pregnant women

During pregnancy, almost all women complain of muscle spasms in the legs. This is a completely normal phenomenon that disappears without a trace after the birth of the baby. Causes of frequent cramps in expectant mothers:

1. Excess weight;
2. An enlarged uterus puts pressure on the vessels and nerve endings of the legs, resulting in impaired blood circulation;
3. Blood volume increases, causing swelling of blood vessels and tissues;
4. Predisposition to varicose veins;
5. High need for vitamins and microelements;
6. Changes in hormonal status.

Seizures in children

In children, seizures are most often associated with active growth and development of the whole organism. The main causes of spasms in children are:

1. Hypothermia of the legs;
2. Flat feet;
3. Lack of vitamins;
4. Keeping your legs in an uncomfortable position for a long time;

Diagnostics

If you have regular seizures, you should definitely see a doctor. First you need to visit a therapist who will conduct an examination and prescribe the necessary tests.

Perhaps the doctor will refer you for consultation to another specialist: a neurologist, endocrinologist, cardiologist.

If any disease turns out to be the cause of the spasms, then after a course of treatment the spasms should go away. If no diseases are found that could cause the spasms, you just need to follow simple preventive recommendations.

Ways to deal with leg cramps

This problem can and should be dealt with.

You just need to eliminate the cause that causes the cramps.

Over time from painful spasms only memories will remain.

Advice for those who want to get rid of cramps once and for all:

1. It is necessary to review and diversify your diet;
2. Exercise moderately, avoid overexertion;
3. Do not abuse diuretics;
4. Perform simple stretching exercises;

How to give first aid

1. There is no need to panic if your legs cramp at night. You need to relax and breathe deeply to improve blood supply to the tissues;
2. Next, you need to carefully stand on the floor, put your feet together and straighten your back;
3. You can pull your foot towards you. It will hurt, but a little patience is required. When the muscle stretches a little, the spasm will go away;
4. If the cramp does not go away, you can pinch your leg and rub it;
5. Massage with warming ointment helps;
6. After the attack has passed, you need to lie down so that your legs are higher than your head;

It often happens that a cramp cramps your leg in water: at sea, in the pool. This is quite dangerous, so you need to know how to act in such cases. If your leg cramps in the pool, you need to stop swimming. If a spasm seizes a muscle at a depth in the sea, the actions should be as follows:

1. Roll over from your stomach to your back;
2. Try to pull your foot towards you;
3. If the cramp does not go away, an injection with a pin will help, which must be pinned to a swimsuit or swimming trunks just in case;

Cramps most often occur in cold water. You should not swim in water whose temperature is below 18 degrees.

Prevention measures

This problem can be avoided by following these recommendations:

1. Wear comfortable, high-quality shoes;
2. Avoid excessive stress on your legs;
3. Do exercises in the morning;
4. Reduce the amount of coffee you drink;
5. Massage your feet regularly;
6. A contrast shower helps a lot;
7. A varied diet will saturate the body with vitamins and microelements;

Let's summarize:

• Cramps are involuntary muscle contractions that can occur in both children and adults.
• The causes of seizures can be both a lack of vitamins in the body and certain diseases, as well as physical exercise.
• Most often, cramps occur at night.
• During pregnancy, muscle spasms bother almost all women and do not require special treatment.
• Convulsions in children are associated with the growth and development of the whole organism.
• Diagnosis of seizures is very important, as it helps to identify certain diseases.
• It is important to know how to provide first aid during a seizure. Muscle spasms are especially dangerous when swimming in the pool or at sea.
• If you carry out simple preventive measures, you can avoid this extremely unpleasant phenomenon.

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Video where you can familiarize yourself with the causes of leg cramps and consider treatment methods:

Every person at least once in his life has experienced what leg cramps are. It’s good if these cases are isolated, but there is a category of people who suffer from frequent, spontaneous or nocturnal leg cramps. What is their cause and how to deal with it?
The most common phenomenon, which recurs only in a certain situation, is convulsions from hypothermia. This happens when swimming in cold water or when low temperatures in winter. This type of seizure is not a sign of any disease and is quite rare.
If the cramps have become chronic, and they were preceded by a long period of pain in the legs, swelling and a feeling of heaviness, then this may signal the development of varicose veins. In addition, cramps can be provoked by flat feet or a lack of microelements such as potassium and calcium in the body. To prevent their deficiency, it is necessary to regularly include foods high in calcium in your diet - legumes, hard cheeses, cottage cheese, as well as bananas, dried apricots and apples, which contain a large number of potassium If the lack of microelements is much higher than normal, it is necessary to take vitamin preparations twice a year, in courses.
It sometimes happens that frequent, spontaneous leg cramps may indicate some kind of hidden disease body. To determine the cause of seizures, in this case, it is necessary to take tests and adjust your health status together with your doctor.
If a muscle spasm occurs as a result of a long stay in an uncomfortable position, and because of this, the muscle nerve is pinched in the muscle canal, it is urgent to take a comfortable position, relax the stiff muscle group and perform a light, kneading massage.
Modern doctors They agree that one of the causes of seizures may be excessive intake of nicotine and caffeine into the body. Therefore, it is worth reducing the number of cigarettes you smoke or switching to lighter ones and reducing your coffee consumption. It is also not recommended to consume large amounts of sugar if you have frequent cramps.
The most serious causes of seizures can be hidden injuries, brain tumors, epilepsy, spasmophilia, eclampsia, neurological diseases, severe infectious or inflammatory processes. If you suspect these diseases, you should consult with doctors such as a neurologist, phlebologist and endocrinologist. After treatment of the underlying disease, seizures usually go away.
In order to relieve the pain of cramps, you can pinch the sore spot several times, rub your leg with warming ointment, or do a massage. Regular massage is an excellent preventive measure against seizures.
Traditional medicine also offers several methods to overcome this disease. So, during seizures, you can rub the sore spot mustard oil. As a preventive measure, you can wipe the soles of your feet with lemon juice in the morning and evening, letting it dry and only then putting on socks or shoes. This treatment should be carried out for two weeks, then a long break is taken.
There are several exercises that can significantly reduce the occurrence of leg cramps.
1. Lie on your back with your arms extended along your torso and legs straight. Without lifting your heel off the bed, extend your left leg as far as possible, pulling your toes towards you. After 5 seconds, relax your leg and perform the movement with your right leg, and then with both legs at once. Repeat 5 times.
2. Rise up on your toes so that your heels are high off the floor, and sharply lower them to the floor. Do it 10 times.
3. Stand on your heels, curl your toes and try to maintain your balance in this position for 10 seconds. Repeat 5 times.
4. While sitting or standing, place your feet crosswise and rest on their outer edges. Stay in this position for 10 seconds. Do it 5 times.
5. Curl and straighten your toes very slowly for 3 minutes.
6. Sit on the floor, stretch your legs in front of you and perform slow rotations with your feet. Do the exercise for 3 minutes.
7. In the same position, alternately lower and touch the toes of one and the other foot, without lifting your heels from the floor. Do the exercise at a fast pace for 1 minute.
You can complete the set of exercises with contrasting foot baths. But do not forget that with varicose veins, the water should not be very hot, and the temperature difference should not be very sharp.
Natalya Biatova

It is the complaint of periodic leg cramps that is considered one of the most common when seen by doctors. It is noteworthy that absolutely all categories of people can experience leg cramps - young and old, pregnant women and children, with the appearance of absolute health and with already diagnosed pathologies. Most often, patients complain of leg cramps at night, during sleep - this syndrome causes a person to wake up, he experiences pain and discomfort.

Table of contents: Cramps - what are they? Why do your legs cramp? Reasons for leg cramps in pregnant women Leg cramps in children at night Leg cramps - what to do Cramps - diagnosis, treatment and prevention

Cramps - what are they?

Leg cramps: causes, treatment at home

Cramps are involuntary contractions of one or a group of muscles, which are necessarily accompanied by intense pain. Most often, such sudden muscle contractions occur in the legs, or more precisely, on the back of the lower leg, in the calf muscle.

For some reason, the muscle begins to spasm, and this entails voluntary extension of the foot, and to the possible maximum. Naturally, this condition provokes pain.

Why does my legs cramp?

In general, there are quite a lot of reasons that can trigger the occurrence of leg cramps - from violation of the regime and diet to insufficient intake in the body. important microelements. But the main reason for the periodic appearance of convulsive contractions of the leg muscles is considered to be a lack of magnesium in the body.

Magnesium deficiency in the body can only happen due to poor nutrition - it has already been proven that the absorption of this microelement into the body tissue is impaired due to excessive consumption of coffee, alcoholic beverages, sweet foods and flour products. The body, sensing magnesium deficiency, begins to actively “extract” it from the bones. muscular system- by the way, that’s why when carrying out laboratory research In the blood, specialists determine the presence of magnesium either within normal limits or with elevated levels.

To understand that the cause of leg cramps is precisely the lack of magnesium in the body, it is enough to know other symptoms of such deficiency. These include:

• fatigue, decreased concentration and memory;
• profuse night sweats;
• feeling of anxiety and fear;
• increased irritability;
• numbness of the limbs.

In addition to the fact that the cause of leg cramps can be a deficiency of magnesium in the body, there are other factors that provoke the condition in question. Experts highlight the following:

1. Low blood glucose levels - this usually occurs against the background of diabetes mellitus, when the patient either carries out too aggressive therapy or ignores the recommendations of nutritionists.
2. Thyroid diseases.
3. Lack of vitamin B6 in the body is classified as hypovitaminosis B.
4. Diseases of the veins of the lower extremities – varicose veins veins, thrombophlebitis.

1. Diseases of the spine of a degenerative-dystrophic nature - for example, osteochondrosis.
2. Excessive physical activity on the lower extremities - for example, prolonged running, football, swimming.
3. Chronic renal failure.
4. Increased levels of estrogen in the blood refer to an imbalance of female sex hormones.
5. Diseases associated with circulatory disorders in the vessels of the lower extremities and of a chronic nature - for example, atherosclerosis obliterans.
6. Violations in the psycho-emotional background.
7. Sleep disorders, syndrome chronic fatigue.

The most interesting thing is that all of these problems can arise in almost every person - they are a consequence of the “wrong” lifestyle. For example, the above diseases can lead to:

• self-medication serious illnesses infectious in nature - for example, sore throat;
• constant stress, the need to solve many problems;
• improperly structured diet - including snacking “on the run”, eating semi-finished products;
• Constantly wearing high-heeled shoes - the development of varicose veins and thrombophlebitis is almost inevitable.

Causes of leg cramps in pregnant women

Leg cramps in pregnant women are common, but they are usually not associated with renal failure or chronic diseases of the cardiovascular system. The reasons for the appearance of the syndrome in question during pregnancy in women can be:

1. An imbalance of vitamins and microelements in the body, which may be associated with poor nutrition, thyroid dysfunction, diuretics, or excessively rapid/active growth of the fetus.
2. Iron deficiency anemia, occurring in moderate to severe degrees. This condition is also associated with insufficient iron intake or blood loss in the first trimester of pregnancy.
3. Hypoglycemia.
4. Dehydration of muscles.
5. Lack of oxygen in body tissues.
6. Compression of the inferior vena cava by the enlarged uterus when the woman is in a supine position. As a result, blood circulation in the lower extremities is disrupted, and the result will be cramps in the legs.
7. Chronic venous insufficiency. This is facilitated by the woman’s large weight, the increased volume of blood that circulates through the veins, and low tone and elasticity of the vessel walls.

Note: Pregnant women may develop eclampsia - increased blood pressure, severe swelling, and protein is found in the urine. The most dangerous thing with eclampsia is the occurrence of generalized convulsive seizures, which is an unambiguous indicator for urgent delivery.

Leg cramps in children at night

The appearance of the syndrome in question in childhood more often associated with the active growth of the child. It is noteworthy that young children cannot describe the painful convulsive syndrome in words, so they report their problem by crying - it is always sharp and shrill. The causes of night cramps in children can be:

• severe hypothermia of the lower extremities;
• prolonged stay in an uncomfortable position with legs tucked/bent;
• flat feet;
• lack of potassium and magnesium in the children's body.

It is interesting that flat feet and potassium/magnesium deficiency will not appear as isolated cases convulsive attacks, but regularly occurring.

Leg cramps - what to do

1. Pull the toe of the foot toward you (as far as possible), then return it to the starting position and immediately, without interruption, pull the toe toward you again, but with maximum effort.
2. Get on your feet and take a few steps – albeit with some effort. At this moment, blood flow in the legs increases, which will relax the spastically tense muscle.
3. Carry out a series of light massage movements in the direction from the center of the spasm to the periphery.
4. Use a warming ointment or gel, applying the medicine to the skin in the area of ​​spastic muscle contraction using massage movements.
5. Firmly pinch the cramped muscle, as an option - sudden movements prick the site of the cramp with a match or a hairpin.

Usually, after using one of the listed methods for relieving leg cramps, relief occurs. A person should take a lying position with his legs slightly elevated - this will speed up the outflow of blood from the lower extremities, which will prevent the occurrence of repeated cramps.

Seizures - diagnosis, treatment and prevention

If leg cramps bother you with enviable regularity, the above recommendations do not help to quickly relieve a spastic attack, then this is a reason to seek professional medical help. First, you need to visit a therapist (or a pediatrician in case of cramps in the child’s legs) - he will conduct an initial examination of the patient and refer him for additional consultation to more specialized specialists (neurologist, endocrinologist). Only after this will treatment of the underlying disease be prescribed - with positive dynamics, leg cramps will occur less and less often, and then completely disappear.

If no pathological changes are detected in the body, the doctor will give recommendations on how to eliminate possible causes of convulsive syndrome in the lower extremities. As a rule, they are as follows:

1. Organize proper nutrition:

• You need to eat at least 5 times a day;
• portions for each meal should be small;
• let the basis of nutrition be complex carbohydrates - cereals, pasta, fruits and vegetables;
• fats must be on the menu - this could be a small piece of fatty fish (for example, a type of salmon) or 50 grams of butter daily;
• The menu should include nuts, bananas, dried apricots, dairy products, seaweed, carrots, and herbs.

1. Lead a healthy lifestyle and do not avoid physical activity. The only thing doctors warn about is that a minimum load should be placed on the lower extremities.
2. You need to sleep in comfortable bed, it is imperative to raise the lower limbs slightly above the axis of the body and head.
3. Every evening you can make foot baths with sea salt (3 tablespoons per 5 liters warm water) – they have a relaxing effect.
4. Before going to bed, you can and should rub your feet with an ointment that has a warming property.
5. If venous insufficiency was previously diagnosed, then you must wear compression garments.

Note: compression garments have different sizes And varying degrees pressure on the lower extremities. Therefore, such underwear should be selected by the doctor with whom the patient is being treated.

1. Uncomfortable shoes and too high heels should be avoided. The maximum that is allowed is to wear shoes with a heel no higher than 5 cm. And the heel must be stable!
2. If a doctor diagnoses flat feet, then it must be treated and corrected - for example, by wearing special orthopedic insoles or orthopedic shoes.
3. Take vitamin and mineral complexes - calcium-D3-nycomed, asparkam, magne-B6. But they must be prescribed by a specialist!

Leg cramps are an extremely unpleasant phenomenon that complicates a person’s life. The fact is that cramps provoke insomnia, which in turn leads to the development of chronic fatigue syndrome. But doctors know perfectly well how and with what they can help patients with complaints about the condition in question - you just need to strictly follow their recommendations.

Tsygankova Yana Aleksandrovna, medical observer, therapist of the highest qualification category.

An unpleasant phenomenon that occurs more often than other convulsions is called cramps. They are usually accompanied by pain and numbness in the calf muscle, which interferes with restful sleep. For proper treatment of night cramps, it is necessary to analyze the provoking factors and establish their cause. If attacks recur frequently, you should consult a doctor.

Causes of night cramps

The reasons are very different.

• Lack of mobility. Due to lack of physical activity, the muscles gradually atrophy, resulting in pain in the legs. Particularly susceptible to this problem are office workers, drivers.
• Failure to comply with training techniques. A serious mistake is placing all the weight on one part of the foot. People involved in athletics and strength sports should analyze their activities.
• Lack of nutrients.
• Liver diseases, diabetes, dysfunction of the thyroid gland, anemia, varicose veins, thrombophlebitis, heart failure, flat feet.

Possible during pregnancy various kinds disruptions in the functioning of the body. Some of them provoke the occurrence of cramping in the calf muscles. They come suddenly and often at night. Let's look at the reasons for the violations.

• Deficiency of vitamin B6, magnesium, potassium, calcium. On early stage During pregnancy, toxicosis occurs, which removes microelements from the body.
• Reduced percentage of glucose in the blood. To maintain glucose levels, pregnant women are advised to split their meals into small portions.
• Phlebeurysm. In the last period of pregnancy, the increased load does not allow the veins to cope with their work. Blood stagnates, circulatory problems occur, which makes it difficult for the required amount of essential substances to enter the muscles. Metabolic products are not excreted, creating a favorable background for the appearance of seizures.
• Inferior vena cava syndrome. In a horizontal position, the pregnant woman’s uterus presses on the lower vein, which reduces the outflow of blood and leads to calf cramps.
• Using diuretics in excess can cause mineral loss.

Video story

New-fangled diets advise limiting the consumption of certain foods, which threatens a deficiency of important substances. A lack of magnesium, calcium, sodium and potassium promotes the formation of ionic compounds in the intercellular spaces, which have a stimulating effect on nerve endings, thereby causing painful muscle contractions at night. Mono-diets are considered especially dangerous in this regard.

The use of diuretic and choleretic foods and drinks contributes to disruption of the metabolic process muscle tissue water balance. Important microelements are excreted along with the liquid.

If your calves cramp at night, your shoes may be to blame. Women often wear high-heeled shoes, so during the day their legs become tired from long-term incorrect positioning of the foot, and at night fatigue and relaxed muscles manifest themselves in the form of reflex contractions.

A woman’s body experiences serious stress in menstrual period, due to impaired peripheral circulation.

Video information

Women are prone to cramps due to stress. Minor disturbances often result in nighttime calf cramps.

The peculiarity of spasms in men is that they are more painful, since the muscles are denser than women’s. The causes of seizures are considered to be:

• Forced inactivity, increased loads. Men who are busy suffer from this professional activity: truck drivers, tractor drivers, bulldozer drivers, athletes.
• Muscle hypothermia. Many men allow themselves to be in the cold water of reservoirs and neglect warm underwear, which leads to hypothermia of the muscles.
• Overweight. Body parameters and huge belly leads to the fact that the inferior vena cava is pinched, as in pregnant women.
• Smoking and alcohol. They negatively affect peripheral blood supply: they spasm blood vessels, stimulate nerve endings, which provokes convulsions.
• Dehydration. Heavy sweating removes a significant portion of microelements from the body.

Treatment is acceptable both with folk remedies at home and with medications.

In rare cases, you can avoid medical attention by using home remedies. Traditional medicine offers many recipes to help with cramps in the calves.

• Fast method. Hold a pinch of salt in your mouth for up to 2 minutes and the cramp will go away.
• Lemon juice. Take a spoonful of salted lemon juice under your tongue. The disease can be eliminated by lubricating the area of ​​spasm with juice.
• Kvass mixture. Add a teaspoon of yeast to a glass of bread kvass, leave for 6 hours, divide into equal parts according to the number of meals. Take before meals for a month. Improves the taste of the honey mixture.
• Wormwood tincture. Pour vodka into a container filled with wormwood herb and leave for 2-3 weeks. Rub your feet every evening until the cramps disappear completely.
• Chamomile mixture. Brew two tablespoons of chamomile like tea with a liter of boiling water. Drink after meals, last time before bed.
• Celandine ointment. Mix freshly squeezed celandine juice with medical Vaseline 1:2. Rub problem areas for 2 weeks.

To ease pain and spasms, it is recommended to pull your toes towards you. Then restore blood circulation by doing a massage. You can pinch or prick the muscle. After relief, you need to lie down with your legs elevated. This method will speed up blood circulation and relax spasms.

If effectiveness cannot be achieved with folk remedies, you should definitely consult a doctor who will prescribe additional tests.

In accordance with the identified cause and correct diagnosis, drugs of different effects are prescribed. In this case, therapy is aimed at eliminating the cause itself. The treatment complex includes vitamins and microelements.

For local treatment heparin ointment, troxevasin gel, ointments based on horse chestnut, finalgon are used. With anti-inflammatory and warming properties, they relieve seizures and symptoms of pathologies. Ointments are used before bedtime, applied to the problem area.

Pills

There are no pills that will completely eliminate cramps without identifying the underlying cause. But these anticonvulsants are recommended more often than others:

"Difenin"	Relieves spasms, relaxes muscles.	As prescribed by a doctor.
"Mydocalm"	Local anesthetic and muscle relaxant effects.	As prescribed by a doctor.
"Panangin", "Asparkam"	Replenishes magnesium and potassium deficiency.	1-2 tablets per day.
"Magnerot"	Contains magnesium.	2 tablets 3 times a day are used for a long time.
"Analgin", acetylsalicylic acid, "Paracetamol"	Analgesic, anti-inflammatory.	1 tablet up to 4 times a day.

For convulsions provoked by varicose veins, popular drugs that relieve inflammation, improve the walls of blood vessels, and accelerate blood circulation are: “Venoturon 300”, “Antistax”, “Venarus”, “Anavenol”.

IMPORTANT! Most drugs used in the treatment of seizures have many contraindications, so self-medication is unsafe for health.

Compliance with the following preventive rules will help prevent a condition where your calves cramp at night.

• The diet must fully meet the body's needs for vitamins and microelements.
• Minimize heavy and prolonged stress on the legs.
• Wear comfortable shoes if possible.
• Before going to bed, massage your feet to normalize blood circulation and relieve tension.
• Reduce consumption to a minimum junk food and drinks.
• Get rid of bad habits.
• Protect yourself from unnecessary worries.

ADVICE! In order not to remove water from muscle tissue, after a cup of strong coffee or tea, it is good to replenish the body with 200 milligrams of liquid.

In most cases, calf muscle cramps are not life-threatening. However, frequent repetitions create significant discomfort, so it is necessary to immediately identify the causes of calf spasms and get rid of them using traditional medicine recipes or drug treatment. Don't forget about prevention to eliminate this problem forever.

You are here Home » Diseases » Convulsions » Cramps in the calves of the legs: causes, symptoms and treatment of the problem

Cramps are a common problem that almost every person faces, regardless of gender and age. They usually occur at night or during vigorous physical activity, causing severe discomfort and in some cases leaving behind mild pain for several hours.

Most often, cramps affect the calf muscle. If your calves are cramping, there are methods that can quickly relieve the pain and prevent the cramps from recurring.

Why do my calves cramp? Let's look at the various reasons

There are many negative factors that affect the appearance of cramps in the calves, and the most common are the following:

• Increased physical activity without prior warm-up. A sudden load on an unprepared muscular system leads to acute pain. Prolonged stay in a sitting or standing position without the opportunity to warm up leads to blood stagnation, and the muscles receive an insufficient amount of valuable elements.
• The influence of severe stressful situations. When stressed, cortisol is released into the blood, a hormone that helps cope with stressful situations. But frequent exposure interferes with calcium absorption, which leads to seizures. Excessive consumption of caffeine-containing products (energy drinks, coffee, desserts with it, medications) also increases the production of cortisol.
• Inadequate diet. Fasting and uneven nutrition are stressful for the body, which leads to the release of cortisol. Also, a deficiency of a number of useful elements negatively affects the condition of blood vessels and muscles. Particularly harmful, in addition to a lack of calcium, is a lack of potassium, magnesium, vitamins from group B, calciferols (vitamins from group D), sugar, and iron.
• Wearing uncomfortable shoes for a long time. The foot in incorrectly selected shoes is compressed and is in constant voltage, and blood circulation is impaired. There is also a connection with cramps and heel height: wearing high-heeled shoes overstrains the calf muscle.
• Disruptions in metabolic processes. They develop due to endocrine disruptions, poor diet, excess nicotine and alcohol, and congenital abnormalities (enzyme disorders).
• Exposure to cold. When swimming in cold water, blood vessels constrict and cramps may occur. And physical activity in a cold room more often leads to cramps, since it is more difficult to warm up the muscles with training and they are more vulnerable.
• Flat feet. With this pathology, the load is distributed unevenly, and the calf muscle is overstrained.
• Excess protein in the diet. Protein interferes with calcium absorption. Athletes who actively consume protein to gain muscle should take additional calcium tablets.
• Avoiding alcoholic beverages during treatment for alcoholism. Quitting alcohol after long-term and regular use in large quantities leads to a narrowing of blood vessels, which require time to restore function. With alcoholism, muscle spasms are also possible due to disruptions in blood circulation and impaired absorption of nutrients.
• Atherosclerotic vascular lesions in the calves. Fatty plaques accumulate in the vessels, blocking their lumen and disrupting blood flow.
• Varicose veins. With this pathology, blood circulation is impaired, which leads to seizures and other symptoms.
• Slowdown of metabolic processes in old age.
• Serious pathologies. Frequent seizures may indicate the development of dangerous diseases, including Parkinson's disease, brain tumors, epilepsy, various neurological disorders, diabetes, latent infections.

Pregnancy is a period during which changes occur in the body that affect blood circulation, the absorption of useful elements, and the functioning of many organs and systems.

Calf cramps in pregnant women most often occur due to:

• Iron deficiency anemia. A growing fetus urgently needs iron, and its deficiency leads to a number of disorders in the body of both the pregnant woman and the unborn child.
• Excessive intake of diuretic drugs. Edema during pregnancy is a common pathology for which diuretics are prescribed: drugs that remove excess fluid from the body along with some of the nutrients.
• Compression of the inferior vena cava. A heavy uterus puts pressure on a vein when a pregnant woman lies on her back. Blood circulation in the legs is disrupted and cramps occur.
• Lack of nutrients. During pregnancy, the need for vitamins and minerals increases, and the standard diet is no longer suitable. During pregnancy, the need for vitamins included in group B is especially high.

Both a sedentary lifestyle and excessive regular physical activity predispose to seizures. In these cases, the calves of the legs cramp, usually at night.

Read in another topic:

Cerebral palsy - causes of the disease

This serious illness includes a whole complex of serious lesions of the brain and central nervous system, which lead to disturbances in the patient’s movements and musculoskeletal system.

Read about how and when cerebral palsy is diagnosed here.

You will learn more about the treatment of cerebral palsy in this article.

Symptoms

A cramp that affects the calf muscle causes very sharp pain that is difficult to tolerate. It lasts on average from a few seconds to one or two minutes.

Other symptoms are also observed:

• the muscle becomes very tense and hardens;
• it is difficult to stand on your full foot due to pain;
• Moderate pain in the muscle may continue for several hours.

When the peak of pain passes, noticeable discomfort will persist for several minutes. Also, seizures may in rare cases be accompanied by severe symptoms, especially with a low pain threshold.

Observed:

• dizziness;
• darkening of the eyes;
• tachycardia;
• difficulty breathing;
• loss of consciousness.

Most often, a cramp occurs during:

• sleeping or resting lying down;
• stretching legs in the morning;
• physical activity;
• kneading stiff legs;
• swimming in bodies of water.

If cramps occur frequently and are accompanied by severe symptoms, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible.

Treatment

If the calves of the legs are cramping, what should the patient do? As a rule, treatment begins with identifying the causes that caused the disorder.

Diagnosis of the disorder, depending on the symptoms and results of the initial examination, may include:

• MRI of the spinal column;
• a series of blood tests;
• tests that determine hormone levels;
• electrocardiogram;
• electroencephalogram;
• cardiac tests;
• MRI and CT of the brain;
• Analysis of urine;
• tests to determine the content of vitamins and microelements.

Always before starting therapy, diagnostic measures are carried out and an anamnesis is collected.

Treatment for seizures that are not caused by serious illness includes:

• Nutrition correction. It’s good to eat small meals: five to seven times a day in small portions. It is also useful to include in your diet foods that contain a large number of useful elements: fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, fish.
• Lifestyle changes. You should reduce your stress level, smoke less or stop altogether, move more (walking, training, exercise), drink coffee and energy drinks in moderation.
• Foot massage. The feet and calves are massaged before bed using oils and warming ointments.
• Foot baths. Sea salt is good for your feet: three tablespoons of salt per five liters of water at a comfortable temperature.
• Taking vitamins and microelements. Selected by a specialist. The intake of iron, calcium, sodium, magnesium, potassium, vitamins A, E, D, B and others is indicated (for example, in case of vascular disorders, vitamin C and rutin may be prescribed).
• Wearing comfortable shoes with the correct heel height. The heel should be stable and not exceed 5 centimeters in height, and shoes should be selected according to size: if the shoes squeeze the foot, this impairs blood circulation.
• Use of compression tights and stockings. More often when varicose veins and venous insufficiency.
• Correction of flat feet: exercises, special shoes, insoles.
• Use of muscle relaxants (Mydocalm). They do not eliminate the cause of the pathology, but they reduce the frequency of seizures. They are not used in all cases and should be prescribed only by the attending physician.

In most cases, there is no serious problem behind calf cramps.

Exercises for cramps

To reduce the frequency of cramps and quickly eliminate pain, the following exercises are useful:

• walking on heels;
• rolling from heel to toe;
• walking on toes;
• flexion of toes in a sitting position;
• smooth stretching of the legs (yoga, gentle stretching complexes).

Examples of leg stretching exercises:

• Sit on the floor, stretch out your legs, take a towel and hook your foot with it, and then smoothly pull both edges towards you.
• Stand next to the wall (at a distance of a meter), stretch your arms forward and rest them against the wall at the level chest, and then bend in the torso so as to feel the stretch in the calf area.

If a cramp occurs while swimming, you need to turn over on your back and swim to the shore.

You can quickly get rid of a cramp by pulling your big toe towards you.

It is known that

hemiparetic form of cerebral palsy

characterized by damage to the muscular system. Most often, the disease covers half of the patient's body.

For information on peroneal nerve neuropathy, click here.

Prevention

The following preventive methods are useful:

• adjust the diet and introduce foods high in magnesium, calcium, potassium, iron (nuts, dairy products, bananas);
• to refuse from bad habits;
• sleep on a comfortable bed;
• enough to move;
• if the job requires long stay in one position, periodically do warm-ups;
• use comfortable shoes.

Video on the topic

Complaints about what drives

at night are not uncommon. This condition is accompanied by painful sensations, which does not allow a person to get a normal night's sleep. This can be heard more often from older people, but the possibility of seizures in young people cannot be ruled out.

Causes of pain at night in the calves

If you experience regular spasms in your calf muscles, you should definitely see a specialist. The causes of night cramps can be different.

To determine the cause of seizures, you need to analyze your lifestyle for the degree of presence of predisposing factors in everyday life.

Prolonged stress, irregular nutrition. Both the first and second lead to a decrease in blood sugar. Muscles feed on glucose. Its deficiency can cause a decrease in the level of electrolytes, as a result of which cramps appear.

Excessive physical stress. The reason for cramping your calves may be intense exercise. This is especially true in cases where the muscles were not ready for this. Both beginners with poor training and professional athletes can face a similar problem. Therefore, it is important to increase the load on the limbs gradually.

Sedentary or standing work. Both options can cause night cramps. In the case of sedentary work, immobility helps slow blood circulation and the flow of nutrients into the intercellular spaces muscles. In the case of standing work, on the contrary, the leg muscles long time are in a state of static tension.

Metabolic disease. Consequently muscle mass may experience a lack of oxygen and nutrition, which explains why the calves are cramped.

Caffeine abuse. When consumed more than 5 cups per day strong tea or coffee, cramping of the calf muscles may occur.

Wearing uncomfortable shoes. During the day, the leg muscles become very tired, and at night they cannot relax.

Abrupt refusal of alcohol. In the case of alcohol addiction, a sharp refusal of such drinks may be accompanied by convulsions.

Atherosclerosis of leg vessels. With such a diagnosis, contraction of the calf muscles can be observed not only at night, but also during the day while walking.

Elderly age. Slow metabolism, lack of glucose, and incipient Parkinson's disease can cause seizures.

What to do if you have calf muscle cramps

In order to prevent relapses of cramping conditions of the calf muscles, it is necessary to eliminate the provoking factors.

valerian

Calming fees.

Mint tea is very soothing.

It is imperative to adjust your diet. Meals should be taken at approximately the same time.

You cannot do without monitoring physical activity. You should try to do only feasible exercises. Daily kneading of the muscles of the lower extremities is encouraged.

For spasms positive effect gives self-massage. It should be done not only at critical moments, but also throughout the day. After the massage, a cold compress on the skin of the legs is useful.

If the cause of calf muscle cramps is any serious disease, it is necessary to treat it. Taking medications should be carried out under the supervision of a doctor. After recovery, the spasms will disappear on their own.

Sources:

• Why do my calves cramp?

There are probably quite a few people who are familiar first-hand with such an unpleasant phenomenon as leg cramps. Sometimes it is really difficult to figure out why it drives legs.

Instructions

Leg cramps that sometimes occur can be of a different nature. Their origin can be peripheral (not cerebral) or central (i.e. cerebral) in nature. The main cause of seizures of peripheral origin is increased excitability muscle and nerve cells, which in turn is caused by a lack of calcium or sodium chloride, insufficient supply to the brain,

and muscles with oxygen and glucose.

It is the lack of calcium that explains the occurrence of seizures

in pregnant women

Part of the calcium leaves the body in the urine; when diuretics are used, a very significant portion is taken by the developing fetus. In general, cramps are one of the most harmless (so to speak) manifestations associated with a lack of calcium in the body.

A lack of sodium chloride can be caused by significant physical activity (for example, when playing sports).

Convulsions of central origin occur, as a rule, with chronic changes and organic damage to the brain and manifest themselves in such serious diseases as, for example,

epilepsy

Myoclonic spasms, etc.

Insufficient supply of oxygen and glucose to the brain, nerves and muscles can occur during intense sports (when all glucose reserves are exhausted), while swimming in cold water (the muscles seem to do double work), during and after sleep in an uncomfortable position (

legs numb

Blood supply is disrupted)

during pregnancy

When the developing fetus is taken from the body

iron. At the same time, the hemoglobin level

goes down

Blood supply

getting worse

Another possible cause is diabetes. The occurrence of seizures indicates that in the brain, nerve tissue and the muscles starve because the blood vessels are unable to properly supply them with nutrition.

Another possible cause of cramps is flat feet. Try using special orthopedic insoles - arch supports (it is advisable to use custom-made insoles rather than store-bought ones).

Do special exercises for your feet every day. While sitting or lying down, bend and straighten your feet. Start with 10 -12 movements and increase to 60 - 70. Perform 3 - 4 times a day. All recommendations must be agreed with your doctor.

Convulsions of central origin are usually caused by chronic changes and organic damage to the brain and can manifest themselves in such serious diseases as, for example, epilepsy, myoclonic convulsions, etc.

From all of the above, we can conclude: convulsions of peripheral origin are an unpleasant phenomenon, but in

legs In x cases, removable. If they happened to you repeatedly and without

visible reasons

Don't put off visiting your doctor.

convulsions there is an involuntary contraction of the muscles of the whole body or individual muscle groups. Most often, the cause of this is poor blood supply, insufficiency of calcium in the body or its poor absorption, insufficiency parathyroid gland or exposure to cold.

convulsions muscles of the upper body, such as the forearm or finger

Squeeze with thumb and forefinger

other hand upper lip in the middle. If

spasm

cramps the muscles of the lower body, or a toe or lower lip. Or simply bite your upper or lower lip depending on the location of the spasm. Thus, alternately contract and relax the muscle several times. This will increase blood circulation and

will stop

cramp. Try to grab the cramped muscle. Press your index finger as deeply as possible into its protruding central part for 20-25 seconds and at the same time take several deep breaths to improve blood circulation. It will help

cramp and soft

spasmodic muscle, relaxing muscle fibers. To do this, apply a little oil (sesame or mustard) on it and massage lightly. After rubbing with oil, apply a warm diaper or cover yourself with a warm blanket. Try to stretch the cramped muscle by pulling your foot towards you. Then knead it to release any residual tension and prick the skin over the contracted muscle. sharp object.Fine

helps

acupressure. Thumb press the calf muscle where it meets the tendon, gradually increasing

pressure

After this, press for a few seconds on the point located in the middle of the popliteal fossa. This method is strictly contraindicated for pregnant women. Use a hot compress with marjoram, lavender or ginger oil. To do this, add one or two drops of any of these oils to a saucepan with

hot water

Dampen a piece of cloth with this solution, wring it out and apply it to your cramped leg. Consult a doctor immediately if the cramps are associated with poor circulation and they do not go away within an hour.

Many people know firsthand about foot diseases. Among the leaders in unpleasant sensations caviar. After all, when the leg muscles cramp, it is very painful - you can’t turn around, stand up, or sit down. All actions are accompanied by tension and unpleasant sensations. And there are many reasons for such diseases.

Pregnant women often suffer

Due to the growing stress on the body and the double consumption of beneficial salts and minerals,

mothers have an insufficient amount of calcium. This leads to cramps and pain in the

legs As a rule, the situation is corrected by taking vitamins and additional mineral complexes. The so-called potassium supplement also helps in this case.

When you need to eat more bananas, kiwi and honey. In addition, muscle cramps can also be observed in cases where

person

chronic venous insufficiency develops. This causes the veins to become pinched, function poorly and give off strong

at the bottom of the leg. Before starting treatment and to confirm the diagnosis, it is recommended to do an ultrasound of the veins, Doppler or scan. Then the phlebologist will prescribe treatment. In some cases, pain

This is a signal that there is overexertion or a blood pressure disorder. Such manifestations can be relieved by a properly balanced diet with a high content of greens, fruits and dairy products. Normalize your blood pressure and relax. And the pain will go away. In addition to treatment, you can relieve emerging pain with additional

means

For example, massage. Gently stroke the cramped limb. Then gradually massage your leg with very light pressure. This is needed to relieve vasospasm. Alternatively, try to relieve pain with a bath of warm water. To do this, fill the bathtub with water level up to

and place your feet in it. Stroke them lightly

under the water

The moisture will relax the muscles and relieve spasms. Which in turn will eliminate pain. Drinking herbal teas is also recommended. You just need to drink them very carefully. Choose only those that do not have a diuretic effect, otherwise you risk leaching out even more calcium, thereby worsening your leg problems.

Leg cramps are a fairly common phenomenon, which is an involuntary frequent contraction of muscles. It is always sudden and accompanied by very strong pain.

Unexpected convulsive tensions (tonic convulsions) often last up to three minutes or more and occur during monotonous sedentary work, when the muscle nerve is pinched in the muscle canal, long walking, or during hypothermia while swimming in cold water or in winter. In addition, convulsions can begin due to excessive load on the leg muscles, insufficient warm-up or increasing the volume of training. Such phenomena can also be observed in healthy people.

The cause of tonic localized seizures can also be a violation of the biochemical or electrolyte composition of the blood. They are formed when the body loses significant salts, which develops when the amount of calcium, potassium or magnesium in the blood decreases, as well as when there is a lack of vitamin D.

Calf muscle cramps may be a consequence of severe anemia. This most often occurs in pregnant women, when there is a particular deficiency of iron, which is part of hemoglobin. In this case, the metabolism of mineral substances is disrupted, external manifestation which is what leg muscle cramps are.

If a person’s legs hurt and swell for a long time, he experiences a feeling of heaviness, which causes cramps that become permanent over time, this may indicate the development of varicose veins. Varicose veins are also common among expectant mothers, when the growing uterus puts pressure on the lower sex and iliac veins. As a result, varicose pressure increases.

Often the cause of leg cramps can be a focus of irritation in the motor area of ​​the brain. This phenomenon is most common with the onset of a stroke or during its development, as well as with infectious lesions of the nervous system (influenza, ARVI).

Cramps in the limbs are often observed with local hypoxia (lack of oxygen) due to vascular disorders in them, as well as with changes in innervation due to spinal osteochondrosis. Nerve roots At the same time, they are compressed and the function of the motor nerves is disrupted.

Sometimes leg cramps occur due to diseases of the nervous system (neurosis, tetanus). In some patients they develop or intensify with external stimulus(with a needle prick in the leg, alcohol abuse and poisoning). The above diseases require careful monitoring by the attending physician.

Sources:

• why do my legs cramp?

There are people who experience cramps in the calf

Oh. This is a fairly common and unpleasant phenomenon. Most often, this disease begins unexpectedly. Therefore, it will be useful to learn how to get rid of such spasms quickly and easily.

You will need

• - crow's feet grass 1 tbsp;
• - lemon juice.

Instructions

To relieve pain and discomfort

during spasm

It is necessary to stretch the cramped muscle. To do this, stand a step away from the wall, facing it. Place your feet slightly wider than your shoulders. Place your palms against the wall above your head. Move backwards in small steps, while

should not come off the floor. Do these movements until you feel that

muscle stretched

Do not overdo it, do not lead to the appearance of unpleasant sensations. Stay in this position for approximately

Then pinch and rub

limb

During convulsions in calf muscles get a massage. With your thumb, press the point in the middle of the muscle, gradually increasing the pressure. After this, press on the area in the popliteal fossa for a few seconds. This massage is contraindicated

pregnant women

If a spasm occurs when swimming in cool water, take a few

physical

exercises. IN

You should warm up your muscles to increase blood flow to them. It’s good if you have a pin or needle with you. Stab her where it hurts. This irritation of the muscle will stop the spasm.

To prevent seizures, every day for two

Lubricate your feet with freshly squeezed lemon juice. A hot infusion will also help.

crow's feet. To prepare it, pour a tablespoon of herb with a glass of boiling water and leave for an hour. Take a third of a glass before meals three times a day.

note

There are many reasons for the occurrence of such seizures. Cramps can be symptoms of certain diseases, as well as complications during pregnancy in women. Therefore, it is better to consult a doctor in order to identify and eliminate the cause of their appearance in time.

Helpful advice

Do leg exercises regularly, try to get rid of excess weight, strengthen your ligaments, give up uncomfortable and tight shoes, and do not overload your feet.

Each person's body is unique in its own way. It is known that when losing weight, the body does not always lose kilograms evenly. As a result, to get rid of excess weight in problem areas, additional efforts are required. A special set of exercises will help correct the shape of the calf muscles.

You will need

• - step platform;
• - jump rope.

Instructions

Place your toes on a small hill (a thick book), while resting your heels on the floor surface. Now rise up onto your toes. Lock in this position by counting to 5. Carefully return to the starting position. Repeat the exercise 15-20 times.

Simple squats, which must be performed on your toes, will help reduce the calf muscles. Please note: when performing the exercise, special attention should be paid to balance. Squat like this for 5-7 minutes.

Static exercises also give excellent results. Take the starting position - half squat. It is worth noting that the bend angle must be at least 90 degrees. Lock in this position for 3-5 minutes.

If you decide to reduce the size of your calf muscles through exercise, you should know that you should not train your legs on machines. Use the suggested exercises only in combination. Also avoid any aerobic exercise. Before starting your workout, focus on stretching exercises for your calf muscles.

Stand with your right foot on the step platform. Leave your left foot on the floor surface. This is the starting position. Now place your left foot on the step, then lower your right foot to the floor. Alternate your legs in this manner for 3-5 minutes. Perform the exercise at a fast pace.

This exercise is aimed at stretching the calf muscles. Take a step forward, placing your hands on your buttocks. Gradually bend your leg. The leg that remains behind should rest on the floor. This position provides an effective stretch for both the hamstrings and calf muscles. Perform the exercise for 30 seconds, alternating legs.

Lie on your back. Bend your legs at the knees. Gently pull the socks towards you, alternating your legs. This exercise may seem too simple at first, but you will be surprised at the effect you can get from it.

Place your hands on the wall. Bend one leg at the knee. After this, place the shin of the other leg on top of it. In this position, lift your body weight onto your toes 10-12 times. Perform the exercise at a slow pace. Switch legs.

Helpful advice

You should not do exercises every day to reduce your calf muscles. The best option– 2-3 classes per week with a break between training sessions of 2-3 days. Experts believe that in this case it is possible to achieve excellent result in short time. On your free days, spend some time jumping rope. They also work great on the leg muscles.

Some people systematically experience discomfort as a result of tension in the muscles. At the moment of muscle spasm, the muscles contract, and the condition is accompanied by acute pain. Thus, any activity, be it playing tennis, running, walking or even sleeping, can be interrupted by a cramp.

Instructions

A provoking factor in the occurrence of muscle spasms may be insufficient elasticity of the fibers, which in some cases can be eliminated with the help of special stretching exercises. Experts also believe that one of the reasons why this condition occurs is fatigue. Special

shoots

nervous system (alpha motor neurons) control involuntary muscle contractions and human reflexes. Through them, commands are sent from the cerebral cortex and from the spinal region in the form of electrical impulses, creating reflex muscle contractions if necessary. This reflex is the body's way of protecting itself from stress.

In a state of fatigue, alpha motor neurons continue to function, but the impulse reaches only the muscle and not the tendon. From a large number of impulses, the muscle tenses because it cannot transmit them further due to fatigue. Thus, the vessels become clamped by swollen muscle fibers and therefore do not allow blood to pass through. In this area of ​​spasm occurs oxygen starvation and increased pressure on some nerves, resulting in pain.

Excessive body sweating can also lead to muscle spasms. This is due to the loss of a large amount of minerals along with sweat, as a result of which the usual balance between potassium, magnesium, sodium and calcium is disrupted. These microelements determine the timely transmission of impulses from the brain to their destination, and their significant losses disrupt this process, which is why the muscles contract.

Also, problems in the circulatory system, with the spine (osteochondrosis) or nerves very often provoke muscle spasms. Metabolic disorder, change hormonal levels, a monotonous diet, as well as taking certain medications can also be one of the reasons for the appearance of muscle spasms.

A lack of certain vitamins (B1, B5 and B6) that affect the process of transmission of nerve impulses in the human body can manifest itself as follows: unpleasant symptoms like spasms and painful tension in the muscles.

note

If any muscle discomfort occurs, you should consult a specialist. At the reception, you should be very attentive and list everything in as much detail as possible. possible reasons the appearance of muscle spasms (all past illnesses, allergic irritants, injuries and operations, as well as medications taken).

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Cramps are reflex muscle contractions that occur unexpectedly, causing discomfort or pain, making leg movements impossible. More and more people are turning to doctors with complaints that their calves are cramped. There are many reasons contributing to the disease. To establish the exact cause and prescribe treatment, you will need to trace all sorts of factors that can provoke cramping of the calf muscles. It is possible to treat spasms in the calf muscles with the help of modern medicine and folk remedies.

The main causes of calf muscle cramps

Depending on the cause of the calf reduction, it is necessary to find the correct solution to this problem. It is considered useful to engage in a set of exercises aimed at stretching muscles and tendons. If contraction of the calf muscles has become a frequent occurrence, it is recommended to consult a doctor and undergo an examination of the body. The solution will help to find dangerous diseases, and timely treatment will prevent their development.

Statistics have shown that every second inhabitant of the planet faces this phenomenon. Most people do not notice such a nuisance. Often the cause of cramped legs is a lack of potassium, magnesium, and calcium. Initially, you will need to compensate for the deficiency of these microelements. If the frequency of manifestations is high, it is recommended to consult a doctor.

Convulsive muscle contraction

Common causes of muscle spasms are:

• Physical activity without warming up and stretching muscles;
• Prolonged stress on the legs as a result of standing or sedentary work;
• Stress accompanied by poor nutrition;
• Failure in metabolic processes, as a result of which the muscles do not receive enough oxygen;
• A sharp drop in temperature causes constriction of blood vessels;
• Inconvenient, incorrectly selected shoes;
• Flat feet;
• Hormonal imbalances;
• ARVI;
• Injuries;
• Heat;
• Drug poisoning.

In adulthood, the causes are: excess glucose in the body, slow metabolism, Parkinson's disease. It is extremely rare for calf cramps to occur due to serious illnesses: brain cancer, diabetes, epilepsy, thrombophlebitis.

An additional reason is impaired blood circulation in the lower extremities, when blood moves poorly through the veins. This happens due to a passive lifestyle and little physical activity. Neurology and diseases of the spine can be attributed to the causes of spasms of the calf muscles. There is a direct connection, since a pinched nerve due to difficulties with the spine produces an unpleasant sensation in the lower limb.

Cramp in shin

Why do my calves cramp when stretching?

If your calves cramp while stretching, the cause is probably a simple muscle spasm that occurs during sudden physical exertion. Such cases are especially often observed in women who spend a large amount of time on a high platform; the muscles are in a state of tension also during sleep.

There are several ways to avoid cramps: raise your leg up and pull your toe down. Or it is enough to simply massage the area of ​​the spasm, and then smear the leg with a special medicinal ointment.

Cramps your calves when walking

If your calves cramp during walking, running, or swimming, you should pay attention and identify the factor causing the muscle contraction. The reason may not be a deficiency of microelements, but a circulatory disorder. In addition to normal flat feet, the cause is believed to be incipient varicose veins.

You can get rid of a cramp in several ways: pinch or prick the place where the cramp is cramped with a sharp object. However, you need to be extremely careful; there is a high probability of damage to blood vessels or infection. After the injection, it is recommended to actively massage the leg, then apply a special ointment.

Why do calf cramps occur in men?

More often, cramps among men are observed in athletes after intense physical exertion. The reason is a decrease in microelements and dehydration of the body due to increased sweating. Due to excessive consumption of sugar, nicotine and caffeine, a lack of essential muscle components occurs, causing the calf muscle to contract.

Muscle contraction in a man

Causes of calf muscle cramps in women

Certain factors are known to cause leg cramps in women. The main common reason is wearing high heels. To avoid cramps, it is recommended to wear shoes with low heels or alternate high platforms with low ones. Often cramps in the calves of pregnant women, mainly shortly before the birth of the baby, since the expectant mother’s body has a deficiency of microelements and vitamins, which are spent on the development of the fetus.

Treatment with elastic stockings will definitely help with varicose veins, which cause leg cramps. Stockings help keep blood vessels in a static position. It is not recommended to wear shoes with a high platform, use tight belts, or sit with one leg crossed over the other.

Why do my calves cramp at night?

The question often arises as to why the calves cramp at night - in the dark the muscles are not tense. At night, blood flow is disrupted, resulting in incorrect sleeping position or vascular problems. Any movement during sleep can cause a spasm. Patients often turn to doctors with complaints: sharp muscle spasms, acute pain that lasts for several minutes. Doctors are not clear exactly why cramps occur at night. Such seizures are called idiopathic. It means that the patient has no apparent reason for the occurrence of such a condition.

If a cramp occurs suddenly, it is recommended to change the position of the legs and allow the muscles to relax. Then the leg needs to be massaged and a cold compress applied.

A proper, balanced diet is a sure salvation in the fight against cramps. It is recommended to eat more natural products, give up fatty foods, avoid deficits necessary for the body substances. In case of a lack of magnesium, potassium and calcium in the body, it is recommended to include apples, dried apricots, bananas, and cottage cheese in the diet. In the appendix to proper nutrition Taking vitamins will help. For example, vitamin D deficiency is quite capable of causing muscle contraction.

How to avoid calf muscle cramps

Most people feel in advance that a cramp will occur. It's worth trying to relax as much as possible. If you experience cramps in your calves, you will need to change your position. Try to lift the limb, then pull the sole towards the knee. After doing the exercise, sit down and pinch the location of the spasms. Try shifting your body weight onto the cramped leg. After a certain time, blood circulation and sensitivity in the legs will improve.

In case of sudden and prolonged leg cramps, immediate attention is required. health care, the risk of depression of vital functions develops, for example, breathing. Do not neglect treatment and examinations; complications are likely in the future.

Treatment of seizures

Treatment of seizures using folk remedies

If seizures are not frequent, and the cause cannot be identified, it is possible to do without the help of a doctor and resort to treatment with folk remedies:

1. When cramps in the calves of the legs often help, an effective method in folk medicine is rubbing the place where the spasm occurred using mustard oil.
2. Folk remedy: infuse 3/4 cup of dope seeds in 0.5 liters of 75% alcohol in a place out of direct sunlight for 30 days. If cramps occur, rub the disturbing area with cotton wool, after dipping it in the tincture. Yeast will help prevent cramps. To compensate for potassium deficiency, make a remedy from them.
3. Simple magnets will help with cramps; just place objects on the place where the spasm occurred. For treatment, it is recommended to prepare baths from special medicinal herbs: nettle, peppermint, wheatgrass, yarrow, shepherd's purse. Divide the listed herbs into equal parts. Pour 100 g of herbs into 250 ml of boiling water, place in a water bath, and boil for 20 minutes. Pour the resulting product into a container with water, the temperature of which does not exceed 38-40 degrees. Place your feet in the broth so that your calves are completely immersed, hold for 20 minutes. It is worth doing the procedure for 10 days in a row.

Treatment with folk remedies is much more profitable and a priority than with expensive medications.

It is permissible to perform exercises to prevent calf spasms in advance, aimed at improving blood circulation, stretching and relaxing muscles. If you carefully monitor the condition of the body and receive timely treatment, there is a high probability of avoiding spasms of the calf muscles.

Leg cramps occur at any age, but they are most annoying to people over the age of 50. Cramps are involuntary contractions of the striated muscles of the legs, which can be caused by for various reasons. Contractions of skeletal muscles are paroxysmal in nature and are often unbearably painful.

Numerous causes of muscle spasms are well studied by medicine, are easily corrected, and quickly treated. If you constantly suffer from contractions of your limbs, then be sure to consult a doctor who will help you solve this problem.

In this article we will look at why the legs cramp, especially at night, over the age of 50. What is the cause of this unpleasant symptom, and what should be done at home so that the cramps no longer bother you.

What are the reasons for leg cramps?

The reasons why leg muscle cramps develop at night lie in disorders electrolyte balance muscle cells, inadequate blood supply to soft tissues or neurological problems.

These three groups of reasons can occur both in isolation and in various combinations, accompanying congenital anomalies or acquired diseases. In this case, it is not so important what the patient’s age is, since the mechanisms of development of myoclonus are almost identical for children, adults and the elderly (including those over 50).

1. Muscle overstrain (for example, during prolonged work in the garden near the beds or professional cramps of the arm muscles in pornographers or, say, musicians);
2. A sharp increase in temperature leads to hyperthermic convulsions. This condition can occur with heat, sunstroke, as well as with diseases accompanied by an increase in temperature.
3. Dehydration of the body. With active sweating, there is a significant loss of microelements that ensure healthy muscle function. Therefore, it is so important to drink up to 2.5 liters of water per day, especially during the hot summer season and during active activities sports.
4. One of the reasons why your legs cramp at night may be the beginning of varicose veins. Other symptoms of this pathology are swelling, heaviness in the legs, and fatigue.
5. Infectious damage to the nervous system is also a fairly common cause of leg cramps. Such damage can occur with influenza, as well as with other infections.
6. Stress. During emotional stress or a nervous breakdown, an intense load occurs on the entire human body, primarily on the nerve endings responsible for contracting the muscles of the body. An excess of the stress hormone (cortisol) leads to an imbalance of micro- and macroelements, leading to a lack of calcium in the body, which is necessary for healthy functioning, muscle tension and relaxation.
7. Violations of the biochemical or electrolyte composition of the blood (loss of calcium, potassium, magnesium salts, lack of vitamin D).

A lack of vitamins and minerals can be caused by:

1. A stressful condition in which cortisol is produced in large quantities (it impairs the absorption of calcium in the intestines and promotes its excretion in the urine);
2. Long-term use of medications that impede the absorption and further absorption of magnesium in the body. A similar effect results antacids Maalox and Almagel, which are used for heartburn. Their action is to coat the gastric mucosa to protect against aggressive influences. of hydrochloric acid. At the same time, the absorption of microelements and vitamins slows down. Eufillin and insulin remove magnesium from cells.
3. Consumption of proteins in large quantities (glucose is absorbed not from carbohydrates, but from the body’s fat reserves, which is why ketones appear in the blood, which contribute to the excretion of calcium in the urine);
4. Pregnancy of a woman if non-compliance balanced nutrition(lack of calcium, magnesium);
5. Long-term lack of exposure to sunlight on the body (lack of vitamin D, leading to deterioration in calcium absorption) - residents of northern latitudes are susceptible to this;
6. Increased sweating, which leads to the excretion of magnesium along with sweat, resulting in a deficiency of this microelement in the body.

Secondary seizures are more dangerous, since their appearance at night can be associated with the most various diseases. These include diabetes, disorders of the central nervous system and thyroid gland, varicose veins, as well as some infectious diseases.

Very often they bother pregnant women, whose weight increases, which leads to increased stress on the leg muscles. We also note that the cause can also be poisoning with drugs, lead, or mercury.

My legs cramp at night, why and what to do?

If your leg cramps at night, you need to take several measures to help eliminate the cramp. First you need to stand with the affected leg on something cold. In this case, you should try to pull the toe forward as much as possible. Then you can try to squat slightly, leaning mainly on the leg that was cramped. The spasm is relieved by lightly massaging the affected area.

It is also advised to strongly pinch the tense muscle or lightly prick it with a sharp object, such as a needle or pin, and the spasm should stop. To prevent relapse, apply warming ointment to the sore spot or rub with alcohol.

Treatment of leg cramps

The main condition for successful treatment is determining the cause of seizures. To find out why your legs cramp at night, your doctor may prescribe a blood test for magnesium and calcium levels, neuromyography, and other examinations.

Treatment includes:

• impact on the cause (treatment of varicose veins, correction of flat feet, sedative therapy for stress);
• a diet rich in vitamins and microelements.

If your leg cramps at home, you need to massage it, rub the muscles thoroughly, stand up, and walk around. If muscle cramps bother you at night, it is better to sleep in warm socks or knee socks. To relieve pain, use any “burning” ointment, for example finalgon.

When the cause of cramps is a lack of vitamins, reconsider your diet. It is important to eat foods rich in magnesium, calcium, vitamins D, B6, and so on. Therefore, it is useful to enjoy bran, dried apricots, raisins, fish, bananas, and peanuts. Eat dairy products every day - cottage cheese, hard cheese, drink milk.

Exercises

To prevent cramps in your legs at night, regardless of the causes of convulsive contractions of the lower extremities, it is useful to do simple exercises before going to bed:

1. Press your heels to the floor and stand for 10-20 seconds.
2. Repeat the exercise with your toes together and your heels apart.
3. Repeat the exercise, but now toes apart, heels together.

After a working day, try to relieve accumulated tension with the following exercises:

1. Slowly bend your toes down and then quickly straighten them.
2. Be like external-internal sides stop.
3. Sit on a bench, raise your feet and “write” the numbers 1 to 10.

And one more exercise option:

1. Sitting, bend your legs and pull your toes towards you for 8-12 seconds, stretching the calf muscle. Repeat 3-6 times with a break of 5-10 seconds.
2. Standing, we rise on our tiptoes, stretch our arms up, and breathe deeply. Then lower your heels to the floor. Repeat 3-6 times with a break of 5-10 seconds.
3. Standing, bend your torso and reach your toes with your hands, without lifting your heels from the floor, stretching your calf muscles. Repeat 3-6 times with a break of 5-10 seconds.

During heavy physical work, when you have to stand on your feet for a long time, find an opportunity to rest for 5-10 minutes: sit down or take a lying position with your legs elevated. At the same time, you can do the listed exercises.

Prevention

To prevent leg cramps from bothering you, you should adhere to the following prevention measures:

1. Wear only comfortable shoes with low heels - this will prevent not only cramps, but also varicose veins;
2. Avoid physical activity that involves standing for long periods of time or walking for long periods of time.
3. Reduce coffee and sugar consumption to a minimum, especially before bedtime;
4. Stop smoking.
5. Every day, in the evenings, contrast baths, as well as baths with sea salt and decoctions of medicinal herbs that have
6. anticonvulsant effect (horsetail, peppermint, valerian).

It is also very important to eat right and get enough vitamins and minerals. Lack of potassium in the body can cause cramps in the calves and feet. Dehydration can also cause cramps. The body needs water and other fluids, especially those that provide electrolytes.

Vitamin D is also important for healthy feet and bones. Smoking and drinking alcohol can lead to dehydration.

Sudden pain in the calf area, which is accompanied by muscle spasm, is called cramps. They can occur at any time. Sometimes their occurrence indicates a serious illness. Before judging the health risks of calf cramps, it is important to understand the etiology, that is, the cause (or causes) of occurrence.

Why do my calves cramp? Causes of spasms

Conventionally, the reasons leading to a sharp contraction of the calf muscles can be relatively harmless (occur rarely due to the influence of any short-term factors) and serious (occur due to diseases). The main, most common reasons include:

Almost all of the above reasons (with the exception of pregnancy, hypovitaminosis and flat feet) can be eliminated without resorting to medical care. Micronutrient deficiency is treated by selecting special medications. An orthopedist will help cure flat feet. An obstetrician-gynecologist will advise you on how to get rid of cramps during pregnancy.

Cramps calves at night

An attack of night cramps may indicate such a terrible disease as diabetes. The thing is that the body is trying to remove excess sugar that has not been absorbed due to insulin deficiency. Microelements are removed along with it. A decrease in their concentration leads to seizures.

If you have severe cramps , this may also indicate the following serious health problems:

• vein diseases (varicose veins, inflammation, formation of blood clots);
• injuries of soft tissues (muscles, tendons, fascia, nerve trunks, blood vessels) of the lower extremities;
• endocrine diseases;
• postmenopausal period;
• various pathologies of the nervous system.

In all of these cases, they are just a symptom, that is, a separate sign of a disease, which requires specialist consultation and competent treatment.

Treatment of seizures

If your calves cramp in the morning, the first thing you should do is consult a therapist, who should determine the cause. From diagnostic methods An ultrasound of the lower extremities, blood tests, and urine tests may be prescribed.

To avoid seizures, you can put simple recommendations into practice. Contrast dousing of the legs, as well as massage, will help improve vascular tone. The diet should include fermented milk products that contain calcium. Its deficiency must be made up individual drugs. It is better to quit smoking, as nicotine promotes vasoconstriction, which has a beneficial effect on the occurrence of seizures.

Shoes should be comfortable, and for people with flat feet, a doctor may recommend the use of special insoles. It is recommended to drink enough fluid per day, as dehydration contributes to muscle spasms. Special physical exercise improve tissue nutrition and, therefore, reduce the risk of seizures.

What to do when convulsive muscle contractions occur? During the attack itself, the tense muscle should be massaged. If you have the opportunity to sit down, you should straighten your leg and stretch your toe forward as much as possible, and then toward you. This needs to be done several times. Regular, slow walking can help relieve an attack.

Some sources recommend pricking the spasming muscle with a needle. This method can really help if the needle is inserted into special points, to a certain depth, and if the rules of asepsis are followed (to avoid infection). Some people benefit from cold wraps with a damp towel, while others benefit from warming cream. After an attack, it is recommended to take horizontal position, slightly raise your legs on a blanket bolster or pillow.

From medical supplies used: “Difenin”, “Phenobarbital”, “Benzonal”, that is, having relaxing properties. These medications are prescribed in severe cases and do not eliminate the real reason. Repeated seizures should be a reason to immediately contact a specialist.

Text: Olga Kim

Each of us has at least once encountered such a problem as leg cramps. This phenomenon is unpleasant, but, alas, quite common. The causes of cramps can be both fatigue and lack of nutrients. What to do when your legs cramp at night?

What causes your legs to cramp at night?

If you observe regular leg cramps at night (cramps in calves, feet, toes) and this is accompanied by such unpleasant symptoms as constant heaviness, fatigue, then this phenomenon may be a symptom of incipient varicose veins. In this case, it is necessary to consult an experienced phlebologist before starting treatment.

Also, leg cramps can be a sign of a lack of nutrients such as calcium and potassium, and can also be caused by flat feet. In order to get rid of cramps with flat feet, special shoes and insoles are needed, as well as regular massage the entire surface of the legs and, in particular, the feet.

If there is a lack of vitamins and microelements in the body, it is necessary to reconsider your diet and include in it foods such as cottage cheese, hard cheeses, bananas, legumes, apples, dried apricots and others. Taking vitamin courses in addition to a proper diet may also help.

If your legs cramp at night due to incorrect posture, and your muscles become numb, then you need to immediately take a comfortable position and perform a kneading massage on the site of the spasm.

If your legs cramp at night quite often, this may be due to an excess of caffeine and nicotine in the body. Therefore, it is worth thinking about reducing your consumption of coffee and cigarettes. An excess of sugar in the body can also have a negative effect.

The most serious causes of leg cramps are diseases such as epilepsy, brain tumors, eclampsia, spasmophilia, as well as hidden injuries, inflammatory and infectious diseases, as well as hidden neurological diseases. In any case, if you often have cramps in your legs at night, you should seek advice from doctors such as an endocrinologist, phlebologist and neurologist.

How can I help if my legs cramp at night?

• Pinch the sore spot or prick yourself with a needle in that place, but not until it bleeds;


• rub your foot with warming ointment;


• massage the area where the cramp occurred;


• you can rub your foot with mustard oil;


• for 2 weeks, rub the soles of your feet with lemon juice, let it dry and only then put on your shoes;


• High heels can also cause leg cramps, so try to wear them rarely or switch to lower heels.

You can also do a number of exercises right in bed:

• stretch your leg and pull the toe towards you - not away from you, like a ballerina - but towards yourself, you can help yourself with your hands;


• stand on the floor and transfer all your weight to the leg that has cramped (if you can’t stand, then it’s better to avoid this exercise);


• you can also apply something cold to the sore leg, for example, metal or ice;


• place a cushion under your feet before going to bed, this also prevents varicose veins;


• Before going to bed, rinse your feet with cool water.

If your legs cramp at night quite often, then it is best to consult a doctor, since the reason for this development of events may actually be serious illnesses and even if this is a fairly common varicose veins, then you need to start fighting it as early as possible, at the first stage of the disease. Sleep well!

Many people are familiar with this situation: you are sleeping peacefully and suddenly you begin to feel an acute nagging pain in the leg. Or in the morning, having stretched unsuccessfully, you are faced with the same unpleasant sensations. If cramps recur repeatedly, this is a reason to think about why the calves are cramping, what is the reason and what treatment will be required.

Pulling your legs? We need to get examined!

It is difficult to find an adult who does not know what a calf muscle cramp is. Both men and women are familiar with it - and it really hurts! Despite the fact that muscle spasms usually do not last too long and go away on their own, the problem still deserves attention.

It’s one thing if you get a cramp while swimming in cold water. Everything is clear here: this is simply a muscle reaction to hypothermia. But if spasms recur regularly and you cannot find an explanation for this phenomenon, consult a doctor. Remember that this is far from a harmless symptom: it occurs in some serious diseases.

Why does this happen?

Most often, cramps in the calves occur at night. The cause of involuntary contractions of the muscles of the limb may be as follows:

• uncomfortable position during sleep, which leads to numb legs;
• unbalanced diet. If the body does not receive enough magnesium, calcium and glucose as a result of the fact that a person is on a diet or simply eats irrationally, then a deficiency of sugar and electrolytes in the blood occurs. This results in nighttime cramps;
• hormonal disbalance;
• kidney problems;
• heart failure;
• hypovitaminosis (lack of B-complex vitamins);
• excessive passion for strong alcoholic drinks;
• constant physical activity on the legs;
• chronic fatigue and lack of sleep;
• diseases of the spine (osteochondrosis);
• overweight.

But not only at night - a similar misfortune can also strike during the day. If your calves cramp at any time of the day, the cause may be associated with the following diseases and lifestyle features:

• varicose veins, thrombophlebitis and atherosclerosis of the vessels of the lower extremities;
• metabolic disorder;
• incipient Parkinson's disease (this is important for older people);
• prolonged stress;
• heavy consumption of caffeinated drinks;
• flat feet;
• wearing uncomfortable shoes;
• less often - brain tumors, spasmophilia, epilepsy, diabetes, diseases of the nervous system, infectious diseases that are asymptomatic.

Women's dilemma: to be healthy or to remain stylish?

Women of all ages often complain that their calves cramp at night. The first culprit of seizures is varicose veins. The second reason, which is typical specifically for the fairer sex, is that during the day they burden their legs with too much load: they wear high heels, narrow shoes, and carry heavy bags. The appearance of seizures is “helped” by sedentary work and physical inactivity.

Most women have to endure pain due to leg cramps during pregnancy. Why is this happening? There are several reasons, the main ones:

• weight gain;
• lack of vitamins, which the body intensively spends on the formation of the fetus;
• lack of magnesium;
• low hemoglobin, iron deficiency anemia;
• taking medications for edema (they have a diuretic effect and wash away valuable microelements);
• inferior vena cava syndrome. It consists of the fact that the growing uterus begins to compress the vein when the woman lies on her back. This leads to poor blood circulation in the legs;
• chronic venous insufficiency. It is caused by the fact that during pregnancy the intensity of blood circulation in the pelvic organs increases;
• increased pressure on the vessels of the lower extremities;
• in some cases, seizures are a side effect of toxicosis.

Why do the calf muscles cramp in men?

Men also suffer from leg cramps. This can happen to them due to high loads. Heavy physical work, intense exercise - all this can result in the appearance of muscle spasms in the limbs.

Dehydration caused by heavy sweating. The body loses water, and along with it is deprived of electrolytes and other important microelements. Therefore, the risk of cramping increases in hot weather.

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Representatives strong half humanity may also exhibit a lack of substances that muscles need. Only it can be explained by harmful addictions - abuse of coffee, nicotine, sugar. If a man eats a lot of protein foods to get an athletic figure, then he is at risk of calcium deficiency. The body will report this with leg cramps.

What to do about it?

If a cramp wakes you up at night or often bothers you during the day, then you should find out the reason for this phenomenon. Therefore, pay a visit to the clinic. But this is in the long term, but what to do at the moment when your leg is seized? To relieve pain and relieve muscle spasms, you can take the following emergency measures:

• relax the limb as quickly as possible;
• tighten the toe and pull it towards you (you can help with your hands);
• place your foot on a cold surface;
• easily prick the calf muscle with a pin;
• take a contrast shower.

The main thing on which the strategy of medical care depends if you have cramped calves is the cause of the problem. In severe cases, treatment may include antiepileptic drugs. If everything is not so scary, then to cure seizures, you can buy the following medications at the pharmacy: Asparkam, Panangin, Calcium D3, Magne-B6, Magnelis B6. From folk remedies crushed eggshell helps. It is drunk daily, mixed with 1 tsp. fish oil.

To keep your legs in order

Leg cramps will never ruin your life if you eat well and regularly, do light leg exercises every day, give up high heels and uncomfortable shoes, stop exposing your feet to too much stress and get your nerves in order.