night leg cramps

Night leg cramps are sudden, involuntary contractions of the calf muscles that occur during the night or while at rest. They occur without warning and can be both alarming and if in the company of someone new, a little embarrassing! The night leg cramps can affect persons in any age-group, but they tend to occur in middle-aged and older populations. Research has not identified precisely what causes night leg cramps, but the problem is most likely with the nerves controlling the muscles rather than with the muscles themselves. Some research points to a problem with the transition from wakefulness to sleep. Many individuals who have night leg cramps have them at the time of dreaming. That's why some researchers think that these cramps result from a subtle malfunction in the control system that normally separates our brain from the body movements we make in our dreams. However, most scientists believe that the problem is not a disorder within the brain.

Sometimes the night leg cramps are caused by overexertion of the muscles, structural disorders (flat feet), standing on concrete, prolonged sitting, inappropriate leg positions while sedentary, or dehydration. Doctors do know that those who are more muscular seem to have more leg cramps. Low levels of certain minerals, such as magnesium, sodium and calcium have regularly been linked to night leg cramps. If the night leg cramps are frequent then a preventative course of action should be undertaken. This can be in the form of some stretching of the calf muscles with perhaps wall push-ups, or applying a heating pad for 10 minutes before going to bed. Keeping blankets loose at the foot of the bed will help prevent unnatural positioning of the feet and toes which can cause night leg cramps. Additional suggestions to avoid night leg cramps are to sleep with legs bent, steer clear of high heels (especially the men!), eliminate sugar and caffeine, place a pillow at the end of the bed to prop up your feet.