Leg and Foot cramps rarely interfere with our routine activities and shouldn’t be very worrisome. Yet, that specific span where one experiences foot cramps is particularly agonizing.

The frequency of muscle cramps in the foot or leg is more amongst sports persons and aging individuals. Feet being the organ of maximum weight bearing, foot cramps are more common than any other muscle spasms in the body.

What are leg and foot cramps? Causes of Foot Cramps
Foot cramps are jerky non-voluntary spasms in a muscle or a muscle group extending from few minutes to few days. The aggravated pain is because of the muscle contracting without effective shortening of the muscle. Spasm might leave the muscle sore even after the pain is gone.

Which are the regions of the foot and leg affected?
Inner arch of the foot and toes of the feet, especially the big toe. Other common leg regions affected are thigh and calf muscles.

What are the causes of cramps?

• Sedentary lifestyle leading to obesity and muscle weakness
• Flat feet or hyper flexible joints
• Injury caused by repetitive motion
• Lack of muscle strengthening exercise
• Sudden increase in the intensity of workouts increases the pressure on foot
• Increased breathing during cardio exercises cause lower availability of calcium in blood
• Poor blood circulation and hence lower supply of oxygen in the blood as seen in alcoholics and smokers
• Electrolyte imbalance pertaining to low calcium and potassium levels as well as high magnesium levels are related to spasms. Potassium imbalance disturbs the magnesium and calcium metabolism necessary for normal muscle contraction
• Vitamin D deficiency
• Inadequate hydration causes depletion of body fluids leading to cramps
• Hormonal imbalance can cause muscle cramping
• Foot problems like tendonitis and plantar fasciitis
• Old worn-out footwear
• Diseases like Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, multiple sclerosis, illnesses of the nervous system, diabetes, tetanus and thyroid problems can also cause cramps.

What are the home remedies and medications for cramping?

• The leg or the foot region with cramp should be moved in a direction opposite to the cramp to relive the undue stretch on the muscle. To relieve the cramp in the toes, they should be turned upwards. If the muscle spasm is in the calf region, “forced dorsiflexion of foot” relieves the muscle contraction and pain within seconds. Here, dorsiflexion means elevating the fore-foot keeping the heel stable.
• Prescribed pain-killers can take care of the pain if severe.  Natural pain relievers may be preferable
• Applying ice packs to the affected region helps in acute cases. However if the cramp persists for more than a day, warm water is recommended to reduce the muscle soreness.
• Affected area should be given adequate rest and an elastic bandage is used for compression that would promote quick healing.
• Massaging the cramped portion with ointment or massage oil helps reduce the muscle fatigue.
• Adequate supplements with professional medical advice is a must to correct the electrolyte and nutritional deficiencies
• The energy therapy EFT can also be instantly applied for quick pain relief on the spot

How can we prevent leg cramps and spasms?

• Reclaim physical fitness to avoid muscle pain
• Proper warm-ups and cool downs before exercising or playing
• Stretching exercises to increase the overall muscle strength
• Use of proper sports gear or exercise equipment reduces the chances of spasms
• Adequate hydration should be maintained with water and other liquids.

Know more about other causes of heel pain

• Plantar Fasciitis Symptoms and Treatment
• Heel Spurs as a Cause of Heel Pain
• Heel Pain Caused by Tendonitis

By Dr. Meenaz M

Leg Cramps While Sleeping : Foot Cramps Causes And Remedy

Foot And Nocturnal Leg Cramps. A cramp is caused due a sudden, painful, involuntary muscle contraction. When muscles in a particular area in the body contract, the sudden pain that you experience is a cramp. 

All Leg And Feet Cramps messages

I have written about my son Steve’s leg and feet cramps and a couple of you advised him to use a bar of soap in his bed at his feet at night. He is doing this and it does seem to be helping some. He got Ivory soap 

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My own experience with leg and foot cramps at night is that I need to drink more water during the day, especially during the summer. I hope this may help you. .

Leg Cramping at Night

If the quantity of these essential salts is a little too much or is not enough to maintain proper muscle functioning, severe leg and foot night cramps could be the result. A diet high in phosphorous 

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Leg Cramps – Causes and Cures

Leg cramps usually occur at night or after an exercise session or from exertion. This can even lead to lactic-acid buildup.

You should try to flex your toes to ease a cramp. Breathing deeply and relaxing at the same time also helps to give relief from leg cramps. As oxygen is taken through the muscles the cramp releases and you can slowly massage the leg. You should try massaging toward the heart so that you drain the lymph. This will also help in the increased circulation and blood flow to the muscles.

Deficiencies in B-complex vitamins are the main cause for leg cramps. Pain in the muscles or joints can be attributed to lack of vitamin-C. You should eat nutritionally balanced foods, such as spinach and other green leafy vegetables having sufficient amounts of these nutrients to get relief from this condition. Or take specially prepared supplements.

Chamomile tea with fresh ginger is another excellent remedy. Chamomile helps in relieving cramps by acting as a sedative for the nerves. It is also high in calcium, magnesium, and other trace minerals. Ginger helps in increased blood circulation and brings warmth to the body. You should be cautious and increase your calcium intake. By adding sufficient amount of yoghurt, milk in your diet every day, you can avoid leg cramps. You can also opt for other calcium fortified foods in your diet.

If the problem of leg cramps that you suffer has nothing to do with nutrition, you should consult a nutritionist, or a trainer who would help you gain fitness or conditioning that will help you to root out the problem. Or apply approriate muscle cramp relief medications.

Muscle cramps can also occur among athletes especially when they are dehydrated. You must increase salty foods after exercise as that would help retain fluids and prevent dehydration. You must drink water in proportion to the amount you sweat when you exercise. You should also practice other relaxation techniques and avoid sitting in the same posture for a long time. Sitting for long hours in front of the computer or TV can also lead to leg cramps.

It is essential to have small breaks between working hours and eat the right food that will help you guard against this problem. If all the above said recommendations fail to work and if leg cramps still persist you must consult a health care professional to rule out any other serious problem. And you can also make use of popular cramp and  pain relief treatments

Disclaimer: The contents of this article are for informational purposes only. We aim to be as accurate as possible, but there may be some unintentional omission of information. The content is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on within this article.

Author: Tom Chuong

Joe’s Finish Line

He used to run marathons, especially when he lived in Indianapolis, and took quinine pills to quell calf cramps that once led us both to finish ne fef ar last in a 20-miler on Martha’s Vineyard. We stuck together, no matter what

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Hyland’s Leg Cramps with Quinine is a traditional homeopathic formula for the relief of symptoms of cramps and Discomforts in lower back and legs often made worse by damp weather. Working without contraindications or side effects

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I have a lot of leg cramps. Almost every night. They could hit anywhere from my toes to my thighs and jolt me out of a sound sleep in agony. I used to take Quinine Sulphate pills and they worked in minutes, like magic. 

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Restless leg syndrome, also known as RLS, is one of the most common neurological disorders. It affects about 10% of the population today. This disorder is mainly triggered when the affected limbs are kept in a still position for long periods of time. This can be while watching a movie, traveling in an airplane or even taking a long car ride.Whenever the leg is inactive for a period of time, or in a still position, this disorder is triggered.

This causes creepy sensations in the legs that feel as though something is crawling on the leg. This is also accompanied by twitching of the legs and can also be  accompanied by leg cramps . It is quite painful, especially when it happens in the middle of the night. RLS is a common cause for insomnia, since the person who is affected by the disorder has trouble sleeping through the symptoms.

These uncomfortable feelings can be easily corrected by moving the affected limb.In this case, moving the limb around can be helpful. This is the quickest way to get rid of the feeling. Often, those who sit in a single place for a long time, choose to get up from their desks and take a walk. In airplanes and car rides this disorder can be dealt with by rotating the ankles while sitting in the seat of the plane or the car. This improves the blood circulation and gets rid of the numbing sensations.

Another very good treatment that has been proven and prescribed throughout the years by many doctors is Quinine. This helps provide the victim with relief from the symptoms. Quinine has long been given to athletes as a muscle relaxant. This also helps in getting rid of all the cramps, or the pulls, that arise due to this disorder, and it also helps to provide relief from involuntary muscle spasms.

Quinine is also known to have many other attributes that make it a perfect choice as a treatment for restless leg syndrome. Quinine should be prescribed by a doctor who will set the appropriate dosage for the patient depending on the patient’s medical history. This includes the various effects of quinine on a person’s body.

Quinine is also taken as a prevention drug against malaria. Traces of quinine are often mixed with Vitamin E, and a counteraction is thus created for RLS treatment. Vitamin E is used because it promotes the flow of oxygen to the leg, which helps in  getting rid of cramps and other uncomfortable sensations that occur due to RLS. Patients who undergo Quinine therapy have reported having decreased RLS episodes. Over time, RLS symptoms can be managed through Quinine therapy.

Author: Brad Chase

Medication for Restless Leg Syndrome

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Restless Leg Syndrome Sleep Disorder

A number of recent news stories and TV commercials have brought home the discomfort of Restless Leg Syndrome (normally known as simply RLS) to everybody. While of course those who have suffered with the disorder  

Restless Leg Syndrome

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Restless Arm syndrome

If these situations sound like something that has happened to you, you might be one of the millions of Americans who suffer from Leg Syndrome. Restless leg syndrome, also referred to as RLS, or Wittmaack-Ekbom’s syndrome.

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Does potassium prevent muscle cramps? If so, it might be worth investing in a buch of bananas for those painful  nighttime leg cramps.

I’m sure you’ve had them. Almost everybody does. Those nagging, painful and sometimes excruciating  cramps in the middle of the night. They seem to come out of nowhere and when they hit, it’s like somebody’s taken a baseball bat to the bottom of your body. Well, fear not. The days of your night leg cramps may soon be over. This article is going to explain to you what causes these things and also give you a very simple cure for the problem. I have no doubt that after reading this, your night leg cramps will be a thing of the past.

But first, a story.

One night I was lying in bed. Suddenly, I felt the hamstring in my left leg start to tighten like you wouldn’t believe. At first it was a dull pain that turned into a sharp pain. It was so bad that when I got myself out of bed and headed for God knows where, I literally collapsed in the hallway and almost passed out from the pain. That was the last night I ever suffered with this problem because the very next day I started to do my research and this is what I discovered.

The experts are all divided on what actually causes night leg cramps, however, when digging real deep into this, I found something relating to alternative health that made sense. The general belief is that night leg cramps are caused by an imbalance of electrolytes in the body. In other words, there is a lack of essential elements in your body and it is this lack that is causing the cramps. I then thought about this and looked at how I was eating at the time. It made sense. But what was I missing. I wasn’t the greatest eater in the world. It could have been just about anything.

Well, upon further digging, and a little luck, I discovered that the one thing in particular that was causing this was a lack of potassium in my diet. Great, but how was I going to get that extra potassium? Okay, time to do more research. Well, to make a long story short, I discovered that bananas are an excellent source of potassium. Well, I wasn’t a big fruit eater, but I was willing to try anything. So, I started to eat bananas regularly. As a result, I haven’t had a night leg cramp since.

Now, there are other  contributing factors to night leg cramps that most experts DO agree on such as muscle overexertion, prolonged sitting, dehydration, pregnancy, diabetes, Parkinson’s Disease, alcohol use and certain medications. But potassium is the one thing they say will make the biggest difference.

So go to the supermarket and pick yourself up a bunch. I think you’ll find a great improvement in your night leg cramps.

To YOUR Health,  Author: S. Wagner

Factors That Are Preventing You From A Good Night’s Sleep

Factors That Are Preventing You From A Good Night’s Sleep. Snoring This Post. Are you having trouble sleeping? If so, then this article is for you. 

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Make sure that there’s a fresh air supply in the room. During the day, do 60 minutes of mild exercise. Walking is the best exercise for getting good sleep. 

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