Leg Cramps Treatment
Leg Cramps Treatment
Prevent nighttime leg cramps by:
- Keeping leg muscles flexible and limber with regular stretching and exercising
- Applying heat (hot water or a heating pad) to your calf muscle before bed
- Wearing compression sleeves
Leg Cramps Symptoms
- Sharp/intense pain in the calf muscle and/or into the bottom of the foot
- The leg cramp will last from a few seconds to up to ten minutes or more
- In the case of severe cramps, a dull ache or throbbing pain in the affected muscles for hours afterward
- The leg cramp is a tightened “ball” of muscle that you can feel
Leg Cramps Causes and Risk Factors
- High blood pressure
- A sedentary lifestyle
- Poor leg circulation
- Defective valves in the veins
- Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
- Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI)
- Obesity
- Smoking
- Pregnancy
- Dehydration
- Lack of minerals in the blood (especially calcium, potassium, and magnesium)
- Overuse of muscles
Explaining Leg Cramps
What Causes Leg Cramps?
Involuntary tightening of a muscle is what causes leg cramps. Leg cramps often occur in the calf muscle and can reach down into the foot. The muscle can cramp when you’re resting, such as while you’re sleeping.
The true source of leg cramps is often difficult to pinpoint. Several factors can cause leg cramps. Healthy people with none of the established risk factors or associated conditions will still occasionally experience leg cramps.
Leg cramps, while painful, are not usually harmful. Basic preventative measures, like wearing the CS6 Calf Compression Sleeve, will provide treatment for leg cramps.
Another form of leg pain, called intermittent claudication, can feel and act like leg cramps. Intermittent claudication can be a symptom of more serious circulatory conditions that will need professional medical attention.