Ashima Sharda Mahindra • 31 Aug 2024
Suffering Severe Leg Cramps At Night? Know Easy Ways To Prevent And Stop The Pain
Experts suggest treating your cramps at night – in the moment they occur, to help you get more rest and relief from severe pain
Severe cramps in your legs, especially at night, are uncontrolled spasms in the muscles of your legs which can be unbearable sometimes. Also known as charley horses – these cramps typically occur in your calf muscles, thighs, or feet. They not only affect your sleep, exercise, and general quality of life – but can become worse over time if not taken care of.
According to doctors, most of the time a few simple stretches can help ease your cramped muscles. However, there are a few easy-to-do treatments and prevention methods that anyone dealing with leg cramps should regularly follow.
Ways to treat leg cramps
Experts suggest treating your cramps at night – in the moment they occur, to help you get more rest and relief from severe pain. A few possible home remedies to find comfort include:
- Gently stretching out the muscles
- Massaging the area by hand
- Using a foam roller to massage the leg slowly
- Flexing and unflexing the foot to help extend your leg muscles
- Applying heat to the area
Ways to prevent leg cramps
To prevent leg cramps in the long run, you can try doing the following:
Mild exercise
Many people do not experience the pain if they do some mild exercises at the end of the day. According to experts, activities like walking, running, jogging, slipping, or even using a stationary bike before bedtime can help relax your muscles.
Drinking lots of water
Whether it is summer or wintertime, make sure to drink water and other fluids to keep your body hydrated adequately. It helps prevent cramps by keeping muscles functioning well.
Change your shoes
Many people notice the intensity and duration of their cramps slowly decrease when they change their daily wear shoes and switch over to more supportive ones.
Why do cramps happen?
There are many reasons why you have this debilitating condition happening every now and then, a few of these are:
Dehydration
If you don’t drink enough water, dehydration causes your muscles to contract and cause cramps.
Muscle fatigue
According to studies, muscle fatigue can be one of the main causes of cramps when you overexert through exercising.
Inactivity
Another cause of recurrent night cramps is sitting idle for an extended period, such as while working at a desk. This physical inactivity when a person has not stretched their muscles for a while may increase the risk of cramps.
Old age
As you age, you may be more at risk for leg cramps. Studies say that at least 37 per cent of those above 60 years get night cramps.
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