Cramps when pulling up. Reduces the calves of the legs

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

The first thing to remember when it starts to reduce caviar is that you do not immediately grab onto medications. It is enough to take a short break, during which you can massage the lower limb. In most cases, this is enough to get rid of discomfort. More attention should be paid to this issue if the leg is not brought together for the first time. In such a situation, it will not be superfluous to visit a medical institution.

For preventive purposes, you should consult a phlebologist. As a result of a short examination, the physician will conduct 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 declare itself for a long time. As a result, the person has no good reason to seek medical attention. In fact, you can be suspicious. 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 earlier a person calmly walked all day without significant problems, then as flat feet develop, even 2-3 km per day turn into an impossible task. In this case, it is necessary to visit a therapist who will give a referral to a narrower specialist. Orthopedic shoes will help to get rid of discomfort, thanks to which the foot experiences less stress.

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

Lack of nutrients and vitamins - in order to cope with the daily load, the muscles need regular replenishment. We are talking about useful substances obtained from food. If in the morning a citizen notices that his legs are “aching”, then you should consult a doctor. You probably need to rethink your diet.
Bad habits - in many ways, this item is related to the above. Prolonged use of alcohol and tobacco products leads to "washing out" of useful substances from the cells. As a result of weakness of the muscular frame, the lower limbs can be reduced.
Wrong posture - often people themselves provoke pathological changes in the muscle structure of the legs. It is about a long stay in awkward posture. An example of this are professions where you need to be in one position for a long time. In order to make such work not so tiring for the legs, it is necessary to take breaks from time to time. The therapist will tell you what simple exercises help to relieve the accumulated stress.
Addiction to coffee and tea - the more 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 are noted at night, then this is the first sign that it is necessary to “tie” with these drinks. Similarly, you need to do those who actively consume sugar.

To answer the question of why it reduces the calves of the legs, it is often necessary to conduct an examination of the whole organism. These are cases where the initial examination does not reveal the culprit. On the one hand, clinical manifestations can be cyclical. We are talking about a long remission, followed by an exacerbation phase. On the other hand, the calf muscle can suddenly get sick at night in a person.

Opens a list of diseases dangerous in all respects epilepsy in its initial form. It manifests itself as spontaneous spasms of the lower extremities. However, they can take place without significant physical exertion. This list includes:

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

As you can see from the above list, muscles can not work properly for a variety of reasons. A comprehensive examination conducted in a medical institution will help to understand them. The more timely it is done, the faster it will stop hurting during movement.

Until the time of visiting a medical institution, cramps that have arisen in the legs can be reduced at home. To do this, you need to perform a number of simple exercises. Pinch yourself - the simplest advice which allows you to quickly reduce unpleasant manifestations. It is important to remember that the spasm that reduces the leg will disappear only with a slight impact. No need to pinch soft tissues until the blood comes out.

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 institution. It is highly likely that the leg cramps as a result of the activation of a serious illness. Any delay will only reduce the chance of a positive development of events. In second place in terms of frequency of occurrence is the recommendation to rub the limb with a special ointment.

This can be done only 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 assurance of the manufacturers about the harmlessness of their ointments, if it reduces the lower limb, then you should not experiment on your own health.

A similar recommendation applies to the common folk medicine mustard oil. It will be harmless only for a healthy person whose muscles are overstrained. At the same time, one should not forget that only on the basis of the results of the survey, one can draw a conclusion about the degree of human health. If this recommendation is neglected, then the course of varicose processes 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 congestion. Those, in turn, are not in the best way affect motor activity. It becomes difficult for a person to walk. Even after a slight physical exertion, there is a feeling of heaviness, 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 go beyond common sense. The longer a lady walks in such heels, the more muscle legs are overstressed. The rate of occurrence of pathological changes largely depends on the anatomical features of each lady.

It is 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 muscular 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;
stretch both legs;
alternately slowly pull each sock towards you, and the second one away from you;
get on the floor;
stand on one leg so that the entire body mass is concentrated on the limb that is worried about the spasm;
the duration of such actions is more than 2-3 minutes;
if sleep is often interrupted by spasm, then the above exercise should be abandoned;
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 put a small roller under your feet;
as a preventive measure, it is recommended to rinse the lower limbs with cool water before going to bed;
if the patient has an average degree of varicose veins, then cold baths should be abandoned.

If we talk about preventive and therapeutic methods, then a person reduced by 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 deterioration in well-being, if we are talking about varicose veins.

No less caution should be shown to those who seek to get rid of spasms when sipping. They arise as a result of serious neurological pathologies. It is strictly forbidden to use painkillers that are not prescribed by a doctor. To make a correct diagnosis, the physician needs to know what exactly 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 cannot describe his state of health, then this will only aggravate the situation. The disease will get enough time to develop. The doctor will not dare to start a therapeutic course without good reasons for choosing a way to restore lost health. That is why patients should know: if it reduces the calves of the legs, what to do in this situation, only a qualified physician can decide.

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 narrow specialists is carried out by the local therapist. If the doctor suspects a threat to the life or health of the patient, then the patient is hospitalized. In this case, you can observe the development of the disease. If suddenly there is a sharp deterioration in the course of the disease, the staff of the medical institution will have time to intervene.

The therapeutic course is carried out in a conservative way. Very rarely, the doctor raises the question of the need for surgical intervention. The pros and cons of such a decision are communicated to the patient.

Almost every serious athlete has encountered such a problem as cramps in the calf muscles. The reasons for this phenomenon are numerous, but fortunately they are well understood. If you experience painful muscle spasms on a regular basis, you should make small changes to your training program and.

Beginning athletes are often worried about cramps in the calf muscles. The reasons for this phenomenon can be associated with both malnutrition and training regimen, as well as various diseases.

Possible causes of seizures

The causes of seizures are very diverse. Conventionally, they can be divided into original and acquired. The initial causes are various diseases and injuries, the negative manifestation of which can be cramps in the calf and other muscles. And the acquired causes of seizures can arise in connection with an incorrect lifestyle or a critical situation.

First, consider the likely underlying causes (not related to the circumstances):

neurological infections, trauma and brain damage;
epilepsy;
feverish condition, elevated body temperature;
preeclampsia is a pathology that develops in late pregnancy.

Many researchers also note hereditary predisposition. If one of your relatives regularly reduces the calf muscle, you are at risk.

If you don’t have any of the above diseases, and your legs cramp mainly during training, then look for the cause of this unpleasant syndrome in the list below.

What are the acquired causes of muscle spasms:

Hypoxia, that is, lack of oxygen. Quite often it happens in the pool or during an intense cardio workout.
Low levels of glucose, magnesium and calcium in the blood. The lack of these substances is a common problem for athletes. In order to avoid their deficiency, it is necessary to balance the diet and take special supplements during intensive training. Complex vitamin and mineral preparations are the easiest way out in this situation.
Violation of the water-salt balance of the body. Excessive sweating can cause an electrolytic imbalance. This problem is solved by special sports drinks - electrolytes.
Poisoning medicines and even sports supplements. Always carefully read the instructions for the drugs and do not exceed the recommended dosage. Any food supplement should be taken consciously, taking into account the state of your body.

Three types of seizures

Modern medicine distinguishes 3 types of calf muscle cramps, the causes of which differ:

myoclonic;
tonic-clonic;
partial.

In some cases, myoclonic muscle spasms do not pose a strong danger. This type of spasm often occurs during sleep. It is associated with a violation in the brain system and a low content of calcium. But if you experience this symptom too often, you should consult a doctor. Sometimes myoclonus is the first sign of varicose veins or spinal injury.

Tonic-clonic and partial spasms are manifestations of epilepsy and are accompanied by loss of consciousness. If during a workout your calf muscle cramped and a spasm occurred, accompanied by unbearable pain, severe nausea, dizziness and loss of consciousness, immediately consult a doctor.

How to quickly relieve a cramp?

What to do if it reduces the calf muscle? You can quickly get rid of the discomfort and relieve the spasm in one of four ways.

Intensive stretch. Sit on the floor, stretch your legs in front of you and slightly bend them at the knee. Grasp your toes with both hands and pull towards you. You should feel the simultaneous tension and stretching of the muscle. It is better if someone helps you to do this manipulation.
Deep massage. Massage the painful muscle vigorously. This will help relieve the spasm.
Elastic band. In the pharmacy or in various sporting goods stores, you can find special tapes and bandages that quickly relieve muscle pain.
An injection into a muscle. This is a very effective, but at the same time quite dangerous method. Do not under any circumstances do this yourself! Only a doctor can perform the procedure. Pay attention to the sterility of the equipment used.

If after a workout it reduces the calf muscle, a massage is an excellent solution.

Prevention of seizures in athletes

As you already understood, the main cause of seizures in athletes is dehydration and imbalance of trace elements in the body. This can be caused not only by malnutrition and insufficient fluid intake, but also by the incorrect construction of the lesson. To resolve this issue, consider the following points.

Diversify your diet. Be sure to include fresh vegetables, fruits, oatmeal and buckwheat, as well as offal.
Drink a prophylactic course of preparations containing calcium and vitamin D. This will relieve excessive muscle tension and improve the balance of substances in the body.
Never skip a workout. Light exercise will warm up the muscles and reduce the loss of potassium and calcium.
Try to increase the pace and volume of classes gradually. extreme workout It is recommended to carry out only in the presence of an experienced trainer.
Do not overwork one muscle group during exercise. Beginners are categorically not recommended to train muscles in isolation (for example, devote the entire workout to the press or arms). Start with compound workouts.
Sign up for a massage. A quality massage performed by a specialist will restore blood circulation and reduce the likelihood of further cramps.

Thus, spasms of the calf muscles do not always indicate neurological disorders. In most cases, they are provoked by malnutrition, dietary supplements, or an overly strenuous training regimen.

If the cramp was not accompanied by symptoms such as very severe pain or loss of consciousness, start with a small adjustment in the diet and drawing up a competent exercise plan. If after that it still reduces the calf muscle in the process of exercising, contact your therapist immediately. Good luck with your training and stay healthy!

Sometimes during training, your calves can cramp. What to do in such a situation and how to prevent it? You will find the answer in our article!

Often during training, the calf muscle cramps. Sometimes the pain is so unbearable that you have to stop training to rest and perform recovery exercises. What to do if it reduces the calf muscle and how to prevent it?

A cramp is an attack of involuntary muscle contraction, which is accompanied by their strong tension. According to statistics, about 75% of people suffer from leg cramps, some have isolated cases, some suffer from calf muscle cramps all the time. If spasms occur, you should immediately consult a doctor to find out the causes and treat this condition.

Why do seizures occur?

There are convulsions due to physical exertion, especially if they were sudden and too large, thermal effects ( cold water), some people experience convulsions even when the weather changes dramatically.

Also, seizures can occur when a person undergoes any physiological changes (pregnancy, puberty, menopause). Biological restructuring causes a change in the level of many substances in the blood, such as sodium, potassium, calcium. Seizures sometimes accompany lesions nervous system and stress.

A change in diet can also trigger this condition, and cramps are often experienced by those who abuse alcohol.

Seizures can be a manifestation of diseases such as spasmophilia, eclampsia, epilepsy, trauma and brain tumors, inflammation.

Since the causes of seizures can be serious diseases, if this ailment occurs, you should consult a doctor.

Cramps of the calf muscles

It is not uncommon for cramps in the calves to come on in the morning when stretching in bed. There may be several reasons for this: lack of calcium, potassium and magnesium, varicose veins, flat feet. In athletes, cramps can occur due to heavy physical exertion and muscle fatigue. stress, overweight and a sedentary lifestyle also cause cramps in the calf muscles.

During exercise, cramps can occur for the following reasons:

along with sweat, water leaves the body, which washes out potassium and calcium;
insufficient warm-up;
large volume of training;

What to do if it reduces the calf muscle?

If in gym if you feel that your leg is cramping, your actions should be aimed at improving blood circulation to the reduced muscle. Squeeze the muscle strongly, and for 15-20 seconds, press into its central part with your index finger. Breathe deeply during this.

Spasm of the lower body can be relieved by strongly squeezing (without sharp pain) the middle of the lower lip for 30 seconds.

Also, during a cramp, you can do a massage that will relax the spasmodic muscle, improve blood circulation and relieve spasm.

To quickly relieve pain during a spasm, you should stretch the reduced muscle. For this you can use next exercise: Stand facing the wall at a distance of one step, feet slightly more than shoulder width apart. Place your hands above your head and rest against the wall. Take small steps back, keeping your feet off the floor. Pull back until you feel a stretch in your calf muscles.

Stretching should not feel uncomfortable, so stop as soon as you start to feel pain, stay in this position for 30 seconds. To make the cramp pass faster, rub and pinch the reduced muscle.

Three ways to relieve a cramp are demonstrated in the following video by Dr. Agapkin.

Prevention of calf cramps

The most important point in preventing cramps and spasms is taking special supplements and reviewing the diet. As noted above, the lack of potassium, magnesium and calcium in the body provokes the occurrence of seizures. All this happens because a person often does not receive a daily dose of these substances with food. For those suffering from cramps, magnesium supplements or medications are recommended. Since this element is better absorbed in the presence of calcium, calcium supplements should also be taken in combination with vitamin D, which improves its absorption.

The diet should be rich in fresh fruits and herbs. Eat natural sources of calcium, magnesium and potassium every day. Drinking mineral water will also be beneficial.

Calcium - milk, cottage cheese, cheese, almonds
Magnesium - buckwheat, walnuts, legumes
Potassium - dried apricots, raisins, beets, sunflower seeds, garlic.

How to treat leg cramps

Here are some treatment tips and videos on Dr. Evdokimenko's channel:

The first thing to do is to check the instructions for any medications you have been taking daily, for several months or years. Remember that many drugs (from cholesterol, from pressure, diuretics, hormones) have a side effect in the form of leg cramps. If your legs are cramping from drugs, it is advisable to change the drug.

If it is not the side effects of drugs, we begin the phased treatment of leg cramps:

1st stage of treatment

Magnelis B6, or Magne B6, or Magnesium-plus B6, tablets. Buy from these drugs the one that will be cheaper. Adults take any of these drugs - 2 tablets 3 times a day, with meals and a glass of water - for 1 month.

IMPORTANT! These drugs should be discontinued immediately if symptoms of excess magnesium in the blood appear, such as: a strong slowing of the pulse (less than 60 per minute), double vision, a sudden rush of blood to the skin of the face, headache, a strong decrease in pressure, nausea, shortness of breath, blurred speech, vomiting, weakness, severe dizziness.

All this happens when taking magnesium infrequently, however, this must be remembered.

2nd stage of treatment

If, after a course of treatment with magnesium preparations, leg cramps have not stopped, we move on to injections with B vitamins. injections.

But if from 5-6 injections of milgamma or combilipen the legs do not feel better, then we stop these injections, and then proceed to the 3rd stage.

3rd stage of treatment

Calcium preparations, better in the form of carbonate (it is believed that it is better absorbed). For example, Complivit calcium D3. Or Calcium D3 - Nycomed. We buy from them the one that will be cheaper. Adults take:

Complivit calcium D3 - 1 tablet 2 times a day, preferably with meals. The tablets are chewed or swallowed whole.
Or use Calcium D3 - Nycomed: take 1 tablet of calcium D3 - Nycomed - forte daily or 2 tablets of regular calcium D3 - Nycomed.
The course of treatment with calcium preparations is not longer than 1 month. Check contraindications!

4th stage of treatment:

Venotonics: Detralex, Phlebodia, Diosmin, Troxevasin capsules, Troxerutin.

Exercises to treat calf cramps

Certain physical exercise help to fight, as well as prevent the reduction of the calf muscles. Two types of exercises are used for this:

exercises that are performed when a cramp occurs to relieve spasm and relieve pain;
exercises that are performed to prevent seizures and reduce the frequency of their occurrence.

If the leg is cramped, massage and muscle stretching will help relieve pain and discomfort. To relieve spasm, the following exercises are suitable.

Straighten your leg, place your foot so that the toe is turned towards the knee (for additional stretching of the reduced muscle, grab the foot with your hands, pull the toe of the foot towards you).
Walk on your heels for a few minutes.
If cramps often reduce the leg, you should perform exercises three times a day aimed at preventing spasms of the calf muscle.
Stand against the wall at a distance of about half a meter. Lean forward, stretch your arms and touch the wall, while the feet remain on the floor. Hold this position for a few seconds, relax. Do the exercise for five minutes.

To prevent cramps, a bodybuilder needs to eat right and take supplements with vitamins and minerals. If you take all the necessary measures for prevention, but convulsions still occur, be sure to contact a specialist.

Every person - even incredibly healthy and moderately lazy - at least once in his life cramped his legs. And it always happens unexpectedly. And sometimes the pain is so sharp and strong that it seems as if the muscle will simply burst from tension. Often seizures occur at night, disturbing sleep and causing us to experience a few unpleasant moments. What are the causes of this disease and where should treatment begin? Let's try to figure it out.

Leg cramped!

Cramps, including in the legs, are involuntary muscle contractions, usually accompanied by sharp pain. Moreover, spasms can vary greatly in the type of manifestation, and be observed not only in the legs.

For example, there are seizures that look like stereotypical fast movements. A typical example is the nervous tic of the eyelid. This type of spasm, called clonic, is the result of a short-term contraction and relaxation individual groups muscles.

But there are also tonic cramps that are more familiar to many of us. This is when the muscles seem to harden for a few minutes, this condition is accompanied by a pronounced pain syndrome. As a rule, such involuntary contractions are local in nature. Most often, it cramps the legs in the area of \u200b\u200bthe shins and calves. It happens that the hip and foot are affected. Leg cramps may occur different ages, but more often people of the middle and older generation are affected.

The most severe and life-threatening convulsions, when almost all muscles contract. They are called generalized and are often accompanied by loss of consciousness. Such spasms are the result of serious illnesses and require immediate medical attention.

Perhaps one of the most common causes of leg cramps is a violation of the biochemical or electrolyte composition of the blood. An imbalance can occur due to a lack of calcium, magnesium and potassium in the body, as well as a lack of vitamin D. All of these substances help regulate muscle activity and control nerve impulses. Why do we lose the necessary trace elements?

taking a number of medications, for example, adsorbents and antacids used in the treatment of heartburn, can interfere with the full absorption of magnesium and calcium. And diuretic drugs have a side effect in the form of excretion of potassium and magnesium from the body.
under stress The body begins to overproduce the hormone cortisol. One of his side effects- deterioration of calcium absorption in the intestine and its increased excretion by the kidneys.
lack of magnesium and calcium usually occurs during pregnancy when expectant mother these beneficial trace elements require twice as much as usual. Seizures can develop against the background of inferior vena cava syndrome, in which the movement of venous blood from the lower extremities worsens.
eating a lot of protein also causes calcium deficiency. The fact is that human body for the most part, for energy purposes, assimilates glucose from carbohydrates, and not from fats. If there is little glucose in the blood, then fat reserves are used. This, in turn, contributes to the appearance of ketones in the blood. When they are in excess, ketosis can develop, in which the risk of kidney stones increases, since a large amount of calcium is excreted through the urine.
with heavy sweating the body loses essential potassium, so leg cramps are quite common in hot weather or during sports training high intensity.
vitamin D deficiency experienced by almost all inhabitants of the northern wide because of the long winter and lack of sunlight. In turn, a lack of vitamin D leads to poor absorption of calcium.

According to statistics, more than 85% of people on the planet suffer from recurring leg cramps to one degree or another.

Among other reasons why it cramps legs, we can distinguish:

chronic circulatory disorders in the vessels of the lower extremities
chronic renal failure
diabetes
radiculitis
leg injuries and muscle damage
excessive physical activity
hypothermia

The most painful of all types of spasms is the calf cramp. Like any other, it happens suddenly, except that a couple of moments before it starts, the muscle seems to be weakly pulled, as if about to be squeezed into a ball. Quite often, leg cramps occur at night, interrupting sleep and forcing a person to get up, rub the sore spot. Symptoms are sometimes confused with night cramps.

Emergency help for leg cramps

1 Some people feel the onset of cramps, so if you are one of them, then relax your leg in advance.
2 If a spasm does occur, pull the toe of your foot toward you, then loosen the pull a little and pull again. If the cramp has not passed, then get up, walk around a bit. It is better not on the carpet, but on the floor, and it is desirable that the feet be bare and the floor cool.
3 A light massage of the contracted muscle will help relieve the cramp. To enhance the effect, use a warming ointment.
4 If the spasm persists, try pinching the spasmed muscle or pricking it with a needle.
5 After the spasm has passed, it is recommended to lie down for a while with your legs elevated (if possible) to ensure the outflow of blood and reduce the risk of spasm recurrence.

If, while walking, a cramp in the calf muscles unexpectedly overtook, a simple technique can save the situation - gently pull the toe of the foot towards you and fix the leg in this position for about 10 seconds ...

Leg cramps: prevention and treatment

You can get rid of unpleasant muscle spasms only by eliminating the cause of their appearance. If leg cramps cause you anxiety and anxiety, it is best to consult a doctor.

To get started, visit a therapist who can prescribe a complete blood count to establish whether all the main indicators are normal. If leg cramps are caused by any disease, then the next visit is to a specialist. But some ways to treat and prevent muscle spasms are available for home use.

Diet adjustment. Leg cramps can be avoided by increasing the intake of foods rich in calcium, magnesium, potassium and vitamin D. Magnesium is mainly found in plant foods: dill, parsley, green onions, cereals, wheat bran, seaweed, legumes, dates , figs, dried apricots, prunes. There is a lot of calcium in fermented milk products: milk, cottage cheese, cheese, as well as in all types of cabbage and sesame seeds. Vitamin D is found in the liver of fish, especially cod, as well as egg yolk, butter, and milk. But most of all contribute to the production of vitamin D in the skin walking on fresh air in sunny weather. Well, potassium can be obtained from bananas, meat, poultry, fish and avocados. With a pronounced lack of trace elements, the doctor may prescribe medications containing multivitamin and mineral complexes. And, of course, it is recommended to quit smoking and exclude the use of caffeinated products (coffee and strong tea), as they provoke convulsions.
Right choice shoes. Wear shoes with a high instep and good ankle support. It is better to replace high heels with small and stable ones (not higher than 4 cm). Then the legs will be less tired during the day, and, therefore, cramps will occur less frequently.

long work

Contrast baths or showers. These procedures are recommended to be done every time before going to bed. It is useful to add decoctions of medicinal herbs with anticonvulsant action to the water: mint, horsetail, valerian. These measures will improve the outflow of blood from the lower extremities and will prevent the occurrence of seizures.
Foot massage. Making it is easy. To do this, sit comfortably, bend your legs slightly at the knees. Movement should be directed from the periphery to the center. First, do a few light strokes, then move on to spanking and kneading the area where the muscle most often reduces. At the end of the massage, it is recommended to find a central point on the foot and massage it for several minutes.

If it brings legs together at night: causes and treatment

Why cramps legs at night: serious and not so serious reasons

Leg cramps at night (when cramping your calves, feet, or toes right in your sleep) can occur different reasons. These can be both congenital factors (like serious hereditary diseases) and the most banal circumstances (wrong posture during sleep or excessive love for coffee). Among the most common reasons are the following:

(in different stages);
lack in the body of substances such as;
flat feet (or curvature of the foot due to injury or other circumstances);
often leg cramps (and especially strong ones - just at night) occur due to an excess of caffeine and nicotine in the body;

The most serious causes of nighttime leg cramps are diseases such as epilepsy, brain tumors, eclampsia, spasmophilia, as well as hidden injuries, inflammatory and infectious and neurological diseases.

Reduces legs at night: how to choose the right treatment

It is important to understand: in case of illness, when it brings legs together at night, the causes determine the treatment, which means that in each case, the method of getting rid of the painful syndrome will be different. And the doctor-specialist is also some specific one.

For example, if the cause of leg muscle cramps is in varicose veins veins - which means that the phlebologist will prescribe the method of treatment. If the problem is revealed in the lack or excess of any substances in the body, it means that for some time your “comrade” will be an endocrinologist. In case of flat feet or curvature of the foot, the orthopedist will advise wearing special shoes or insoles, etc ...

If leg cramps at night have become a regular occurrence for you, do not hesitate to seek help from a therapist: given your personal medical history, he will surely be able to accurately refer you to a narrower specialist.

And do not panic ahead of time! Often, leg cramps occur for very ordinary reasons - for example, due to incorrect posture during sleep. In this case, remove muscle spasm helps ordinary rubbing massage.

An excellent prevention against leg cramps (including at night) is regular leg exercises and massage.

Get on the exercises: gymnastics against leg cramps

If you cramp your legs at least once a week, then it’s not out of place to make a habit of doing the following exercises daily:

Exercise 1. Stretch in bed in the morning. Stretch your legs, strongly straining your muscles, pull your socks towards you.
Exercise 2. In a standing position, cross your legs. Stand on the outer edges of the feet, stand for 10 seconds and return to the starting position. Repeat exercise.
Exercise 3 Stand on your toes, stretch up and fall sharply on your heels. Repeat several times.