What to do reduces the muscles in the legs. Leg cramps - treatment

Almost all people at least once in their lives have experienced spasmodic phenomena in the legs, when painful uncontrolled muscle contraction occurs. Leg cramps at night usually occur suddenly, significantly limiting a person's mobility. Many people wonder in such situations what to do if at night the legs cramp and you can’t fall asleep.

Most of all, the muscles of the calves of the legs and fingers are prone to spasms. There are many causes of leg cramps at night, depending on which treatment is selected in each case. Symptoms are most often observed during sleep or at bedtime.

Cramping in the legs can cause completely different reasons

Varieties of night cramps

Regardless of the type and manifestation, spasms are the body's response to any stimuli inside or outside. The following classification of seizures is common:

1. tonic convulsions(muscles are fixed in the wrong position for a sufficiently long period of time - from 4 minutes or more, control of the limb is blocked, and movements bring significant pain);
2. clonic convulsions(convulsions of the muscles of the legs of a short course, in which there is a delay in specific muscle groups).

In other sources, spasms are divided into:

• localized(convulsive manifestation is observed in a certain muscle, and the pain is fixed in this place, other muscles are not affected);
• generalized convulsions (the entire muscular system of the limb is affected, usually a manifestation of some serious illness).

Note! If convulsions take on a protracted nature or occur frequently, it can be assumed that there are serious malfunctions in the body. Often there are leg cramps at night in older people, the source of which lies in the age of the patient.

What makes legs cramp at night

Among the main prerequisites that can cause leg spasm at night, the following conditions are distinguished:

• dehydration of the body (the necessary electrolytes and ions come out with water);
• increased sweating;
• motor impulses are formed in the brain (occurs in a stroke state, with lesions nervous system or poisoning with alcohol-containing products);
• local oxygen starvation (at the same time, blood circulation in localized vessels is severely disturbed, so legs can cramp at night);
• high temperatures (occurs with overheating, illness or sunstroke);
• osteochondrosis (if there is a violation in the functioning of the joints, individual nerve endings may not work properly, due to which the muscles contract reflexively);
• hypokalemia (may occur with long-term use of diuretics or hormonal drugs);
• (myositis, vertebral hernia, poliomyelitis, sclerosis);
• hypomagnesemia (may develop with the use of drugs that interfere with the normal absorption of magnesium ions);
• stressful situations ( stress can cause deficiency);
• high protein diets ( proteins block absorption);
• pregnancy (leg cramps during pregnancy are common, as the fetus presses on the blood vessels and nerve endings in women).

The causes of cramps in the calf muscles at night can also be conditions associated with increased brain impulses (with, psychoses, injuries of the skull or brain), a reduced amount of ATP (with,).

First aid for muscle cramps in the legs at night

If spasms occur, the condition can be quickly alleviated, relieve pain and discomfort from cramps and piercing pain. For this you can:

1. walk on a cold surface, wash your feet with cold water;
2. lie down or sit down, stretch your leg with a spasm and pull the foot towards you;
3. massage the legs and feet;
4. take a pill to normalize local blood circulation and relieve tone;
5. you can prick the affected area with a needle (especially if the spasm is observed in the calves; it is better to have a specialist perform the procedure).

You can also do light leg exercises and rotate your toes and feet with your hands to improve blood flow. You can bend and unbend the leg until the attack disappears.

Advice! If it is cold in the place where the person sleeps, after relieving the attack, it is recommended to wear warm socks or stockings.

Leg cramps during pregnancy at night are a common and common occurrence that is not dangerous.

Methods for the treatment of night cramps in the legs, calves, fingers

Before the selection of therapy, it is necessary to accurately identify the reason why it cramps at night. Usually, the nature of the underlying disease is taken into account in the treatment of convulsions. Often, as a concomitant treatment for nighttime muscle spasms, cramps, dietary adjustment is prescribed so that it contains more vitamins. A person who has leg cramps especially needs vitamins B, D and E, which can be obtained through mineral tablets.

Medical treatment for seizures

Drugs that target seizures have not yet been developed. Moreover, if there is a disease that causes cramps in the calves of the legs, the therapy is aimed at eliminating the underlying ailment.

Vitamin-mineral complexes can act on such a symptom as convulsions, since spasms are a common symptom of beriberi when there are not enough trace elements. Drugs (for example, Mydocalm, Natur Calm, Magnerota, Solgar with citrate and Baclofen) can prevent the occurrence of night cramps.

Among the vitamin-mineral complexes, Complivit, Alphabet, Calcium D3 Nycomed and Magne-B6 have proven themselves well. It is also useful for children to take them as a preventive measure when there is a shortage of nutrients.

Note. To relieve pain, you can use Finalgon ointment. The medicine will quickly relieve the unpleasant symptoms of leg muscle cramps, during sleep or before bedtime.

Seizure therapy at home

Painful muscle twitches can be alleviated by following these recommendations:

1. Foot baths with a contrast temperature, or wiping (pouring) the skin of the legs with hot and cold water just before bedtime. This procedure will help improve blood microcirculation in the legs. You can improve the effect of taking foot baths by using decoctions of herbs instead of ordinary water - horsetail, peppermint or ordinary, valerian.
2. Eating more legumes, cereals, herbs, dried fruits, vegetables, bran, fish liver (especially cod), avocados, cottage cheese and dairy products. This should be especially taken into account when correcting nutrition in a child.
3. Performing a complex of gymnastic movements- walking in the morning on toes, on heels, on the inner and outer parts of the feet, moving the toes and squats. This will help improve muscle condition and reduce the frequency of cramps.

This is the basic principle of how to treat leg cramps at night - use it in your health.

The video of the School of Health tells about first aid for cramps in the calves of the legs and fingers.

Treatment of nocturnal muscle cramps with folk remedies

Several alternative medicines are effective in reducing seizures and their frequency. Treatment folk remedies It is aimed at stopping the symptoms of leg cramps at night. It is better to carry out therapy on the recommendation of the attending physician.

You can apply a warm honey compress on the calf area for 30 minutes and wrap your leg. At the end of the time, it is washed off with water. The recipe helps with spasms in a child.

You can lubricate the soles of the feet before going to bed with concentrated squeezed lemon juice and do not rinse. The course of application of this rubbing is 7-14 days.

In old age, you can rub painful vessels twice a day diluted at the rate of 2 tablespoons of acid per glass clean water. The course of application is 30 days.

So that convulsions do not occur at night, you can apply an ointment from the yolk, a teaspoon of turpentine and a tablespoon during sleep. In the morning, you can wash off the remnants of the product. Similarly, you can use natural mustard powder without additives and flavor enhancers.

Vaseline ointment can help with spasms. To prepare it, you need to mix part of the celandine juice with 2 parts of the base. The mixture is applied directly when spasms appear for medicinal purposes.

Potentilla grass has proven itself well in the treatment of calf cramps. 4 tablespoons of herbs are added to a liter of boiling water. The mixture is simmered for 5 minutes, cooled, filtered. The decoction is drunk during the day in several doses. You can also brew the herb in a glass of milk (a pinch of the herb is added to the glass). Milk is drunk hot three times a day. The cramp will disappear quickly.

Exercises for night cramps

There is a set of exercises, using which, you can reduce the frequency of spasms and their soreness. The following movements help if your leg is cramped:

1. In the supine position, the legs are extended, and the feet are simultaneously pulled back.
2. In the prone position, you can twist your legs forward and backward several times, simulating cycling.
3. The arms are extended along the body. Alternately, in a stretched position, the legs rise up. During the exercise, you need to hold the leg with your hands and sip on yourself.
4. Alternately rise and fall on your toes several times (effective if there are convulsions in pregnant women).
5. Lying or sitting, you can rotate and bend your feet in different directions.

To bring the calf muscles into a more stretched state, it is useful to lift your toes on some ledge (for example, books), and, holding on to a table or chair, perform a combination:

• press your heels to the floor for a few seconds;
• bring the socks together, spread the heels and also press them to the floor;
• spread your socks, bring your heels together and repeat the action.

Advice! If you feel that a cramp will soon occur, you can immediately pull your toes towards you for relief. With seizures, the symptom can be alleviated by moving the leg back and resting the fingers on the floor (in this case, you need to create on the foot from your own weight). This is the principle of how to get rid of leg cramps quickly and easily at night.

Another exercise to relieve calf muscle cramps at night.

A simple exercise perfectly relieves cramps in the calf muscles: stand facing the wall, stepping back from it a step, legs slightly wider than shoulders. Place your palms on the wall above your head. Step back, step by step (small steps), keeping your feet on the floor. In this position, the calf muscles are stretched. Move away from the wall so that it does not create discomfort. After stopping, for about a minute, maintain this position with deep, calm breathing.

Preventive measures

To minimize the risk of developing pain when there are leg cramps, measures should be taken:

• do not load the legs beyond measure (for people over the age of 40);
• reduce the consumption of coffee, sweet and carbonated water;
• stop smoking (a common reason for leg cramps);
• enrich the food you eat with calcium and magnesium;
• do gymnastics and rubbing (if there is no varicose veins);
• keep your feet warm while you sleep
• take contrast foot baths every day in the evening;
• minimize stressful situations (relevant for those over 50).

Seizures are an unpleasant and painful phenomenon, which can disturb normal sleep. By performing simple exercises and adjusting the diet, you can get rid of the disease. With frequent spasms that are difficult to suppress with simple actions, you should consult a doctor, since night cramps can be a manifestation of serious illness. Usually, the cause and treatment of leg cramps at night are inseparable - the second depends on the first. Leg cramps are common during pregnancy.

On the video: cramping legs at night, what to do, causes and what treatment, prevention of night cramps.

Here are three emergency techniques that will help you quickly deal with a spasm in any of the leg muscles. Choose any or combine depending on the situation.

1. Load the injured leg

stand up How to Stop Leg Muscle Cramps on it and roll the weight from toe to heel. Option - jump on one leg. This will help the contracted muscle to relax.

2. Stretch

Sometimes it happens that you can not load the leg. For example, you are swimming or are on an uneven, steep, unstable surface. In this case, stretch muscle cramp- the safest self-help option.

• If spawned, sit down, put straight legs in front of you and with both hands pull the toe of the injured leg towards you. If you're swimming, just try lifting your toe to your shin without using your hands.
• If you crumpled the front of the thigh, stand up, rest your hand on something stable, bend the injured leg at the knee and pull the toe towards the buttock. While swimming, draw more air into your lungs so as not to be afraid to dive under water, bend your knee and try to pull your toe up to your buttock with both hands.

You should feel the corresponding muscles stretch. In this case, relief will come. If stretching for some reason is difficult to do, go to the third option.

3. Get a massage

Actively affected muscle with fingers or any improvised massager. You can even pinch.

Your task is to provide a rush of blood to the affected area. This will help relieve the spasm.

Grandmothers also counted on accelerating blood circulation, advising them to pin a pin to the trunks and poke it into the muscle during a spasm in the water. This is also a kind of massage. Just, to put it mildly, unhygienic. After all, it is not known what kind of infection floats around you. Therefore, you can resort to this method only in extreme cases.

Why does he cramp his legs

Seizures are quite rare. Most people experience them just a few times in their lives. If you have something wrong and muscle cramps come on a regular basis, it is important to figure out what provokes them.

1. You're overexerted

Muscle tension is often associated with - tiny injuries and even ruptures of muscle fibers. The healing of such injuries is accompanied by a familiar to many krepatura, and sometimes convulsions.

In addition, intense loads cause overexcitation of the nerve fibers that go from the muscles to the spinal cord and brain. And this leads to involuntary spasms.

2. You have uncomfortable shoes

The shoes are crushing, they don’t have a last that fits your foot or, let’s say, the wrong size, which is why you are forced to “hold” the shoes with your fingers. All this, firstly, impairs blood circulation in the legs, and secondly, makes the muscles unnaturally and constantly tense. As a result, when the "Spanish boot" is finally removed, the muscle does not believe its happiness and cannot relax - it cramps.

3. You are cold

Large temperature difference environment and body causes vasospasm. And the associated circulatory disorders can cause painful muscle contractions.

This temperature difference often occurs during swimming. In addition, the swimmer, as a rule, is also active, that is, an overvoltage is superimposed on the vasospasm.

4. You lack magnesium, potassium and other micronutrients

Magnesium, potassium, sodium, calcium are the most important electrolytes, the lack of which impairs the conduction of nerve signals in muscle fibers and can cause 13 Causes of Leg Cramps–and How To Stop Them muscle cramps.

5. You have varicose veins

Well, or just starting to develop. Due to violations in the work of blood vessels, the muscles of the legs may experience nutritional deficiencies.

6. You are pregnant

Cramps of the calf muscles are frequent companions of the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. The reason for their occurrence in this case is not entirely clear. What causes leg cramps during pregnancy, and can they be prevented?.

7. You may be prone to seizures

Often, the occurrence of spasms is associated with individual "settings" of the nervous system. Someone does not experience cramps at all, but they haunt someone after every intense trip to the gym or, say, while swimming.

What to do so that leg cramps do not recur

In order not to face a nasty feeling, it is enough to follow simple rules.

When cramps are a reason to go to the doctor

Even if you are prone to seizures, they should only occur from time to time, only in response to certain provoking factors.

If the legs are cramping several times a day or several days in a row, this is a serious reason to contact a therapist or other doctor who is watching you. The increase may be associated with developing disorders in the functioning of the nervous system and other organs.

Foot cramps are an unpleasant, even painful process, during which one or many muscles contract. Why it reduces the feet excites those who have suffered from such a phenomenon. The most intense is a cramp in the feet, in which a person feels the twisting of the toes, and a pulsation of pain is felt in the foot. Such attacks can differ in their variety - they can appear at night and during the day, spasms are also distinguished at the place of localization - fingers, calves. All these phenomena occur against the background of various provoking factors.

Features of the occurrence of night attacks

If it reduces the feet at night, these parts of the limbs are very painful, the duration of the attack can be up to four to five minutes. Such attacks can occur regardless of the age category and gender.

The factors provoking such an attack are:

• disturbances in the activity of the nervous system;
• the period of bearing a baby;
• dysfunctions in the body, in which there are circulatory disorders in the lower extremities;
• increased fatigue in the muscular apparatus of the legs;
• the use of certain medications;
• acute lack of vitamins and minerals in the body;
• the presence of flat feet;
• uncomfortable posture during sleep or rest. For example, if a person slightly bent his leg, lowered his foot down. This position provokes shortening of the muscle, and the result is a spasm of pain.

If it reduces the feet, the reasons for this can be very diverse.

Common Causes of Spasms

Spasm can appear, both in one part of the foot, and in several at the same time. Such phenomena always appear suddenly. There are certain predisposing conditions for the appearance of such a problem, among which wearing the wrong shoes is often found. So the foot is squeezed, blood circulation is disturbed. With regular wearing of such shoes, spasms can occur. Another common reason for this unpleasant phenomenon there is an acute shortage of trace elements in the human body, in particular, magnesium, calcium and potassium.

Often, spasm can occur with hypothermia of the lower extremities. As a result, there is also a violation of normal blood circulation. During varicose veins, the veins increase in size and their walls become thin. As a result, nodes begin to form, convulsions become their accompaniment. When the body is dehydrated, the blood fluid thickens and sodium levels decrease, which can also provoke convulsive seizures in the feet.

In women, during the menstrual period, the amount of blood fluid in the body decreases sharply, the result can be a spasm. Frequent stress, emotional overstrain lead to fatigue and depletion of the body's resources, and the reaction becomes a cramp in the feet. Often such unpleasant sensations appear in professional athletes, since their muscular apparatus is in constant tone.

With the uncontrolled use of diuretic drugs, the excitability of the nerve roots increases, since useful trace elements are removed from the body with frequent visits to the toilet. Seizures may also occur in people with a history of diabetes, during the development of this disease, failures occur in the microcirculation of the blood fluid. Diseases of the musculoskeletal system can also cause spasms (for example, arthritis, sciatica, gout, flat feet).

If these conditions are present, convulsions may appear in the feet. Before such a phenomenon begins to occur, the person feels a slight sipping of the lower part of the foot. Then suddenly there are painful sensations, intense compression in the spasmodic area. A person cannot lean on a limb, the muscles become tense, elastic, dense.

What causes this phenomenon:

• if the foot has cramped, it is necessary to stop the attack first;
• after which it is necessary to find out the reason for such a phenomenon;
• prevent future seizures.

Situations that provoke the appearance of convulsions

If it cramps the foot, the reason may lie in many situations. In order for the contraction of the muscular apparatus to always take place normally, the human body needs a large amount of an element such as magnesium. If there is a shortage of such a useful trace element, it can reduce the feet.

If a person has increased fragility of the bones, they often ache, the hair is unhealthy and too brittle, the nail plates break, exfoliate, this is direct evidence that there is very little calcium in the body. And its deficiency can also provoke problems with the dental apparatus, there is a strong irritation, fatigue. If calcium and magnesium are not replenished in the body, cramps will occur very often.

Iron deficiency provokes a condition in which the cells of the body do not have time to get enough oxygen, the result of this is a convulsion in the muscular apparatus, including the feet. If you are on a long-term diet or taking medicines to reduce glucose in the blood fluid, there is an acute shortage of glucose, and the result is a spasm.

If there are frequent sudden changes in body temperature, for example, during a sunstroke or during frostbite, convulsions may also appear. Due to the development of a cold or viral disease, in case of alcohol poisoning, brain cells can be influenced by nerve impulses, and this can also provoke the appearance of cramps in the legs. If there is not enough oxygen in the tissues, the vascular system, diseases of the vascular system can develop, resulting in convulsive seizures. When using hormonal contraceptives, various failures in the body can also occur, resulting in convulsions.

How is the treatment and first aid for seizures

When finding out the cause of this condition, you should know how to properly help a person in such a situation, what to do to stop an attack and how to get rid of such an attack on your own. First you need to calm down, calm the fear and the growing panic. Slightly raise your body. Sit on the bed, lower the limbs to the floor. Due to the effect of cold, blood microcirculation will improve. Next, slowly rise to your feet.

The body position is straight, the legs should be together. After a few seconds, unpleasant symptoms should disappear. The blood flow will improve and the attack will pass.

The treatment or relief of an attack also consists in the following manipulations - the leg needs to be pinched, pricked with a needle or a pin (this is why people who swim professionally have such a habit as carrying an inconspicuous small pin with them - in a particular situation, it can even save their life ). In order to help blood flow to improve, you should gently massage the limb, pat on the surface of the skin in the area that suffered from convulsions. After restoring blood flow, it is recommended to carry out a self-massage procedure, have a good rest, and try to fall asleep.

After stopping the attack, it is recommended to find out its cause. Get appropriate treatment if necessary. In the future, to prevent repeated attacks, you should follow simple rules: give your legs a moderate load, so the ligaments and muscles will strengthen, it is important to control your body weight. It is also important to wear comfortable shoes that will not squeeze your feet. It is recommended to do light jogging at least three times a week. It is also important to establish nutrition in order to saturate the body with the missing substances.

Each of us at least once in our lives had a leg cramp. This is an unpleasant feeling of extreme tension, sometimes causing severe pain. In a situation where your legs are cramping, what can and should be done?

In most cases, seizures begin suddenly and are short-lived. The causes of seizures are varied. Some diseases are accompanied by convulsions, for example, venous insufficiency, diabetes, flat feet. In addition, malnutrition can lead to seizures, as a result of which the body has a deficiency of trace elements such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, vitamins B and D.

Reduces leg muscles: what to do

In order to help yourself during convulsions, you must:

• Don't panic.
• One way to restore blood circulation is to stand on both feet. You usually don't feel the cramped leg, but try to distribute your weight evenly.
• Massage and pinching of the muscle that has cramped will also help you stop the cramp. Gently but intensely rub the muscle, moving up and down it.
• In addition, you can put your feet on the floor and roll them from toe to heel.
• If you can't move your leg, help yourself with your hands. Pull on the sock, then fold it in reverse side. Just do not overdo it, the movements should be smooth and unsharp, otherwise the pain may increase.
• With a long cramp, it is recommended to apply a warm towel or compress, you can also use a warming ointment.
• To avoid re-convulsions after it stops, you need to lie down and slightly raise your legs for a few seconds to ensure the outflow of blood.

You have learned emergency measures for convulsions. If seizures are regular, you should consult a doctor who will prescribe the necessary tests to identify the causes of seizures. However, any disease is easier to prevent than to treat. Therefore, read the measures to prevent seizures:

1. Don't wear uncomfortable shoes.
2. Try to distribute the load on your legs so that they do not get very tired.
3. Do strengthening exercises for the legs, in addition, you can go for a run. Remember, movement is life. But everything is good in moderation.
4. In the evenings, arrange a contrast shower or bath for your feet.
5. Relieve tension in your legs with exercise.
6. Proper nutrition. Eat foods high in calcium (eg dairy products, beans), potassium (dried fruits, nuts, bananas), and magnesium (bran). Also, drink enough water.
7. Watch your weight.
8. If your legs tend to cramp at night, try sleeping in wool socks. Heat helps to relax the muscles.

Exercise: how to relieve tension in the legs

• Flexion and extension of the toes.
• Circular rotation of the feet with outstretched legs. This exercise is easy to do even while sitting at your desk.
• Pulling the sock so that the leg and foot form one line, then relaxing the foot. The exercise is done while sitting.
• Place your feet on the outer ribs and stomp. Do this while sitting in a chair or sofa, then place your feet on your inner rib and stomp again.

These gentle exercises help to relax stiff legs and stimulate circulation.

What to do if you cramped your leg while you were swimming, because this situation is very dangerous. First, if you are prone to cramps, don't swim too far. Secondly, hypothermia contributes to convulsions. Be very careful, get to a place where you can stand on your feet, leave the body of water and rub your foot.

When cramped toes, what to do? Do not strain your fingers, this will only increase the pain. Try to relax them, put your foot on a flat surface, bring your fingers to a normal position with the help of your hands.

If suddenly your leg cramps, you know what to do. Remember, seizures can serve as a signal of various diseases. If this phenomenon occurs regularly and even often, consult a doctor for advice.

Leg cramps are painful manifestations of our body that occur due to involuntary and uncontrolled muscle contractions. This unpleasant feeling worries everyone without exception, regardless of age category and gender. Muscle spasms occur most often at night, during sleep. With a sudden leg cramp, you can help yourself in several ways.

• Get comfortable shoes, avoid large physical activity on limbs, do not drink alcohol, do not drink coffee, give up cigarettes.
• Provide your diet with foods rich in potassium, magnesium and calcium (the whole range of berries, bananas, grapes, fruits, juices, sea ​​fish, tomatoes, potatoes, legumes, cabbage, all kinds of greens, eggs, cheeses, corn).
• Regularly perform leg exercises, self-massage and special relaxation exercises.
• Take a contrast shower (paying special attention to the legs), take baths in herbal decoctions that have calming and anticonvulsant properties (mint, horsetail, valerian).
• Pay attention to your psycho-emotional and general condition, provide your body good rest and calm environment.

Leg cramps are a bell in our body, signaling that it is necessary to take some measures to prevent the development of the disease. Switch to a healthy, balanced diet enriched with minerals and vitamins, take preventive measures, and you will not only get rid of seizures, but also prevent the occurrence of many serious diseases, improve your well-being and improve the quality of life.