This Is Why Your Legs Cramp And How To Get Rid Of The Pain

#1 Causes And Risk Factors of Leg Cramps

What exactly causes leg cramps is still a mystery, but there are potential causes and some risk factors that might trigger the leg cramps, such as:

over-exertion of the leg muscles

sitting for a long periods of time

sitting inadequately

standing for a long time or working on concrete floors

#2 There are also some medical conditions that might be the cause of the leg cramps, including:

alcoholism

pregnancy

dehydration

neuromuscular disorders

endocrine disorders (diabetes for example)

structural disorders (flat feet for example)

Parkinson's disease

Statins, diuretics, beta agonists

#3 Treatment And Prevention For Leg Cramps

How you are going to treat the leg cramps depends on the reason that caused them in the first place. For instance, if dehydration is the cause of the leg cramps, then you should make sure that you take in enough liquids throughout the day. However, here is a list of some other treatments and preventative methods that will relieve the leg cramps:

place a heating pad on the area affected

use horse chestnut, because it has been proven to improve the blood flow in the body and in the legs

take a warm, relaxing bath before going to bed and release the tightness from the muscles

make sure you consume enough magnesium or potassium, because lack of these minerals can often cause leg cramps

you can also try acupuncture and loose the tightness from your leg muscles

make sure your shoes are comfortable and ergonomic, and avoid wearing high heals

stretch before going to sleep

participate in water exercises in order to build leg muscles

#4 What to do When Cramps Occur

If a leg cramp strikes you in the middle of the night, the chances that you feel almost paralyzed are great. That is why you should know how to handle them and how to find the relief and reduce the soreness afterwards. You can make use of some of these tips:

take a tablespoon of yellow mustard, since it helps in relieving the discomfort

get up from the bed and try walking around for some time. You should also shake your legs so that the blood starts flowing better

sitting on the floor, extend your legs in front of you, and flex your feet at the ankles. Then, point your toes toward your knees and pull your feet in order to get a better stretch

massage the affected area gently, making circular motions

see whether the blankets and the sheets are loose enough and they do not make the leg muscles contract

#5 If you follow these steps you should find yourself cramp free in no time.