Why do leg cramps occur when doing pull-ups? Spasm

Cramps can occur in any part of the body where there are muscles. But in this article we will discuss why the calf muscles cramp at night or during the day, as well as the causes, treatment and prevention of this condition.

First, a little theory so that everyone understands how and why painful muscle spasms develop. Muscles have two states: relaxed and contracted. A cramp is the transition of a muscle to a contracted state. Muscles are relaxed when all their fibers are stretched. When a muscle performs work, calcium enters the muscle cells and sodium leaves the cell, which causes the fibers to contract, the muscle tightens and does its job. This is not a problem in the short term when the muscle is doing what it is supposed to do. But when a muscle remains contracted without doing any work, sharp and intense pain occurs.

Why do my calf muscles cramp at night?

Before learning about the treatment for calf cramps at night, let's talk about their causes. The main mechanism of convulsive syndrome is a decrease in the supply of oxygen to tissues. When muscle work outpaces blood flow and oxygen supply, muscles contract. This does not occur in normal leg conditions, even with significant strain. But if the blood supply to the leg muscles is compromised, namely by the buildup of cholesterol plaques in the arteries, the muscles will cramp.

Calf cramps during exercise or walking are called claudication, which indicates the presence of peripheral arterial disease. But this condition is usually typical during active times of the day. Sometimes, while yawning or stretching, abdominal muscle spasms may develop! During sleep, the muscles do not perform any work.

Why do the calf muscles of the legs cramp at night? Basically, the cause of calf muscle cramps at night is an imbalance in the body.

An imbalance can manifest itself due to a violation of water-electrolyte balance with heavy sweating due to overheating, high body temperature, and uncontrolled use of diuretics.

Why do my legs cramp at night? Consequences

• Imagine waking up in the middle of the night with sudden, very severe cramps in your calf muscles. This pain is so intense that you scream and cry.
• Your screams wake up a loved one who is nearby.
• Cramps in the feet and legs at night can completely disturb your sleep and cause insomnia.
• The next morning you will wake up with nagging pain in your legs, which will disrupt your ability to work and your mood, possibly for the whole day.

This is how patients describe their symptoms when seeking medical help. 50% of the adult population experienced such unpleasant sensations. let's discuss calf muscle cramps at night, causes and treatment this condition in more detail.

There are often no obvious causes of night cramps in the calf muscles. Painful contractions in the legs, feet, and toes may appear and disappear suddenly with slight muscle tension. Here are the main complaints presented by patients suffering from leg cramps at night: involuntary spasms in the muscles of the lower legs, occurring throughout the entire lower leg, including the foot, sudden, acute, sometimes lasting several minutes, often occurring during night sleep.

Medicine is still not entirely clear why the calves cramp at night. Therefore, such muscle spasms are often called idiopathic. This means that the patient has no apparent reason for the occurrence of such a condition. However, the most common known causes for chronic leg cramps are:

It's important to know if you suffer from any of these risk factors for calf cramps. Then it will be much easier to cure the disease.

If you have no reason to develop cramps in the legs, then you need to take a slightly different path. Unfortunately, there is currently no definitive treatment for muscle spasms in the legs. In the past, patients were offered various vitamin complexes, eating bananas, etc., but all these recommendations turned out to be ineffective. Previously used quinine is now banned due to its high toxicity compared to the benefits it brings.

Why do calf muscle cramps become more frequent at the age of 50?

In old age, metabolic changes begin due to a decrease in hormonal levels. This leads to calcium being “washed out” from bone structures and muscle cells. Calcium is the element responsible for the contractile stability of muscles. Naturally, with its intracellular deficiency, the risk of convulsive spasms sharply increases. Therefore, nighttime leg cramps in the elderly, causes, and treatment have one goal: restoring calcium balance. How to do this, read on.

Calf muscle cramps at night - causes and treatment

We have already discussed the causes of muscle spasms. No specific therapy has yet been found for this condition, but there are several ways to cope with seizures; however, as always, be sure to discuss them with your doctor:

1. Do light exercise before bed (such as a few minutes on a treadmill or stationary bike)
2. Stretching exercises and massage before bed
3. Avoid diuretics (as well as caffeine and alcohol, which cause dehydration)
4. Use magnesium supplements (but be careful not to overdo it, as magnesium can be toxic if overdosed)
5. Vitamin B12 (if you suffer from a lack of this vitamin in your body)
6. You can try muscle relaxants (Mydocalm)
7. Drugs that affect neuropathic pain (eg, gabapentin)
8. Calcium channel blockers (often used to treat hypertension and migraines). However, these drugs can cause hypotension and other undesirable effects.
9. To correct fluid and electrolyte imbalances, drink enough water during intense physical activity. Calcium can be replenished by taking calcium and magnesium supplements. But if you prefer natural remedies, then light sesame oil is best for you. Sesame oil contains the highest amount of calcium of any product known to us. Don't you like butter? Then eat more cottage cheese and other dairy products!

Quick relief for leg cramps

But if your calves are cramping, what should you do at that moment? Get up and walk around barefoot. If this doesn't help, put your feet in very hot water, just don't get burned, please; or warm your feet in any other way. Typically, thermal procedures relieve cramps in the calf muscles quite quickly. There is no need to prick the muscles with needles, as some healers advise. This won't help! Drink hot tea or milk, wrap your feet warmly and try to keep them lower.

If the cause of leg cramps at night is over 50, then avoid raising your legs. This disrupts the normal arterial blood supply to the muscles and spasms may occur. You can pour mustard into your socks, which will warm the soles and relieve spasms in the foot muscles.

Most patients usually do not have other medical conditions that could cause calf cramps. But if you experience frequent seizures, still consult a doctor to do at least the most minimal research for your own peace of mind. Even a simple blood pressure check and blood test may be enough to determine whether you have risk factors, peripheral vascular disease, or diabetes or electrolyte imbalances.

You and I now know a lot about how calf muscle cramps occur at night, their causes and treatment are many. Now let's take a break and watch a funny cartoon about a resourceful vacuum cleaner from my favorite film studio!

Cramping is a very common phenomenon among professional athletes. Many people have encountered this problem while working out in the gym or on the treadmill. But what if one day a cramp strikes you while swimming in open water or in the middle of a marathon? Together with teledoctor and expert Alexey Bezymyanny, we managed to understand the causes and consequences of this phenomenon.

Why do my legs cramp?

“There could be several reasons for this. Poor stretching or, conversely, overtraining. If a person has overtrained, muscle fatigue develops and muscle spasm occurs, which is accompanied by pain. Usually shin cramps. Another reason is a lack of potassium and magnesium. Also, cramps while running can occur due to improperly selected shoes. You need to choose shoes based on your running style and your own feeling of comfort.”

If during training you feel that the leg muscles seem to have hardened and there is a sharp pain in the same place, then you have a cramp.

Emergency help for seizures

As soon as you feel pain, stop the exercise immediately. Exercising through force will not bring relief in this case.
- Pull your big toe towards you, this will stretch the muscles and stop the spasm.
- If cramps affect your abs during exercise, lie down on a flat surface and stretch back with your arms straight.
- If the cramp occurs in the thigh muscles, stretch by bending your knee and pulling your leg back towards your buttocks.

What to do after the pain has passed?

Do not continue training immediately after the cramp has passed. The relaxed muscle should be allowed to rest for 15-20 minutes, otherwise the cramp may recur.
- Drink enough water (sometimes cramps can be caused by dehydration).
- If the pain syndrome has passed, but the muscle remains tense (“stone”), it is better to stop training and do a light massage of the muscle.

How to avoid seizures?

Before each workout, do a warm-up (5-10 minutes), and end your workout with stretching (10-15 minutes).
- Include foods high in calcium, sodium, potassium and magnesium in your diet. You can take a course of vinamines: “Regidron”, “Hydrofit”, “Asparkam”, “Diacarb” - they all replenish potassium levels.

“See if your shoes wear out while you run. On the side from which it is worn away, the pelvis is torsioned or the hip joint is not connected correctly. In this case, you should contact a chiropractor. If you continue to run with a defect and in the wrong style, you will inevitably experience cramps and cramps in your legs.”

Nobel Prize winner in chemistry Rod MacKinnon suggests drinking a special spicy drink before training to get rid of cramps. He justified this by the fact that convulsions often occur due to nervous overstrain.

To regulate excessive neuronal movement in the body, he suggests drinking a mixture of cayenne pepper (1/2 teaspoon), lemon juice (1 teaspoon) and a glass of cold water before or during exercise. You can also prepare various drinks containing other spicy foods: ginger, cinnamon, a mixture of peppers.

There are several versions causes of cramps in the calf muscle or in the thigh muscle. Western neurologists put forward their theory, according to which it is a protective mechanism of the body. A person may think that he is able to jog at a distance of, for example, 10 kilometers. But the part of the brain that is responsible for motor activity “claims” that this person cannot run more than 5 kilometers. As a result, after the 5 kilometers set by the brain, even if a person believes that he has enough strength to run further, the brain sends a signal through the nervous system, ordering the muscle to contract. And as a result - calf muscle cramp.

Another version partially complements the first. It is based on the fact that nerve impulses entering the calf muscles do not always pass smoothly; sometimes they seem to “stumble.” This may occur due to a lack of micronutrient salts (potassium, sodium) in the body. Since these substances are responsible for the passage of impulses, and if there is not the required amount of them, the impulse lacks “current”.

The disappearance of microelements from the body is a rhetorical question. The modern world offers so much incomprehensible food that it is simply difficult to find something useful there. Salts are washed out of the body along with the exiting fluid, for example, sweat. Pregnant women are more likely to experience cramps due to a lack of microelements, since everything useful is spent on the life support of the fetus.

Another version is based on the fact that cause of calf muscle cramp a banal circulatory disorder. That is, blood goes down the legs through the arteries, and should go up through the veins. But due to the predominantly sedentary lifestyle and work of modern man, this does not happen; there is not enough push for the “pump” that would drive the blood through the veins. This can also lead to varicose veins. If you don’t stretch your stiff legs in time, the result is still the same - convulsions.

If your legs cramp not often, literally once every couple of months, then this is not a reason to worry and stop at clinics. This may be simple fatigue and here you just need to give your legs a rest, for example, raise them above your head. But if this starts to happen more often, then you should think about it and run to the doctor. Because it could be a sign of a disease. By the way, you shouldn’t pay attention to the cramps that happen in cold water. They only carry the danger of drowning (which should not be forgotten), but are not a sign of disease. This occurs due to vasospasm with a sharp change in temperature, disruption of blood flow and convulsions.

Treatment of calf muscle cramps

Coping with what's coming calf muscle cramp possible in different ways. A pin can also help if you stick it into the contracted muscle. Just remember that the needle may not be sterile, and there is a risk of piercing a large vessel. Throwing your legs up on the wall and just relaxing will also help. But this technique will not work with a severe cramp, because it is difficult to relax with severe pain. And it’s not so easy to do this during the day, in an office environment, for example. A simple massage may be a more effective method, because the most important thing is to warm up the “problem” muscle when a cramp occurs. It is also helpful to do stretching exercises.

When advancing calf muscle cramps the most important thing is to restore normal blood circulation in the problem area as soon as possible and not to panic. And try to do something to “let go of the leg.”

Night cramps of the calf muscles - the causes of this phenomenon are often hidden in irritation of the nerve roots as a result of the natural aging of the vertebral bodies. In themselves, such convulsions are not dangerous, however, if they are repeated regularly and for no reason, then you need to think about it, since this may indicate certain diseases. A visit to the doctor can help you understand the reasons for calf cramps at night.

Calf muscle cramp at night- This is an uncommon phenomenon, but it can bring significant discomfort to a person. This often happens to older people and pregnant women. You can tell that a cramp is approaching by severe pain in the calf and muscle. Subsequent muscle contractions are also painful and unpleasant, and they can appear in the calf itself and also spread to the foot. During a cramp, it is problematic to touch the leg, since piercing pain occurs anywhere. In healthy people, this phenomenon is often provoked by keeping the leg in the same position for a long time; after some time, spasms begin. Such cramps are not dangerous; as a rule, they are not frequent and pass quickly if you rub your leg. And if they occur frequently, for no particular reason, then the body may be susceptible to some serious disease. The most dangerous are convulsions in water.

What are the reasons for calf muscle cramps?

this phenomenon may occur due to excess lactic acid that has not had time to transform; disturbances in blood circulation to the leg muscles;

The response of the human nervous system to prolonged uncomfortable posture.

How can you eliminate calf muscle cramps at night? Treatment of muscle spasms.

Treatment for calf cramps will depend on the cause.. Infrequent, mild spasms may not be treated at all; you just need to rub your leg and everything will go away. Sometimes acupuncture can be used to help with severe cramps, but it is preferable that this procedure be performed by a specialist who knows the correct points on the body to insert the needle. If spasms occur frequently and are very painful, you should be examined. Initially, they pay attention to the circulatory system, since in the case of narrowed or clogged vessels that create a deficiency of muscle oxygen, the problem must be eliminated.

If cramps occur due to a lack of calcium, then initially you need to drink a vitamin complex, and also more often consume foods that contain this trace element (milk, vegetables, oatmeal, liver and fruits). If spasms do not go away, it is recommended to undergo an in-depth neuropathological examination. In this case, the doctor may prescribe the following drugs: Quinine, Baclofen or Diazepam. To treat cramps, massage is also used to promote blood circulation in the calf muscle and improve oxygen supply.

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Sharp, painful symptoms, inability to stand up or move the fingers of the lower limb - all this means that your calf muscle cramped at night. Such spasms most often occur during sleep, because at this time the muscle corset is completely relaxed, and when the body lacks essential minerals such as potassium, calcium and magnesium.

Pregnant women and teenagers suffer from this in seventy percent of cases during puberty. However, when this often happens in other people, then most likely this means the onset of a disease - the so-called

Possible reasons

Cramps are a fairly serious disease; they are always preceded by something that cramps the calf muscle at night. The reasons for this phenomenon are quite extensive: violations of any metabolic processes, as a result of which useful minerals are not absorbed, gradually developing epilepsy, hypoxia, meningitis or any complications during pregnancy.

All kinds of stress and too much excitement can lead to the fact that electrolyte metabolic processes in the body are disrupted, and this, in turn, causes the convulsive syndrome itself. If you feel that your calf muscle has cramped at night, but there are no diseases listed above, then you need to urgently consult a doctor, most likely your body has chosen this method to warn you about an internal “malfunction”.

Wrong sleeping position

Another reason for this may be an uncomfortable position in which sensitivity is lost and nerve endings are pinched. If this happens constantly, then the body may not have enough calcium, which leads to varicose veins in the lower extremities.

Poor blood circulation

The condition when the calf muscle cramps at night occurs when the blood vessels narrow very sharply and, thus, do not allow blood to circulate. In this case, the muscles are usually overstrained. The leg can also cramp during excessive physical activity. Every athlete knows that you always need to warm up and prepare your muscles first before you start exercising. With increasing loads, the calves cramp quite often. Therefore, before you start exercising, ask your trainer to show you a few warm-up exercises.

We are always interested to know why our calf muscles cramp at night. There are quite a few reasons for this. However, only a doctor can tell you exactly which of them is your option, and even then only after conducting a series of studies and tests.

Another reason

During pregnancy, the risk of a nighttime “surprise” doubles. This mainly happens in the third trimester, the woman’s weight increases, as a result of which the load on the legs becomes greater. In addition, due to the growth of the uterus, blood does not flow well into the lower extremities, because The vena cava is partially compressed. Therefore, pregnant women often complain that their calf muscles cramp at night.

Eat potassium and magnesium, consult a specialist if necessary, and don’t get sick!

Sometimes a person may feel sudden muscle spasms that cause severe pain. Some people experience convulsions on a daily basis. Home remedies can help cope with this phenomenon. But in order to prevent recurrence of seizures, it is important to completely change your lifestyle. Let's take a closer look at what calf muscle cramps are, why they appear, and what to do when they make themselves felt.

Symptoms and types of seizures

Cramps in the calves have the following symptoms:

1. During tonic-clonic spasms, the person suddenly loses consciousness and the pupils become dilated. The convulsions last 10 seconds, the skeleton is tense, the eyes roll up. Then, for another 40 seconds, the muscles of the torso sharply contract and relax. At the end of the attack, the person falls asleep or feels briefly stunned. You may also experience bloody foam coming from the mouth, excessive salivation, and tongue biting;
2. Myoclonic spasms affect the entire skeleton, facial muscles or fingers. Most often they affect children and adolescents. During an attack, a person may be injured by falling;
3. With partial convulsive seizures, a person does not lose consciousness. During such cramps, the calves, hands and face cramp. A person feels pain and severe tension in the muscles.

Factors that cause seizures

If you have experienced calf cramps at least once, it is important to visit a neurologist, as they can indicate various serious and not so serious diseases.

The main causes of seizures:

1. Lack of vitamin D, magnesium and calcium;
2. Hypothermia of the legs or whole body;
3. Stressful situations;
4. Getting injured;
5. Inflammation in the body;
6. Varicose veins;
7. Neurological problems;
8. Thyroid diseases;
9. Diabetes.

In addition to the listed factors, there are also such reasons for the development of seizures as too much excitement, stressful situations, and disturbances in electrolyte metabolism.

Having experienced the symptoms of seizures, you should immediately consult a doctor to determine the exact causes of this defect in the body.

An experienced specialist will find out why convulsions occur and promptly prescribe correct and effective treatment.

Muscle spasms in children

To determine why calf cramps occur in children, it is important to visit a pediatrician. The appearance of seizures is caused by symptoms of calcium and vitamin D deficiency, the development of serious diseases or epilepsy.

Often cramps in the calves during sleep. In case of a cramp, it is necessary to rub the child’s leg with warming ointment. The baby should stand on his toes. Children's diet must necessarily consist of cottage cheese, hard cheeses, dried apricots, and raisins. The doctor should tell you what to do in the future if seizures recur. He can also prescribe treatment.

How to act to help yourself

When your calves cramp, the question arises, what to do? First of all, it is important to perform the following activities:

1. Ignoring the pain, you need to slowly pull the toes of the pinched foot toward you;
2. Feel or scratch the stiff muscles and rub your leg with strong movements;
3. You can also apply a warm mustard plaster to the cramping area or direct a hot shower onto your leg, which your skin can tolerate.

After providing first aid to yourself during an attack of calf muscle spasm, it is important to call a doctor. The specialist must determine why the convulsion occurred by carefully examining and interviewing the patient.

Night cramps

If your legs cramp at night, a person becomes scared, and he begins to panic and think about what to do in such a situation. First you need to calm down! Then try to stand up and walk barefoot on the floor. If the spasm does not go away, you can put your feet in a bowl of hot water or treat them with warming ointment and put on warm socks. Heat will quickly relieve the cramp. Additionally, you can drink hot tea or milk. When you go to bed, be sure to place your feet below head level.

Traditional medicine and night leg cramps

To get rid of night cramps in the calf muscles, you can use the following traditional medicine recipes:

Identifying the causes of seizures

To diagnose serious diseases that cause cramps in your calves, it is enough to check your blood pressure and take a blood test. In serious cases, the doctor may order a full examination of all organs, which will accurately tell why seizures occur.

Treating seizures

Having determined why calf muscle cramps occur, it is important to begin treatment. It is necessary not only to train the calf muscles, but also to eliminate the causes that cause convulsions.

Treatment for calf muscle cramps:

1. If the cause of seizures is impaired mineral metabolism, treatment will consist of changing the diet. That is, the patient should consume more foods rich in vitamins and minerals. In serious situations, the doctor is forced to resort to introducing special drugs into the body;
2. If the cause of seizures is varicose veins, it is important to treat the vessels of the venous bed;
3. If the cause of seizures is epilepsy, anticonvulsants are taken. For example, a doctor may prescribe a course of phenobarbital, phenytoin, valproic acid or lamotrigine;
4. If the body does not receive enough oxygen to relieve the spasm, you need to saturate the blood with oxygen by inhaling it through a special mask;
5. If spasms are caused by brain developmental defects, anticonvulsants are used;
6. If the patient has suffered due to meningitis, antibacterial therapy is carried out to prevent the development of seizures;
7. To cope with febrile vascular spasms, it is necessary to take an antipyretic drug, which will lower high body temperature and normalize breathing;
8. When dehydrated, convulsions are eliminated by infusion of fluid through the veins. It is important to normalize the volume of circulating blood;
9. In some situations, an experienced specialist resorts to acupuncture to relieve leg spasms. During this procedure, all needles must be carefully cleaned, and the doctor must know how and where to inject with a needle.

Treatment and prevention of calf muscle cramps also include special massages that warm up the muscles and increase blood flow in them. To strengthen your leg muscles, it is useful to do gymnastics.

If necessary, the doctor may prescribe additional medications that contain calcium and vitamin D.

Preventive measures

To prevent the recurrence of calf muscle cramps, it is important to carry out prevention, which consists of the following:

1. Change your menu. Eat fresh fruits and greens. To enrich the body with calcium, it is useful to enjoy cottage cheese, cheese, other dairy products, and almonds. To replenish the loss of magnesium, walnuts, legumes and buckwheat are recommended for consumption. Potassium can be found in dried fruits, dried apricots, seeds, beets and garlic;
2. In addition to a proper and balanced diet, you can drink a vitamin-mineral complex;
3. In order to prevent leg cramps, special exercises are recommended on the doctor’s recommendation;
4. To relieve pain and discomfort in the legs, you can resort to massage, which you can do yourself or visit a massage therapist;
5. It is beneficial to walk on your heels for a couple of minutes every day.

Leg cramps are not dangerous. But, if spasms are repeated systematically, they can signal some serious illness. In this case, why convulsive attacks occur, the doctor must figure out.

Cramps are reflex muscle contractions that occur unexpectedly, causing discomfort or pain, making leg movements impossible. More and more people are turning to doctors with complaints that their calves are cramped. There are many reasons contributing to the disease. To establish the exact cause and prescribe treatment, you will need to trace all sorts of factors that can provoke cramping of the calf muscles. It is possible to treat spasms in the calf muscles with the help of modern medicine and folk remedies.

Depending on the cause of the calf reduction, it is necessary to find the correct solution to this problem. It is considered useful to engage in a set of exercises aimed at stretching muscles and tendons. If contraction of the calf muscles has become a frequent occurrence, it is recommended to consult a doctor and undergo an examination of the body. The solution will help to find dangerous diseases, and timely treatment will prevent their development.

Statistics have shown that every second inhabitant of the planet faces this phenomenon. Most people do not notice such a nuisance. Often the cause of cramped legs is a lack of potassium, magnesium, and calcium. Initially, you will need to compensate for the deficiency of these microelements. If the frequency of manifestations is high, it is recommended to consult a doctor.

Common reasons are:

• Physical activity without warming up and stretching muscles;
• Prolonged stress on the legs as a result of standing or sedentary work;
• Stress accompanied by poor nutrition;
• Failure in metabolic processes, as a result of which the muscles do not receive enough oxygen;
• A sharp drop in temperature causes constriction of blood vessels;
• Inconvenient, incorrectly selected shoes;
• Flat feet;
• Hormonal imbalances;
• ARVI;
• Injuries;
• Heat;
• Drug poisoning.

In adulthood, the causes are: excess glucose in the body, slow metabolism, Parkinson's disease. It is extremely rare for calf cramps to occur due to serious illnesses: brain cancer, diabetes, epilepsy, thrombophlebitis.

An additional reason is impaired blood circulation in the lower extremities, when blood moves poorly through the veins. This happens due to a passive lifestyle and little physical activity. Neurology and diseases of the spine can be attributed to the causes of spasms of the calf muscles. There is a direct connection, since a pinched nerve due to difficulties with the spine produces an unpleasant sensation in the lower limb.

Why do my calves cramp when stretching?

If your calves cramp while stretching, the cause is probably a simple muscle spasm that occurs during sudden physical exertion. Such cases are especially often observed in women who spend a large amount of time on a high platform; the muscles are in a state of tension also during sleep.

There are several ways to avoid cramps: raise your leg up and pull your toe down. Or it is enough to simply massage the area of ​​the spasm, and then smear the leg with a special medicinal ointment.

Cramps your calves when walking

If your calves cramp during walking, running, or swimming, you should pay attention and identify the factor causing the muscle contraction. The reason may not be a deficiency of microelements, but a circulatory disorder. In addition to normal flat feet, the cause is believed to be incipient varicose veins.

You can get rid of a cramp in several ways: pinch or prick the place where the cramp is cramped with a sharp object. However, you need to be extremely careful; there is a high probability of damage to blood vessels or infection. After the injection, it is recommended to actively massage the leg, then apply a special ointment.

Why do calf cramps occur in men?

More often, cramps among men are observed in athletes after intense physical exertion. The reason is a decrease in microelements and dehydration of the body due to increased sweating. Due to excessive consumption of sugar, nicotine and caffeine, a lack of essential muscle components occurs, causing the calf muscle to contract.

Causes of calf muscle cramps in women

Certain factors are known to cause leg cramps in women. The main common reason is wearing high heels. To avoid cramps, it is recommended to wear shoes with low heels or alternate high platforms with low ones. Often cramps in the calves of pregnant women, mainly shortly before the birth of the baby, since the expectant mother’s body has a deficiency of microelements and vitamins, which are spent on the development of the fetus.

Treatment with elastic stockings will definitely help with varicose veins, which cause leg cramps. Stockings help keep blood vessels in a static position. It is not recommended to wear shoes with a high platform, use tight belts, or sit with one leg crossed over the other.

Why do my calves cramp at night?

The question often arises as to why the calves cramp at night - in the dark the muscles are not tense. At night, blood flow is disrupted, resulting in incorrect sleeping position or vascular problems. Any movement during sleep can cause a spasm. Patients often turn to doctors with complaints: sharp muscle spasms, acute pain that lasts for several minutes. Doctors are not clear exactly why cramps occur at night. Such seizures are called idiopathic. It means that the patient has no apparent reason for the occurrence of such a condition.

If a cramp occurs suddenly, it is recommended to change the position of the legs and allow the muscles to relax. Then the leg needs to be massaged and a cold compress applied.

A proper, balanced diet is a sure salvation in the fight against cramps. It is recommended to eat more natural foods, avoid fatty foods, and avoid deficiencies of substances necessary for the body. In case of a lack of magnesium, potassium and calcium in the body, it is recommended to include apples, dried apricots, bananas, and cottage cheese in the diet. In addition to proper nutrition, taking vitamins will help. For example, vitamin D deficiency is quite capable of causing muscle contraction.

How to avoid calf muscle cramps

Most people feel in advance that a cramp will occur. It's worth trying to relax as much as possible. If you need to change your position. Try to lift the limb, then pull the sole towards the knee. After doing the exercise, sit down and pinch the location of the spasms. Try shifting your body weight onto the cramped leg. After a certain time, blood circulation and sensitivity in the legs will improve.

With sudden and prolonged leg cramps, immediate medical attention is required, and there is a risk of depression of vital functions, for example, breathing. Do not neglect treatment and examinations; complications are likely in the future.

Treatment of seizures using folk remedies

If seizures are not frequent, and the cause cannot be identified, it is possible to do without the help of a doctor and resort to treatment with folk remedies:

1. When cramps in the calves of the legs often help, an effective method in folk medicine is rubbing the place where the spasm occurred using mustard oil.
2. Folk remedy: infuse 3/4 cup of dope seeds in 0.5 liters of 75% alcohol in a place out of direct sunlight for 30 days. If cramps occur, rub the disturbing area with cotton wool, after dipping it in the tincture. Yeast will help prevent cramps. To compensate for potassium deficiency, make a remedy from them.
3. Simple magnets will help with cramps; just place objects on the place where the spasm occurred. For treatment, it is recommended to prepare baths from special medicinal herbs: nettle, peppermint, wheatgrass, yarrow, shepherd's purse. Divide the listed herbs into equal parts. Pour 100 g of herbs into 250 ml of boiling water, place in a water bath, and boil for 20 minutes. Pour the resulting product into a container with water, the temperature of which does not exceed 38-40 degrees. Place your feet in the broth so that your calves are completely immersed, hold for 20 minutes. It is worth doing the procedure for 10 days in a row.

Treatment with folk remedies is much more profitable and a priority than with expensive medications.

It is permissible to perform exercises to prevent calf spasms in advance, aimed at improving blood circulation, stretching and relaxing muscles. If you carefully monitor the condition of the body and receive timely treatment, there is a high probability of avoiding spasms of the calf muscles.

Everyone is familiar with the unpleasant and painful feeling of muscle strain. Seizures occur for a variety of reasons. Most often they occur during active sports and have mild and severe forms.

Which muscles are most susceptible to cramps?

• Calf muscle. Located on the back of the lower leg;
• Semitendinosus, biceps and semimembranosus muscles. Posterior thigh;
• Quadriceps. Front of thigh;
• Arm muscles;
• Feet;
• Muscles along the chest.

At-risk groups

The main group is, of course, athletes, or rather any person during physical activity. Spasms occur during long exercise and 4-6 hours after it.

The risk of seizures is also high in older people. This is facilitated by a natural decrease in muscle mass that occurs after 40 years and develops with reduced activity.

Greater risk in young children. They still have difficulty controlling their muscles, and a cramp can start at any moment. 30% of pregnant women constantly suffer from muscle cramps. This may be due to severe stress on the body and a sharp increase in weight.

Reasons for muscle contraction

• Many people have contractions, and as a result; overvoltage, increases in hot weather. With sweat, many microelements are released from the body;
• Some chronic diseases may also be the cause;
• Sometimes hypothermia;
• Taking medications;
• Overweight;
• Smoking, alcohol or table salt abuse;
• In some cases, it becomes a nerve disease.

Muscle fatigue and neuromuscular control

One common misconception is that muscle pain after exercise means muscle growth. This is completely false. Through pain, the body rushes to notify about micro damage or overload.

This is why muscles need adaptation, the so-called neuromuscular connection (memory). If a person has previously been actively involved in sports, then it takes him much less time to get back into shape. Prepared muscles increase in volume faster, become stronger and more resilient.

In other words, neuromuscular control is necessary so that if for any reason you have to interrupt physical activity (injury, pregnancy, etc.), muscle recovery occurs 3-4 times faster than the first time.

Dehydration or electrolyte deficiency

During training, the body intensively loses water and salts through sweat. In particular, important ions: magnesium, potassium, calcium, sodium. All this can lead to general dehydration and muscle spasms.

Violation of water balance leads to disruption of electrolyte metabolism. This happens not only when playing sports, but also when drinking little fluids. A change in water-salt metabolism leads to a malfunction of the entire body, including muscles.

Other reasons

Most seizures are mild, but they may indicate a more serious condition. If the spasms are very strong and occur frequently, you should consult a doctor.

The reason may be:

• Osteochondrosis or other diseases of the musculoskeletal system;
• Poor circulation;
• Nerve problems;
• Poor metabolism in the body;
• Thyroid disease;
• Phlebeurysm;
• Vitamin deficiency;
• Or a consequence of taking certain medications.

Symptoms

The convulsive contraction of the muscles is impossible not to notice. The only difference is the range of severity - from a slight tingling sensation to severe excruciating pain.

During a spasm, the muscles are very dense, hard, or unnaturally shaped. Minor twitching under the skin may be visible. The spasm lasts from a few seconds to 10-15 minutes.

Sometimes longer. They may recur after a short time. If the cramp is severe, the pain may last for several days after it.

How to fight?

First aid and treatment

As a rule, symptoms disappear on their own and do not require special treatment. But in order to stop the convulsive contraction, you must do the following:

• Stop performing the movement that causes the spasm;
• Slowly stretch and massage the cramped part of the body;
• Try to relax and rest for a few minutes;
• If the pain remains, you can apply ice or apply an elastic bandage;
• If possible, do not strain the muscle for a while.

If these actions do not give the desired result, you should immediately call a doctor and begin treating the cause of the painful contractions.