Leg cramps

Leg cramps happen when a muscle in the leg tightens and causes a sudden pain that can make it hard to move.

The cramps can last from a few seconds to 10 minutes.

They can affect the:

• calf muscle, below the knee at the back of the leg
• muscles in the feet or the thighs (less often)

After the cramp has stopped, the muscle might feel sore for up to 24 hours.

Stretching and massaging the muscle may ease the pain during a cramp, although most cramps go away without you doing anything.

Standing up and putting your weight on the leg with the cramp may also help.

Paracetamol or ibuprofen can help to ease muscle soreness after a cramp, but they will not help when it's happening as they take too long to work.

Preventing cramps

Regular calf-stretching exercises may help to reduce cramps but may not completely stop them from happening.

1. Stand facing a wall and stretch out your arms until your hands can just touch it.
2. Make sure you're able to stand up straight and that your feet are flat on the floor.
3. Lean forward, pressing your hands against the wall until you feel your calf muscles stretch. Hold for 2 or 3 seconds.
4. Stand up straight again.
5. Repeat a few times for 5 minutes, 3 times a day (the last time just before bed).

If the number of cramps reduces, you might only need to do the exercise once or twice a day.

• leg cramps are disturbing your sleep
• you also have numbness or swelling in your legs
• cramps last longer than 10 minutes

A GP will examine you to try to find out the reason for your leg cramps.

They will suggest a treatment depending on the cause.

This might be:

• stretching exercises
• quinine tablets if exercise has not helped

Quinine is not suitable for everyone. The GP will discuss potential risks and side effects with you.

Leg cramps can sometimes be caused by:

• ageing
• putting too much strain on muscles during exercise, which can be worse in hot or humid weather
• pregnancy (usually in the later stage)
• certain medicines – for example, medicine for lowering cholesterol (statins) or high blood pressure (diuretics)
• not drinking enough fluids (dehydration)
• liver disease because of drinking too much alcohol

The reason for some cramps is unknown.

The main symptom of leg cramps is a sudden pain in a leg muscle that lasts a short time before going away.

Stretching and massaging your leg muscles can help with leg cramps. Paracetamol or ibuprofen can help ease the pain after the cramps have stopped.

A GP may be able to suggest stretches and massages to help ease your leg cramps. They may prescribe a medicine called quinine if these do not help.

Leg cramps can sometimes be caused by ageing, doing lots of exercise, dehydration or pregnancy.