subject: Leg Cramps Remedies [print this page] A leg cramp is a pain that comes from a leg muscle. It is due to a muscle spasm which is when a muscle contracts too hard. It usually occurs in a calf muscle, below and behind a knee. The small muscles of the feet are sometimes affected. Leg cramps are an involuntary contraction of a single muscle or a group of muscles in the leg. These are usually painful and extremely discomforting. Leg cramps often occur in elderly patients though age is no criteria as it is often seen in young people too. Leg cramps generally occur in the calf muscle, the hamstring and the quadriceps. The duration of a leg cramp ranges from less than a minute to several minutes at times. Leg cramps are often related to problems with sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium balance, as well as to problems with deficient hydration. So, making sure that you drink enough fluids (including juices, "sports drinks" and fluids that contain minerals and glucose in addition to water) is important. Some people find that adding a little bit of salt to the diet (such as salting your food on a regular basis) helps.
Our body needs some elements to balance, if there is a chemical imbalance such as magnesium and potassium in the body, it can cause leg cramps. If a person breaks a bone, the muscles surrounding the area will sometimes spasm as a means of protecting it. This is the body's clever way of immobilizing the bone and stabilizing it. In pregnant women, leg cramps often arise due to changes in the calcium metabolism. In this case, sometimes a doctor will start the patient on a course of calcium supplements if the pain is significant. Calcium deficiency can be an issue for people other than pregnant women and can be the cause of their cramps too.
Leg Cramps Home Remedies
Leg Cramps home remedy treatment is quite effective. Following are some Leg Cramps cure home remedies. Read on for home remedy for Leg Cramps:
Massage the cramped muscle gently in the natural direction of the muscle. This remedy acts as a great pain reliever.
To relax the painful cramped muscle, go in for a hot shower or warm bath.
One can also take hot shower just before going to bed. Let the water run down the part of your legs that has cramps. You can also pour some hot water on it to relax. It is a useful natural cure for leg cramps. This is one of the good home remedies for leg cramps.
You can stretch your leg up to maximum extent to relieve leg cramps especially when you are on a bed. Hold this position for about hour. You can also stretch your legs when you are standing. For this, push your heel onto the floor and bend your toes upwards. Acting like this will force your calf muscle to lengthen and hence the cramps will be relieved.
Massage the cramped muscle gently in the natural direction of the muscle. It will help to relax the contraction and ease the pain
You can also use a warm towel or heating pad to alleviate pain or tenderness
Eat potassium and calcium rich foods to relief from leg cramps
Drink 15 grams of fresh bathu juice daily with an empty stomach without adding any salt or sugar to it.
