What to do when a calf cramp? About 40 percent of Germans suffer repeatedly from painful leg cramps. Most affected are athletes, many women, pregnant women and seniors. In many cases, leg cramps occur at night and thereby also disrupt sleep.
As it comes to calf cramp?
Each muscle consists of numerous muscle fibers that are connected to sensitive nerves. About these nerves, the brain sends a muscle in motion a stimulus that stimulates the muscle to contract. It depends on the desired muscle tension. Normally occurs then followed by a relaxation phase. But occurs when involuntary nerve impulses to the muscle cannot relax - it cramps up.
Common causes of leg cramps at a glance
the causes of a calf cramp are generally harmless, but sometimes leg cramps may also indicate a serious condition. Among the common causes of leg cramps:
As it comes to calf cramp?
Each muscle consists of numerous muscle fibers that are connected to sensitive nerves. About these nerves, the brain sends a muscle in motion a stimulus that stimulates the muscle to contract. It depends on the desired muscle tension. Normally occurs then followed by a relaxation phase. But occurs when involuntary nerve impulses to the muscle cannot relax - it cramps up.
Common causes of leg cramps at a glance
the causes of a calf cramp are generally harmless, but sometimes leg cramps may also indicate a serious condition. Among the common causes of leg cramps:
- Electrolyte disturbances such as magnesium deficiency
- Strain at work and in sports
- Fatigue
- Long-term use of certain medications
- Circulation problems in legs
- Nervous disorders in the muscle fibers
- Osteoarthritis of the knee
Electrolyte disturbances as a cause
of a disturbance in electrolyte balance often athletes are particularly affected. You lose through sweating during exercise plenty of fluids, and many minerals. If the mineral storage after exercise is not replenished, it can cause a mineral deficiency. Here is just the raw material for the control of the muscle fibers is of great importance. Because when minerals such as magnesium and potassium are missing, does the tensing and relaxing the muscles no longer smooth.
In addition to sweating during exercise can be a disturbance in electrolyte balance but also be caused by too little fluid intake, a high fluid loss from diarrhea or vomiting as well as by a kidney disease. Also may be certain medications such as laxatives a cause of leg cramps occur at night.
A disturbance in electrolyte balance during pregnancy may also cause leg cramps and age. Older people do not eat often enough and balanced enough liquid to commit. In addition, the nerves can function after the age, which favors the formation of leg cramps. As well as hormonal fluctuations can affect the electrolyte balance, it may also increase during pregnancy can lead to leg cramps. To prevent this, the body should be provided especially in the second half of pregnancy with sufficient magnesium.
Nerve damage as a cause of leg cramps
who suffers despite the intake of magnesium and other minerals in calf cramps should be examined medically, since nerve damage can also be a cause of leg cramps. Damage to the nerves can occur mainly by metabolic diseases such as diabetes. In addition, the nerves can take with alcohol abuse or renal impairment loss.
Depending on what type of disease is present, either the nerves in the central nervous system or peripheral damage. This allows the stimuli no longer be correctly transmitted to the muscles and can lead to an exaggerated response of the muscles. In addition, it can also happen that certain sequences of movement can no longer take place at all.
Muscle disease as a cause of leg cramps
in rare cases, a disease of the muscles constitute the cause of leg cramps. Such disorders are summarized under the term myotonia and are characterized by an abnormally prolonged muscle contraction. By this result the calf cramp. The cause of prolonged muscle tension lays in the ion channels of muscle. Here, the nerve impulses are received faulty or improperly transferred. Often these disorders are hereditary.
Leg cramps: What to do?
of a disturbance in electrolyte balance often athletes are particularly affected. You lose through sweating during exercise plenty of fluids, and many minerals. If the mineral storage after exercise is not replenished, it can cause a mineral deficiency. Here is just the raw material for the control of the muscle fibers is of great importance. Because when minerals such as magnesium and potassium are missing, does the tensing and relaxing the muscles no longer smooth.
In addition to sweating during exercise can be a disturbance in electrolyte balance but also be caused by too little fluid intake, a high fluid loss from diarrhea or vomiting as well as by a kidney disease. Also may be certain medications such as laxatives a cause of leg cramps occur at night.
A disturbance in electrolyte balance during pregnancy may also cause leg cramps and age. Older people do not eat often enough and balanced enough liquid to commit. In addition, the nerves can function after the age, which favors the formation of leg cramps. As well as hormonal fluctuations can affect the electrolyte balance, it may also increase during pregnancy can lead to leg cramps. To prevent this, the body should be provided especially in the second half of pregnancy with sufficient magnesium.
Nerve damage as a cause of leg cramps
who suffers despite the intake of magnesium and other minerals in calf cramps should be examined medically, since nerve damage can also be a cause of leg cramps. Damage to the nerves can occur mainly by metabolic diseases such as diabetes. In addition, the nerves can take with alcohol abuse or renal impairment loss.
Depending on what type of disease is present, either the nerves in the central nervous system or peripheral damage. This allows the stimuli no longer be correctly transmitted to the muscles and can lead to an exaggerated response of the muscles. In addition, it can also happen that certain sequences of movement can no longer take place at all.
Muscle disease as a cause of leg cramps
in rare cases, a disease of the muscles constitute the cause of leg cramps. Such disorders are summarized under the term myotonia and are characterized by an abnormally prolonged muscle contraction. By this result the calf cramp. The cause of prolonged muscle tension lays in the ion channels of muscle. Here, the nerve impulses are received faulty or improperly transferred. Often these disorders are hereditary.
Leg cramps: What to do?
- For a calf cramp occurring to include the toes of the foot and pull with all his might toward the shin. The spasm begins in a sitting or lying down, should get up and walk around you. Join this firmly on the ground or on the sole of the foot against the wall. With a massage of the calf and a warm shower to relax the calf muscle.
- Since leg cramps are different underlying diseases, you should let the doctor to clarify the cause.
- For circulatory disorders help ginkgo and garlic preparations.
- Magnesium tablets from the pharmacy to help with an existing magnesium deficiency.
- Eat a diet with magnesium-rich whole grains, and with plenty of fruit and vegetables.
- Avoid alcohol and nicotine.
- Against leg cramps also helps regular foot exercises.
