Many people recognize it when you wake up in the middle of the night because the cramp shoots in your calf at that moment. Calf cramps can be very painful, how can you prevent this?
What is calf cramp?
Calf cramp is the sudden contraction of the muscles in your calf . The muscle cramps, causing a sharp, stabbing pain in the calf. Cramps in the calves are experienced as very unpleasant. This is partly because the cramp usually occurs suddenly during sleep or while half asleep/half awake.
Cramps in the calves
cramps in the calves , but it can occur more often in the following cases:
- Older people are more likely to suffer from calf cramps .
- When you are pregnant you may suffer from calf cramps, but after pregnancy the complaints usually disappear on their own.
- There may be a magnesium deficiency
- Sitting a lot can cause calf cramps
- Intensive exercise can lead to calf cramps due to muscle overload .
- People who follow a low-carbohydrate diet, such as the Atkins Diet, may regularly suffer from calf cramps in the first strict diet phase (induction).
What can you do against calf cramps?
- Eat a banana more often, a banana is rich in magnesium. Instead, you can also take one tablet of magnesium per day (dietary supplement).
- Take one multivitamin tablet daily.
- Make sure you stay warm during sleep, wearing warm socks in bed can help.
- Take a walk every day, enjoy a walk in the open air has a positive effect on your blood circulation and your leg muscles stay in good condition.
- Drink enough, 6-8 glasses per day is the minimum. Try using water or herbal tea.
- Certain herbs such as cayenne pepper, ginger and garlic are good for the blood circulation. Garlic is available in the form of capsules.
The moment you have a cramp
If you are overcome by a calf cramp , it is best to get up as quickly as possible. Place the leg that hurts back, and while stretching the leg, press your toes hard on the floor. This way you relieve the cramp in your calf. If you have had very severe cramps, you may have a sore calf muscle the next morning . This usually subsides after a day.
When the cramp does not go away
If you continue to suffer from calf cramps for a long time, do not use the above remedies for too long, but visit your doctor. Your doctor will investigate whether there is anything seriously wrong physically that could cause the calf cramp.