How to Eliminate Leg Cramps at Night

In this Article:Performing Stretches to Relieve Cramps Using Home Remedies to Treat and Prevent Leg Cramps Changing Your Diet Avoiding Drugs That May Cause Leg Cramps Community Q&A

Leg cramps at night are an unfortunately common ailment that can strike anyone for a variety of reasons.

Pregnant women and the elderly are particularly susceptible, as are those who engage in particular sports activities or who take certain medications. Leg cramps are an unfortunately widespread phenomenon, but you should be able to eliminate nighttime leg cramps on your own. However, if chronic leg cramps are bothering you or if they do not resolve with some stretching and gentle massage, then see a doctor for help.

1 Use a towel to stretch your calf muscles. Sit with your cramped leg out in front of you and wrap a towel around the ball of your foot. Grab both ends of the towel and pull it towards yourself so that you feel a stretch in the back of your leg. Hold this stretch for 30 seconds and repeat 3 times.^[1]
- This stretch works by compressing the leg and effectively massaging it.
- Be careful not to overstretch and cause greater injury to your leg. Stop stretching if you start to feel pain in your calf.
2 Lean forward in a sitting position to stretch your inner calf. In a sitting position, extend the leg that has the cramp in it and keep the other leg bent, then lean forward so that your knee approaches your chest. Take hold of the bottom of the toe from the extended leg and pull it toward your body as much as you can.
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- If you’re unable to completely perform this stretch, simply lean forward and stretch your hands towards your toes as far as you comfortably can.
3 Lean against a wall to stretch out your calf. Lean forward and place your hands on a wall, then take a step forward with your non-cramping leg and extend the other leg straight out behind you. Keeping the toes and heel of your extended leg flat on the ground, slowly transfer your weight…