
Wear the right shoes: Opting for shoes with good support may be helpful, per the Mayo Clinic.About 60 of people report experiencing nocturnal leg cramps. Stomach sleepers can also try letting their feet hang off the edge of the bed, while back sleepers can try keeping toes pointed up, the Cleveland Clinic notes. Up-to-Date Sharp and painful leg cramps can cause unpleasant sleep disruptions. Whether you are old, young, sedentary or active, you may develop a muscle spasm. Because cramps are often caused by dehydration, make sure to get enough fluids. Who gets muscle spasms Muscle spasms can occur at any time to anyone. There are a few other things you can do, however. Sometimes a muscle spasm can be prevented stopped before it ever happens. Change your sleep habits: Untuck those sheets and covers! That way, your feet won't be trapped, per guidance from the Cleveland Clinic. Try applying ice or heat (take a warm bath or use a heating pad).

Stretch: If you often get nocturnal leg cramps, stretching before bed can be helpful, Dr.A muscle cramp is an uncontrollable and painful spasm of a muscle. See your doctor if you experience regular muscle cramping or if cramps last longer than a few minutes. And, runners: Keep in mind if you're training for a long run, you may need to incorporate strength training to ensure your muscles are strong enough to withstand all those miles, she adds. Many conditions may cause cramp and it is important to exclude these before embarking upon treatment. You can help reduce the duration and severity of cramp by gently stretching the muscle and massaging the area. Jiggle your leg, massage it, or force yourself to walk. Make sure to give your body recovery time. Try forcefully stretching the affected muscle (for example, stretch your calf muscle by flexing your foot upward). Assess your workout: If you're not taking rest days or are ramping up too much on runs or leg workouts, it can stress your body, Dr.

Try sports drinks to keep you hydrated and replace electrolytes, per the U.S. Hameed points out - if you're in a city with radiator heat, it can dry you out as well, she says. Nocturnal leg cramps, also known as sleep-related leg cramps or charley horse, are sudden, painful muscle contractions occurring at night that can disturb sleep. Warm showers or baths can provide relief if the area is still achy. And it's not just a summertime problem, as you sweat due to heat, Dr. Stretch the muscle right away: walk it off, flex your toes or do gentle knee bends. Compared with treatment with placebo, quinine reduced the frequency of cramps and sleep disturbance, but not the average cramp severity.

Hydrate: Dehydration is a key factor in leg cramps.
