Leg cramps are painful seizures in the muscles of the leg, usually in the calves, but sometimes affecting the muscles of the thighs, especially the muscles in the back of the thigh, or of the feet as well. Leg cramps usually come during the night and they last for about 10 minutes. Here is how to treat the uncomfortable and often very painful issue:
- Massage the affected area – massaging the cramping muscles restores the blood circulation in the leg and makes the cramp go away sooner;
- Stretching – straightening the cramping muscle can also help. If the cramp is in the calf, try to flex the foot to have the toes pointing towards your head – the movement might be painful, but it is very efficient and will bring relief soon. Standing and walking a few steps on your heels has the same effect;
- Pay attention to your magnesium intake – magnesium plays an important role in ensuring proper blood circulation, therefore taking a good quality magnesium supplement for pad treatments can help a lot. Tomato juice is also a good solution – it has high contents not only of magnesium, but of other minerals and vitamins as well and it is also delicious.
