Calf cramps
are such a common occurrence that for better or worse it can be said that anyone has had the opportunity to suffer from them several times over the course of their life. Given the spread of the problem, it is easy to understand that in the vast majority of cases it is a harmless phenomenon, completely transient and without any significant results.
The term cramp refers to an involuntary and painful muscle contraction (spasm) of the striated muscles, i.e. all that group of muscle bundles which contracting allow the execution of voluntary movements such as extension, flexion, adduction, abduction and pronation.
Cramps in the calvesare the direct consequence of the continuous stresses and the continuous workload to which the legs are subjected which, in addition to supporting the weight of the body, allow walking, running, jumping or even simply standing for a long time, perhaps for reasons working.
What are the main symptoms of calf cramps
? or subjected to physical exertion for reasons of hobbies, sports or work.
A cramp in the calfin general it can be very painful, to the point of preventing you from continuing to carry out any type of activity you were doing, even a simple walk, forcing you to stop and perform stretching exercises or a massage, in an attempt to soothe the pain as soon as possible and the strong sense of tension perceived.
Although a cramp is a particularly acute event and that precisely forces one to stop due to too much pain, in the vast majority of cases it is a phenomenon that resolves itself within a few seconds, or more than a few minutes, as soon as you are rehydrated or rested from physical exertion, without the need to take drugs or therapies.
There are also circumstances in which the need arises to contact your doctor (or general practitioner), because there may be a pathological condition that must be evaluated as soon as possible with appropriate diagnostic analyzes, in order to set up a possible therapeutic plan. So let’s see below the conditions that must lead us to request a doctor’s consultation, without waiting for the disorder to resolve itself over time:
- when calf cramps occur frequently or cause severe pain;
- when the cramps do not pass on their own within a short time, but last beyond 10-15 minutes;
- when calf cramps are accompanied by muscle weakness and swollen or red legs and / or ankles;
- when calf cramps occur without an apparent trigger such as intense heat, excessive physical exertion, or load of weights.
When calf cramps occur more easily Cramps in
the legs , and in particular in the calf, occur more easily in relation to intense sporting activity (especially if you are not well trained or if you have not done stretching during the warm-up phase), to an effort such as lifting weights, or even when you are in very hot and humid environments and the loss of fluids through sweating is not integrated, creating a condition of dehydration and loss of mineral salts .
These are mostly sudden events that can affect only one or both calves, based on the stresses on the gastrocnemius muscle, and which, as mentioned, tend to resolve on their own in a short time.
Calf cramps can then also occur at particular times, ie be nocturnal or occur during a pregnancy. Let’s see why.
- Calf cramps at night: this is a rather widespread phenomenon, especially in the female population, and in individuals over the age of 50. It is a phenomenon mostly linked to the accumulation of fatigue of the day just passed, especially in those who work long hours standing or who perhaps at the end of the working day decide to devote themselves to sports, forcing their physical preparation. Night cramps also affect the elderly population, this is because the tendons of the leg undergo stiffening and shortening processes, causing a sensation of muscle tension and cramps in the calves;
- Cramps during pregnancy: very common, especially in women in the third trimester of gestation, when the body is most affected by the effort and accumulated fatigue. Furthermore, in this phase there are phenomena of fluid retention, the accumulation of which exerts excessive pressure on the tissues of the leg.
What are the causes at the origin of calf cramps
The causes are many, and in large part we have had the opportunity to see them several times in the course of the previous lines, referring to fatigue and physical efforts that strain the gastrocnemius muscle. We continue the discussion by illustrating other organic causes and risk factors that increase the possibility of cramps in the legs and calves.
- Reduction of electrolyte values : electrolytes, or mineral salts (potassium, calcium, magnesium and sodium), play a primary role in the muscle contraction mechanism. If their value is altered, due to dehydration, frequent and very violent episodes of calf cramps can occur. Electrolytes are lost through sweating, and this is why it is so important to stay well hydrated when you sweat, asking your doctor for advice on whether or not you need to take hydro-saline supplements;
- Age : with advancing age it is easier for episodes of calf cramps to increase, this mainly because with age the tendons, that is the components that connect the muscles to the bones, shorten and lose their elasticity. With age there is also a progressive reduction of muscle tissue, with the result that the muscle fibers are more subject to fatigue and overload;
- Reduced blood perfusion to the muscles : a condition that occurs when a narrowing of an artery that runs through the leg occurs, supplying blood to the calf muscles (gastrocnemius);
- Compression of the nerves : it can be caused by a hernia, an inflammatory process, by an edema following a trauma, or by a tumor.
Therapies and Remedies in Case of Calf Cramps
We have seen how in most cases calf cramps tend to resolve on their own within seconds or minutes, simply by stopping any type of activity or physical effort you were doing when the disorder arose. without having to resort to particular solutions except by carrying out a massage and stretching the leg, stretching the foot with respect to the leg.
When the cramps are prolonged and not resolved by stretching the legs, in addition to a massage it may be useful to apply warm compresses , in order to help the muscles to relax.
When episodes of calf crampsare frequent or very painful, or still persist for a long time, and it is necessary to contact your general practitioner to ensure that, once the condition has been assessed, he / she may deem it appropriate to prescribe in-depth analyzes, or the usefulness of taking non-painkilling or anti-inflammatory drugs steroids (NSAIDs), in order to relieve the sense of pain and discomfort.
If calf cramps are a sporadic and insignificant episode, the doctor can indicate simple remedies to be implemented in order to prevent or soothe the symptoms. Let’s see below what are the main indications and the most commonly recommended remedies.
- Stay well hydrated on hot days and when engaging in any type of activity that involves exertion and sweating. With sweating, not only liquids are lost, but also electrolytes (potassium, magnesium, calcium and sodium), which should be reintroduced by means of hydro-saline supplements , so it is in any case good to ask your doctor;
- Before carrying out a sports session, carry out stretching exercises in order to warm up the muscles and prevent episodes of calf cramps;
- When cramps arise, perform massages to relax the muscles and apply compresses (hot water bottle or a hot bath) to relieve symptoms;
- Take anti-inflammatory drugs , but always and only on the advice of your doctor.
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