What causes leg cramps during sleep?

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

Also known as Rest Cramps. Especially in older adults, cramps at rest (often during the night) are very common. Rest cramps may be experienced at any age, however, including during childhood. While not life-threatening, night cramps can be very disruptive of sleep and otherwise quite disturbing. They sometimes recur frequently (that is, many times a night, and/or many nights each week) and are very painful. The actual cause of night cramps is unknown. Sometimes, such cramps seem to be initiated by making a movement that shortens the muscle, which then cramps. An example is pointing the toe down while lying in bed, which shortens the calf muscle, a common site of cramps.

Source(s):

http://www.medicinenet.com, www.webmd.com

Answer 2

Sometimes wearing high-heeled shoes during the day can cause leg cramps at night. Try wearing a shorter high-heel or no high-heel at all and see if it gets better.

Answer 3

one time this happened to me ...if you eat right before you go to bed...(most of) the blood rushes from the extremities (legs) to the stomach to digest the food....this can cause leg cramps..the sudden lack of blood flow in the legs causes a lack of oxygen to the tissues, and you get pain and cramps..

Answer 4

Probably not enough water.

Answer 5

when u sleep u probly have most of ur weight on the leg cuseing it to cramp

Answer 6

maybe its poor blood circulation

Answer 7

maybe it is the way you move your leg during your sleep.Im mean no one could really tell wat they do during their sleep.
And thank you for answering my question so what do you do since you have majored in your communications major?

Answer 8

Its because you are such an @ss kicker in your dreams that it gives you leg cramps when you wake up from kickin so much butt. you rule!!!

Answer 9

In most cases they are caused by simple muscle fatigue or an imbalance of chemicals such as sodium, potassium, phosphorous, calcium and magnesium in the bloodNight-time cramps usually subside by themselves, but sometimes applying heat, massaging the leg or stretching the muscle by pulling your toes up toward you will help.

Source(s):

I am a nurse for over 20 yrs

Answer 10

What the nurse said is very true, but you may also want to look into sleep disorders called Restless Leg Syndrome, or Periodic Limb Movement Disorder. Basically, if your legs kick a lot at night, you may not know it, but your body sure does. Both of these sleep disorders are fairly common, and can be treated with medication before bedtime. ;) I'm a sleep tech, does it show? lol

Source(s):

Also.. pregnancy will bring on hellasious leg cramps, sometimes!

Answer 11

being dehydrated and also lack of calcium, very common when pregnant

Answer 12

I get those at night, try to drink alot of water, and if the cramp is bad enough not to sleep, try some muscle relaxer, the types you'd use after a long day of exercising, it kinda works for me.

Answer 13

Depends.........If you're a child, it's probably growing pains...... Could be muscle cramps, a blood clot, etc. See your physician.

Answer 14

Lack of blood circulation. Potassium levels too.

Answer 15

Take potassium pills

Source(s):

After being IcyHots #1 customer,tried pot. and it worked.

Answer 16

they are all right answers to your question. Also it can be the way you turn and twist at night that could make a muscle in your leg stretch and twist at the same time.

Source(s):

I get them 5 times a week even when I dont try

Answer 17

you could have a condition known as restless leg syndrome. It can cause cramps in your legs at night and can also cause a tingling sinsation that can only be stopped by getting up out of bed and walking. This is a recognized condition.

Source(s):

I have the same probelem

Answer 18

I have been a chronic sufferer since I was 2 years old. Some people say low in potassium, some say low in other things, but when I eat right, and take a multiple vitamin I still get them. Try stretching them out, and take some tylenol or take a hot bath like my mom used to do for me as a toddler.

Source(s):

Just personal experience

Answer 19

EVERYONE IS SAYING WATER OR DEHIDRATION BUT I DRINK LIKE 4 BOTTLES OF WATER A DAY AND STILL GET CRAMPS IN MY LEGS... WHY?

Answer 20

you are lacking in potassium...eat a banana...but you are probably straining your muscles, because what happens is your muscles lock together after being in a certain pressured position for too long. So eat a banana and drink some water.

Source(s):

Mr. Charles, my biotechnology teacher.

Answer 21

preganancy

Answer 22

are you sleeping in a wierd position?

Answer 23

usually a lack of potassium. Try eating a few more bananas and drink plenty of water. this should help.

Source(s):

swimming for years with leg cramps.

Answer 24

Plenty of good advice above. As a practical suggestion, eat a banana about an hour before you go to bed. (Bananas have potassium.)

Answer 25

You may be referring to charleyhorse, which is a cramping in the lower quadriceps(?). Charleyhorse happens if you've put excess strain on that area of the legs during the day, usually without properly stretching the legs before.

Source(s):

First year of high school marching band gives me plenty of personal experience. But I still love it. :)

Answer 26

restless leg syndrome or the fact that you used them alot the day before

Answer 27

THREE THINGS... 1 POOR CIRCULATION...2 DEHYDRATION.... THREE PINCHED NERVES

Answer 28

another thing to try, Vit E but not the dl-Alpha
be sure it is the Natural D-Alpha about 1000 mg daily

Source(s):

this helped me!

Answer 29

usually it's dehydration but it can be a lack in potassium or even sodium. Try drinking more water during the day, the average adult nee 2-3 liters a day, and if that doesn't work increase your potassium

Source(s):

I am a nurse

Answer 30

Lack of water! You need to make sure that u are getting enough water in your body. So many people go threw the day on Soda, or some other kinds of drink. If drinking water is not tempting to u then u can always drink teas just try not to use so much sugar, u need to clean out your body of all the toxins. Good Luck and drink more Water;)

Answer 31

I ran track in high school, and my physiotherapist told me that you get a leg cramp when you keep your foot in a "point" position as you sleep. If you sleep on your stomach/side, your feet are soles up, meaning that they are pointed, like a ballerina. This causes a cramp because the muscles become strained. If its the same kind of cramp that you get from swimming sometimes, this is what its caused by.

Source(s):

My physiotherapist