Very often seizures affect the muscles of the legs, and many face such a phenomenon even in childhood, for example, when swimming in cold water. And if in this case the cause, as a rule, lies in the reaction of muscle tissue to a sudden change in temperature, then in some other situations cramps in the muscles of the legs are caused by causes that require immediate help and treatment. Especial attention is required by convulsions that occur at night, appearing often or not for a long time, accompanied by other alarming symptoms (severe prolonged pain, convulsions in other parts of the body, headache, etc.). Consider what the main reasons can reduce the cramp of the leg muscles, and what are the principles of treatment in such cases.
Causes of seizures in the calf muscles, feet and toes
1. Inconvenient position of the body. Prolonged finding in an uncomfortable position, when the blood vessels that feed the muscles are squeezed, and the latter suffer from a lack of oxygen, often causes seizures of leg muscles that arise at night in healthy people. In this situation, you should take one of the following actions:
- stand up (take upright position);
- vigorously massage the affected muscle;
- sitting stretch your leg forward, pull your toes to yourself.
2. Physical overload of leg muscles. This situation is possible with intensive training without pre-warm-up, warming up the muscles, with heavy monotonous physical labor, which causes overstrain. To help the muscle relax while it is possible through a massage of the limb.
3. Violation of the balance of salts in the body (sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium). This condition, in turn, can be associated with other factors:
- lack of micronutrient intake;
- lack of fluid in the body;
- impaired kidney function;
- food intoxication;
- dysfunction of parathyroid glands ;
- diabetes;
- uncontrolled use of diuretics;
- alcohol abuse, etc.
Treatment is appointed taking into account the provoking factor, with great importance given to diet therapy and drinking regime.
4. Varicose illness. With varicose veins as a result of metabolic processes, including in the muscles, it is possible to periodically spasmodic. Often this happens after a long walk or standing in one place, as well as leg muscle cramps can bother at night, and for this reason, treatment should be comprehensive, using a variety of techniques depending on the severity of the varicose veins (up to surgical procedures).
5. Transverse flatfoot. A change in the arch of the foot can cause muscle tissue to spasm due to an incorrect distribution of loads on the lower limbs, compression of the nerve bundles and impaired blood supply. Often an unpleasant symptom occurs after a long walk or when wearing a narrow shoe, shoes with high heels. To prevent seizures, you should wear special orthopedic shoes or insoles, periodically take courses of massage and therapeutic gymnastics.
6. Neurological disorders. The pathology of the nervous system is the probable cause of cramps in the leg muscles that arise regardless of the time of day, the effects of external factors. Such violations may be related to:
- intoxication;
- infections;
- violation of blood circulation in the cerebral vessels;
- intervertebral hernia (compression of the nerve roots);
- brain tumors;
- Raynaud's disease, etc.
Such violations often require prolonged drug treatment, supplemented by physiotherapy, and sometimes surgical intervention is performed.