Night-time leg cramps are common but poorly understood. An orthopaedic doctor explains why they strike during sleep, what triggers them, and when they need medical attention.

You’re sound asleep when out of nowhere, a terrible pain in your calf yanks you from your dreams. It feels like your muscles are seizing up, and all you can do is rock back and forth waiting for the ...

Night leg cramps, or nocturnal leg cramps, are sudden, involuntary muscle contractions that usually occur in the calves, feet, or thighs during rest or sleep. These painful spasms can last from a few ...

Leg cramps are painful and debilitating. They can stop you in your tracks during a busy day or wake you from a restful sleep. Perhaps you’ve already tried remedies like using heating pads, taking ...

You may get muscle cramps from dehydration, mineral loss, or overuse during exercise. Warm up and stretch your muscles before ...

The sudden and sharp tightening in the calf that wakes you up at 3 am or strikes mid-walk is more common than you realise. Muscle cramps especially in the legs are one of the most frequently reported ...

Have you ever been awakened from a delightful dream by sudden, excruciating pain in your leg? In an instant, your sleep is interrupted, and you are desperate for relief. It is not entirely clear why ...

Dear Dr. Douma: I am in my 80s and sometimes I overdo physical activities. When I do, I get cramps in my feet or calf muscles. It helps me to take off my shoes and walk around the living room. Any ...

DEAR DR. ROACH: I’ve had muscle spasms and cramping in my lower legs and feet for quite some time. It almost always happens when I’m laying in bed and in the early morning hours. If I stand up and ...