About once a month I wake up in the middle of the night with cramps in my lower legs...toes, arch of foot, front of shin, calves, seems to be no rhyme or reason where. Thankfully I hardly ever get them in my hammies. Lately I've also been getting them in the middle of a weight training session...and always while doing upper body exercises. Today in the middle of doing some pullups I start getting them in the front of shin. My dad and my uncle, both in their 70s, get frequent leg cramps in the middle of the night and they often have to take valium so they can sleep. Are cramps somehow related to one's vascularity (sp)and can be hereditary? Or are they more a function of diet/hydration? Thanks for any thoughts/advice.
I've read about the magnesium supplement called "Calm" that has helped a bunch of people out with this.
Check it out.
No, I have no connections whatsoever with the product lol.
Magnesium and potassium might help, you might also drink some more water, you may be dehydrated.
To echo everyone else:
Magnesium
Potassium
Hydrate
Thanks for the feedback. I appreciate it. Looked into the "Calm" supplement and will give it a shot.
Honestly, I've had amazing results with yellow mustard. Supposedly it has to do with the vinegar, salt, and tumeric. It's getting quite popular with endurance athletes. I bring packets with me on races now. It's helped a great deal with my wife's night time leg cramps. She says it's worked better than anything she's tried.
It's been in practice for a while:
http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/2012/01/16/how-does-mustard-relieve-cramps/
http://www.ehow.com/way_5495235_mustard-leg-cramp-relief.html
http://www.livestrong.com/article/262926-how-to-use-mustard-for-leg-cramps/
http://www.coreperformance.com/daily/nutrition/mustard-a-cure-for-cramps.html
http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/sc-health-0118-pharm-20120118,0,1026515.story