About

Leg cramps (Charley Horse) are painful sensations of tightness in muscles of the leg, especially, in the muscles of the calf, foot and thigh. Nocturnal leg cramps are cramps that occur at night when a person is sleeping.

These cramps are not life-threatening and have, generally, not been linked with any medical condition but are very painful and can lead to sleep disturbances. The muscle remains in a cramped and contracted position for few seconds to minutes which accounts for the intensity of the pain.

Although anyone can be affected by nocturnal leg cramps, elderly people and pregnant women are affected more by nocturnal leg cramps due to poor blood circulation in the limbs.(1^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Leg Cramps at Night

Go to source)

Published on Feb 28, 2011
Last Updated on Dec 31, 2019

i Sources Cite this Article

Medindia adheres to strict ethical publishing standards to provide accurate, relevant, and current health content. We source our material from reputable places such as peer-reviewed journals, academic institutions, research bodies, medical associations, and occasionally, non-profit organizations. We welcome and value audience feedback as a part of our commitment to health literacy and informed decision-making.

Leg Cramps at Night - (https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/14170-leg-cramps-at-night)
Nocturnal Leg Cramps - (https://www.aafp.org/afp/2012/0815/p350.html)
Managing Nocturnal Leg Cramps - Calf-stretching Exercises and Cessation of Quinine Treatment: A Factorial Randomised Controlled Trial - (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1463088/)

Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

APA

Dr. Trupti Shirole. (2019, December 31). What Are Nocturnal Leg Cramps. Medindia. Retrieved on Jun 10, 2023 from https://www.medindia.net/patients/patientinfo/nocturnal-leg-cramps-about.htm.
MLA

Dr. Trupti Shirole. "What Are Nocturnal Leg Cramps". Medindia. Jun 10, 2023. <https://www.medindia.net/patients/patientinfo/nocturnal-leg-cramps-about.htm>.
Chicago
Dr. Trupti Shirole. "What Are Nocturnal Leg Cramps". Medindia. https://www.medindia.net/patients/patientinfo/nocturnal-leg-cramps-about.htm. (accessed Jun 10, 2023).
Harvard
Dr. Trupti Shirole. 2019. What Are Nocturnal Leg Cramps. Medindia, viewed Jun 10, 2023, https://www.medindia.net/patients/patientinfo/nocturnal-leg-cramps-about.htm.