Advertisement
7 causes and remedies for foot cramps and charley horses
Have you ever woken up with a paralyzing stiffness in your calf or foot?
Advertisement
Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy
Whether you call it a foot or leg cramp (aka “charley horse”), it’s a common, somewhat mysterious pain that happens when a muscle gets involuntarily stiff and can’t relax.
“They tend to happen more frequently as we age,” says sports medicine specialist Caitlin Lewis, MD. “While they can be uncomfortable, they are rarely harmful.”
Whether day or night, your foot and calf muscles can spasm or cramp. So can various other muscles in your body.
Why? The most common causes for muscle cramps include:
There are some simple ways to respond to leg and foot cramps:
Here are some simple stretches that can help stop pain and prevent it.
This calf stretch is commonly used by runners. Here’s how to do it:
Advertisement
Do this stretch while you sit:
If leg or foot cramps are an occasional occurrence, you can generally manage them yourself. However, if they happen frequently, are severe, or if you are concerned any of your medications are the culprit, talk to your doctor. They could signal a medical problem that requires treatment.
Advertisement
Learn more about our editorial process.
Advertisement
Wear properly fitted shoes, break them in ahead of time and wear moisture-wicking socks
Safety, hygiene and technician training are among the biggest benefits of a ‘medi pedi’
Pain meds, toenail protectors and petrolatum jelly may spare you a trip to a podiatrist
Except in certain medical scenarios, foot health experts rarely recommend foot soaks
Your blood vessels shrink and your skin forms wrinkles to help you grip objects
Poorly fitting footwear and overuse injuries can knock you ‘off pointe’
A few precautions can keep your toenails from turning black and falling off
Rethink your exercise routine to maintain — and maybe even gain — fitness during recovery
Focus on your body’s metabolic set point by eating healthy foods, making exercise a part of your routine and reducing stress
PFAS chemicals may make life easier — but they aren’t always so easy on the human body
While there’s little risk in trying this hair care treatment, there isn’t much science to back up the claims