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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffNight leg cramps are sudden, painful, involuntary contractions of muscles in your leg. In most cases, night leg cramps involve your calf muscles, but muscles in your feet or thighs may cramp as well.
Most of the time, true night leg cramps occur for no known reason, and they're harmless. However, in rare situations, night leg cramps can be associated with an underlying disorder — such as peripheral artery disease or diabetes.
The risk of having night leg cramps increases with age. Pregnant women also have a higher likelihood of experiencing night leg cramps.
- Kanaan N, et al. Nocturnal leg cramps: Clinically mysterious and painful - but manageable. Geriatrics. 2001;56:34.
- Walters AS. Clinical identification of the simple sleep-related movement disorders. Chest. 2007;131:1260.
- Sheon RP. Nocturnal leg cramps, night starts and nocturnal myoclonus. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Dec. 8, 2008.
- Dehydration and fluid maintenance. Columbia, Md.: American Medical Directors Association. http://www.guideline.gov/summary/summary.aspx?ss=15&doc_id=3305&nbr=2531. Accessed Dec. 9, 2008.
