What causes a charlie horse in your leg?

Question

I dont usally get them but with in the last couple of nights i have woke up with 2 of them.

Answer 1

It could be your pottasium lacking, or your leg being twisted in a way it really isn't meant to go.

Answer 2

There are a number of causes for muscle cramping: Over or under use of muscles, not enough warm-up before an activity, or lack of fluids, salt or other minerals in the diet. Minerals like potassium (bananas, dried apricots, dried peaches) and magnesium that come from fruit and vegetables are vital for healthy muscles, but these minerals are lost fairly quickly during exercise. Make sure you are getting enough calcium in your diet as well. This is easily accomplished with dairy products. Hydration can help ease muscle cramps, that is, keeping well hydrated vs. becoming dehydrated. Therefore, you may want to try drinking more water. When you are preparing to exercise, make sure you are warming up for 5-10 minutes and then stretching the muscles (3-5 repetitions and holding each stretch for 10-30 seconds, do not bounce). Repeat the stretches after your exercise routine also. If you experience a Charley horse in the middle of the night, try this: Straighten your leg and point your foot and toes upward. This should relieve your leg cramp. However, since this is happening very frequently, a visit to your personal physician may be warranted.

Answer 3

This is going to sound silly but try putting a fresh bar of soap under your bottom sheet near your legs. This is supposed to stop restless leg syndrome and some people says it stops cramps as well.

As for the cause: probably poor circulation and/or a lack of potasium. Try eating bananas (although that will attract mosquitos to you)....or kiwi.

Answer 4

Um, how's your potassium intake? Low electrolytes might reason leg cramps, and that i think of dehydration can too. Um, probable greater stuff. i might circulate purchase a gatoraid and drink it some hrs formerly mattress, and perchance consume a banana with it. See if that works. in the event that they circulate away, it probable became eletrolytes

Answer 5

I work out and now and then I wake up in the morning stretch my legs and my calf turns into a knot. Sometimes its in the arch of my foot, its excruciating. I try to ignore it breath slowly and deeply through my nose. It passes. If I do yoga and eat bananas i don't get them.

Answer 6

They can be caused by overexertion, dehydration or lack of potassium. All of these can be easily overcome. For the potassium, eat a banana. The other two are self explanatory.

Answer 7

A lack of potassium. I would suggest taking a supplement.

Answer 8

overworking the muscle (over stimulation causes tetanus/cramping up) or dehydration. you need water to keep your body moving and in balance.

Answer 9

Vitamin deficiencies, as well as dehydration.

Answer 10

maybe dehydration?