my 9 year old daughter keeps getting calf muscle cramps,why is she getting these?

Answer 1

Hi,

there are a few 'normal' reasons for cramps in the calf muscles.
1, over excercise (I assume this is not the case,as you would have mentioned it)
2, hot weather...in hot weather the body exudes sweat and with the sweat goes moisture and salt. If you are heeding the current spate of health warnings about needing to reduce the amount of salt taken each day, you may be exaggerating the problem. Make sure there is sufficient salt in her diet...and drink PLENTY of water.
3, 'Setting syndrome' this is not an established medical condition, just what I call it. This is where the sufferer sits, or lies too long in one position and immediately on changing finds a 'cramp' gripping them, this often happens across the feet, too. Don't know what causes it, but it hurts like hell!

There are easy commercial 'cures' for cramp, some better than others...the best (I have found) are available from aromatherapists and contain no chemical agents, just oils to improve the circulation and others to soothe the present pain.
You should be able to find a local aromatherapist in the Yellow Pages, if you have a problem please feel free to e-mail me and I'll try to connect you to one.

Cheers,

BobSpain

Answer 2

Calf Muscle Cramps

Answer 3

Vitamin/mineral deficiencies in the diet are major contributors to the problem for most people.

Sometimes, an opposite expectation is a key, as exercise would be looked at next, but almost exclusively over-exertion would be considered.

As a child I had those problems occasionally, and there was never a lack of calcium et cetera, so it was called "growing pains" or stress from too much exercise, as I was VERY active.

It was not until much later that I found a different association:
a reduced use of muscles that are accustomed to being used may cause cramps.

Because it was thought to be caused by over-exertion my exercise was further reduced/limited by parental command, but calf pain continued, often at night. After some time, they would stop and I would go on normally.

In my case, looking back into what had happened in earlier years, the pain was seen to follow periods of inaction, whether due to sickness or injury.

I did not make the association until much later, when calf cramps became a recurring problem, mostly at night. I began forcing myself to do more walking and then running and bicycling.

When I did that regularly the cramps stopped completely.

Answer 4

She's fine. Totally normal. The average age is 12, and 84% of all girls have started by age 12 and a half. Girls are maturing much faster today than they were 10 years ago - some scientists blame it on the food (cows with growth medications for example). You can take her to the doctor if you want to, just to make sure she is perfect and healthy, but this age is normal. Anywhere between 9-16 is normal, some start at age 8 now too. I was 14 as well. Make sure she knows everything and tell her she can come to you if she has any questions. Buy some pads, chocolate and midol and she'll be fine:)

Answer 5

This is the first place your body targets when you are dehydrated. Drink lots of water! I recommend purified water and mineral water mixed 50/50. The mineral water is going to put back into the muscles what they are losing on a daily basis.

I suggest that adults and children drink 40 ounces of water per 100 pounds of body weight every day. Realize that exercise, ambient temperature, and state of health affect the water needs of your body. One tip for athletes: it is healthier to drink a sports drink or water than fruit juice, soda, coffee, or milk during competition or active training periods.

In the evening Have your daughter take a hot bath with 2c. of dissolved Epsom salts and soak for twenty minutes. Afterwards , if you have something shaped like a cylinder and made out of hard material (think of a large rolling pin you would use for pizza dough or something) place it under your leg and push down and roll it back and forth...this should massage the spasms out of her leg. It will hurt while you're doing it, but more so the type of pain that actually feels good, in the long run.

if she does not respond within a week I would recommend you take her to your medical doctor.

Answer 6

I don't know if it applies to all ages, but cramps in the back of the lower legs are often caused by lack of potassium. Potassium is typically lost due to dehydration, diarrhea or hot weather. Bananas contain potassium (I can't think of anything else that contains potassium right now). Try this and see if it helps her.

Answer 7

About 80% of all muscle cramps are caused by lack of calcium.

The next culprits would be lack of potassium, stress/exhaustion and "growing pains" (since she is 9).

Answer 8

I used to get a lot of muscle cramps myself, growing up. My Mom (who was a rabid naturalist) always told me that it was because my body was low in zinc.

These sites don't say anything about cramps, but zinc seems to have other benefits...
http://www.femhealth.com/minerals.html
http://www.herbs.org/greenpapers/zinc.html
http://www.nutrasanus.com/zinc.html

Answer 9

dear moomoo...your daughter must be getting cramps maybe because she's overexerting herself(9 year olds are very active) she must be putting a lot of strain in any one of her activities(skipping probably)and you should first observe her and and deduce which of her activities is straining her...and then advise her that it is becuz of this that she is uncomfortable. once she gets to realise that, she'll vary her activities to a comfortable extent and you'll see how her cramps disappear!!!