Prenatal Care
Vincenzo Berghella in Obstetric Evidence Based Guidelines, 2022
Leg cramps are reported to occur in 34% of pregnant women in the mid-trimester [136, 137]. Magnesium lactate or citrate chewable tablets 5 mmol in the morning and 10 mmol in the evening for 3 weeks are associated with one-third of women not having persistent leg cramps compared to 94% of placebo controls having persistent cramps. A multivitamin with a mineral supplement might decrease leg cramps, but it is unclear which one of the 12 ingredients (or combination) is beneficial. Sodium chloride is associated with a slight reduction, although consideration must be given to the potential effect on blood pressure. Calcium supplements do not decrease leg cramps compared to placebo. However, it is unclear whether any of the interventions studied (i.e., oral magnesium, oral calcium, oral vitamin B, or oral vitamin C) provide an effective treatment for leg cramps due to poor study design and trials being too small to address the question satisfactorily.
Symptoms of Neurological Disease
John W. Scadding, Nicholas A. Losseff in Clinical Neurology, 2011
Many patients use the word cramp to describe pain in the legs due to vascular insufficiency, or nerve damage. However, genuine cramp consists not only of pain but also intense and involuntary muscle contraction affecting particularly the calf muscles. Such cramps are common in the untrained athlete, the elderly and are well-known to occur in hot climates due to salt depletion. Muscle cramps occur in those recovering from sciatica and in motor neurone disease, but other findings will point to these diagnoses. Occasionally, isolated muscle cramps may be found to be due to primary metabolic muscle disease, but in the majority of such patients no obvious cause can be discovered and they can be difficult to treat.
Applied exercise physiology and health
Nick Draper, Helen Marshall in Exercise Physiology, 2014
Muscular cramps, painful abnormal muscular contractions of a single muscle group, are not fully understood by researchers. The original theory as to the cause of muscular cramps was based around fluid and electrolyte imbalances within the body associated with exercise in the heat for a long duration. The incidence of muscular cramps during periods of rest and when fluid and electrolyte levels were balanced, has led to further research in the area. For adventure sports performers where the legs are either highly active during the activity (walking, climbing, etc.) or held stationary for long periods (kayaking and canoeing) the muscle groups in the upper and lower leg are particularly prone to muscular cramps. Muscular cramps are thought to be triggered by an irritation to a muscle group. The irritation results in the hyperexcitability of the motor neuron(s) innervating that motor unit bringing about an uncontrolled muscular contraction (cramp). Several factors may be involved in the initiation of cramp including muscle over-use associated with fatigue, fluid imbalances, electrolyte imbalances (particularly potassium), holding a position for too long (such as sitting in a kayak or kneeling in a canoe) and, associated with that, a lack of blood flow to the muscle group. The immediate treatment for muscular cramp is to stretch the muscle and, if appropriate, the replacement of fluids and electrolytes. The most successful preventative measures in the incidence of cramp appear to be regular stretching of the commonly affected muscle groups, which could be implemented within cool-downs, and the maintenance of electrolyte levels, particularly potassium.
Toward a Model of Porn Literacy: Core Concepts, Rationales, and Approaches
Published in The Journal of Sex Research, 2020
Kate Dawson, Saoirse Nic Gabhainn, Pádraig MacNeela
Many participants discussed how pornography depicted an unrealistic representation of real-life sex by making sex look easy. Participants reported that it was important to inform young people about realistic sexual expectations, including the awkward, funny, and disappointing moments that people are likely to experience in their sexual lives: “Something as simple as putting on a condom … there can be a bit of fumbling in the real world, and like in porn the guy mightn’t be wearing a condom” (heterosexual woman, age 22). Online interventions using video campaigns that incorporate the use of humor were recommended to help youth to establish realistic expectations for sex: A campaign with a Web site which is tailored towards young people… . Even one-minute videos, like, “hashtag real porn.” And if it’s somebody getting a leg cramp in the middle of something, this is the reality of what it’s like… . If you did it in a funny way, make it more accessible, and people would actually watch it. (Heterosexual woman, age 25)
What is the optimal treatment technique for great saphenous vein diameter of ≥10 mm? Comparison of five different approaches
Published in Acta Chirurgica Belgica, 2021
Emre Kubat, Celal Selçuk Ünal, Onur Geldi, Erdem Çetin, Aydın Keskin
Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) is a major public health problem and several factors have been suggested to be play a role in its etiology including age, sex, pregnancy, ethnicity, family history, and obesity [1]. It typically presents with leg pain, burning sensation, itching, heaviness, and restless legs and nocturnal leg cramps. Untreated CVI may lead to a broad range of conditions from telangiectasis to skin ulceration [1]. The incidence of varicose veins has been estimated as 1.4% annually equally in both sexes [2]. Symptomatic superficial venous insufficiency accounts for the majority of CVI cases and several treatment options are available including compression stockings, venoactive drugs, and surgery [1]. Of note, previous studies have demonstrated that surgical treatment is superior to medical treatment in case of symptomatic superficial venous insufficiency [1,3].
Physical therapy for nocturnal lower limb cramping: A case report
Published in Physiotherapy Theory and Practice, 2019
Addison Williams Andrews, Richard Pine
The diagnostic criteria for sleep-related leg cramps put forth by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (Monderer, Wu, and Thorpy, 2010) are as follows: 1) a painful sensation in the leg or foot is associated with sudden muscle hardness or tightness, indicating a strong muscle contraction; 2) the painful muscle contractions in the legs or feet occur during the sleep period, although they may arise from either wakefulness or sleep; 3) the pain is relieved by forceful stretching of the affected muscles, releasing the contraction; and 4) the sleep-related leg cramps are not better explained by another current sleep disorder, medical or neurologic disorder, medication use, or substance use disorder.
Related Knowledge Centers
- Dystonia
- Muscle Contraction
- Muscle Contracture
- Paralysis
- Pathology
- Pain
- Pregnancy
- Exercise-Associated Muscle Cramps
- Idiopathic Disease
- Spasm