Leg Cramps in Adults

Try a calcium supplement, eat a banana a day for the potassium (coconut water is a good supply of this, too) and try to get a bit of walking in every day (even a half mile or a mile will help so much).
The walking improves overall circulation through out your day, the calcium and potassium help keep your muscles from cramping up.
Stretch a bit before and after your walk and keep well hydrated.

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Drinking too much water can flush minerals out of the body, so they need to be replaced.
The reason not to take too much potassium is it can disrupt the polarity of the heart, causing heart trouble.
I's suggest a multiple minerals supplement that includes potassium, magnesium, and calcium along with other essential minerals. Leg cramps during pregnancy are usually caused by low levels of calcium and magnesium, according to MedicineNet.com.
I give my husband an Alka Mint when he has leg cramps. It usually works.
Another possibility is thyroid disease according to WebMD.
Standing on my foot when I recently had a foot cramp made mine go away.
High heels shorten the muscles on the back on the lower leg. I see no benefit in that.

Good luck,
M.D.

For me, the key to preventing leg cramps is potassium. I can't seem to get enough from diet alone so have switched to "No Salt" salt substitute, which is potassium chloride. I have noticed that when I drink a water with lemon for extended periods, I do get leg cramps. When I am in this cycle, I up my "No Salt" intake, eliminate the lemon and take Hylands leg cramp medication. Potassium is an electrolite and is essential to all muscle and brain function. You can not buy potassium supplements in quantities over 100mg and the RDA is 3500+mg. "No Salt" is an inexpensive alternative. I add it to EVERYTHING, including my coffee. It seems the only time I now get leg cramps is when I'm drinking too much lemon water.

I know not getting enough potassium can sometimes lead to muscle cramps. Maybe try adding a multi-vitamin to your routine, if you don't already take one. Diuretics can cause the loss of potassium and leg cramps.

Copied from another website, foods high in potassium:
Potassium is found in abundance in many foods, and is especially easy to obtain in fruits and vegetables. Excellent sources of potassium include chard, crimini mushrooms, and spinach.

Very good sources of potassium include fennel, kale, mustard greens, Brussel sprouts, broccoli, winter squash, blackstrap molasses, eggplant, cantaloupe, and tomatoes.

Good sources of potassium include parsley, cucumber, bell pepper, turmeric, apricots, ginger root, strawberries, avocado, banana, tuna, halibut, cauliflower and cabbage.

And from the Mayo Clinic on night leg cramps (possible causes, although they did say most of the time there's no known cause):

Structural disorders :
Flatfeet
Peripheral artery disease (PAD)
Spinal stenosis
Metabolic problems
Addison's disease
Alcoholism
Cirrhosis
Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)
Chronic kidney failure
Type 1 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes

Medications :
Blood pressure drugs
Diuretics
Oral contraceptives

Other conditions:
Dehydration
Diarrhea
Muscle fatigue
Parkinson's disease
Pregnancy

So that's basic information about leg cramps :) I would however recommend talking to your doctor if they continue on an almost daily basis. Just to rule out any serious issues that need to be dealt with.

Good luck :)

Make sure to get checked to make sure you do not have diabetes. Another thing make sure you are getting enough potasium in your diet. You can get a good source of this from bananas. Good luck

I am not a doctor, but I have heard that leg cramps can be caused by low potassium. Try a banana.

I did experienced this for a while some years ago (I mean much more than the usual leg cramps due to dehydration) and I took magnesium supplements, which helped a lot. The bananas (potassium) weren't doing it for me, I do eat lots of bananas all the time.

I saw all the help directing you to good food, now I will throw in something else. I actually went to the doctor about this last year. It is summer and I wear flip flops all the time. Did you start wearing those by any chance. Your legs and feet, although happy to be free clench up to hang onto the shoe (flip/flops). Hence most likely the cramps I had although I will not rule out a banana and milk and I purchased a stronger pair without a toe insert and good support. Good luck.

Drink more water, and cut out salty foods. The number one cause of charlie horses (leg cramps) is the onset of dehydration. And STRETCH. If you're in the middle of a cramp (I always got them when I was pregnant), focus on your breathing, then as the pain begins to subside, gently stretch the muscle. I know how bad they are! Afterwards it feels like someone punched you crazy hard in the leg, doesn't it?! Drink more water, feel better :)

I get leg cramps when I've had too much caffeine or alcohol and didnt compensate with enough water before bedtime. Dehydration and low potassium levels are the greatest contributor to leg cramps. Have an orange or a banana before you go to bed, and dont forget to stay hydrated, it is summer and you just might not realize that you are dehydrated.

when I was pregnant, my OB suggested that I pump both calcium & potassium to prevent leg cramps. He said I would get all that I needed by drinking milk & eating 1 banana a day. He was right....it's been 24 years & it still works for me. Oh, & hydrate hydrate hydrate!

Sorry to hear you are going through this discomfort. I too get leg cramps, only in my calves when i am pregnant (such as now). My solution and thoughts are that you are possibly low in some important minerals such as potassium. There are several ways to boost this, such as eating bananas daily as well as drinking a blend of herbal tea. I formulate and sell therapeutic herbal teas and have found a combo of Nettles, Red Raspberry, Red Clover, Milky Oats... to be very effective and actually take away the cramps if drank if used regulary. If you want me to make a blend for you, I would be happy to or simply seek out these herbs at a healthy food store and you can experiement yourself.
Good luck, blessings of wellness~

maybe dehydration? drink more water.... just make a doctor's appt for a routine check up and then tell them you are concerned about this. maybe they will have a better reason. not sure of your age but it may be age related with vitamin deficiencies and maybe you need to start supplementing

I just asked this question the other day because my son plays football and was talking about leg cramps.....so I asked some football mom and all of their responses were to drink pickle juice and so he has started the shot of pickle juice daily routine and has not complained about leg cramps. Just a thought you can try it. :-)

Good nutritional supplementation is key - I don't recommend that you try to supplement with a specific nutrient because those vitamins or minerals aren't designed to be used by your body in isolation. Every nutrient needs its other "partners" in order to work efficiently. Pills are only absorbed about 25% so the rest is wasted money, and they can be rough on the stomach. I use a comprehensive powder that is mixed in liquid just before drinking it, and it has a high absorption level (95% or more) within 20 minutes - so it's working at the cellular level. I don't have leg cramps anymore.

I only had them when I was pregnant and then again recently. Just as I am somewhat awake and stretch and then BAM! Charley horse in my lower calf muscles.

I had heard about the potassium and water before, but not the flip flops (that's all I wear for as long as possible!).

I also started taking the b/c pill and have had to double and triple up due to some other issues. I think the hormones are what are triggering mine.

I saw a massage therapist yesterday and told her about them. She said she was told to jump out of bed and jump and down and that it works. I told her I couldn't even IMAGINE doing that and she said that I should just try it. I'm hoping I don't have to try it any time soon! I hate those things!!!!! And yes, sore muscles for a day or so after. Ugh. Good luck!

A friend of mine used to have a lot of cramps and noticed they were worse when she worse flip flops. But, not so bad when she wore at least 1 1/2 heel shoes, even sandals. She went out and bought a couple pairs of shoes (almost like flip flops actually but higher heel) and only gets the cramps occassionally.

If you are drinking too much water you may be washing out your vitamins. Potassium is a good idea, but calcium too.

When cramps occur, reach down and pull your toes up towards your head. That really helps for the moment.