Nightly Leg Cramps: Causes and How to Stop the Pain
Waking up in the middle of the night with a sharp, painful muscle cramp in your leg can be both sudden and distressing. Nightly leg cramps—often called nocturnal leg cramps—are involuntary contractions or spasms in the muscles of your legs, most commonly affecting the calf muscles. These episodes can last from a few seconds to several minutes and may leave lingering soreness.
What Causes Nightly Leg Cramps?
Although the exact cause of nocturnal leg cramps is not always clear, several factors are known to contribute:
