What are Leg Cramps?

Almost all middle-aged and elderly people have experienced calf cramps. Calf cramps, medically known as gastrocnemius spasm. In the past, people often thought that it was caused by calcium deficiency, but senior citizen cramps are not all caused by calcium deficiency, and a considerable part of the elderly are related to poor blood circulation in the legs. Muscle spasms that occur in the calves and toes are the most common. The pain during the attack is unbearable, especially in the middle of the night.

Basic Information

nickname

Gastrocnemius spasm

Visiting department

orthopedics

Multiple groups

Seniors

Common locations

Calf and toes

Common causes

Lower extremity arteriosclerosis occlusive disease, lumbar disc herniation, spinal degenerative disease, drugs, nutrition, aging and other factors

Common symptoms

Muscle cramps, pain

Causes of leg cramps in the elderly

Lower extremity arteriosclerosis occlusive disease

Leg cramps are frequent, especially in middle-aged and elderly patients who are exacerbated at night, and some mistakenly believe that it is a lack of calcium and prolonged a large amount of calcium supplementation, which delayed the diagnosis and treatment of arteriosclerotic occlusive disease of the lower extremity, resulting in amputation. Middle-aged and elderly people, especially those with a family history of cardio-cerebral vascular disease, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes, should have atherosclerosis when they experience symptoms of lower limb soreness, leg cramps, and inconvenience in walking, such as arterial occlusion of the limbs disease.

2. Lumbar disc herniation

In patients identified with lumbar disc herniation, leg cramps can occur as high as 70%.

3. Spinal degenerative disease

With the increase of age, degenerative changes in the spine of the elderly, such as bone hyperplasia, due to spinal nerve root compression and spinal nerve root blood flow decline, leg cramps.

4. Drug-induced leg cramps

Leg cramps can occur with antibiotics such as azithromycin. Therefore, middle-aged and elderly people who often take multiple drugs should pay attention to the precautions and adverse reactions of the drugs.

5. Nutritional leg cramps

Malnutrition can cause muscle spasms, especially gastrocnemius spasms when vitamin B1 deficiency.

6. Senile leg cramps

Leg cramps are a common manifestation of aging in the elderly.

7. Other

Cold irritation, excessive fatigue or strenuous exercise, swimming, prolonged walking or mountain climbing, varicose veins in the lower limbs can also cause calf cramps.

Clinical manifestations of leg cramps in the elderly

Many elderly people often suffer from calf cramps when they fall asleep at night, causing painful awake, and the symptoms are relieved after getting up. May be accompanied by symptoms of lower limb soreness and walking inconvenience.

Leg cramp check for seniors

Generally can detect involuntary contraction of leg muscles. If necessary, do a waist examination and trace element examination.

Diagnosis of leg cramps in the elderly

Diagnosis is based on medical history, clinical manifestations, and examinations.

Leg cramps treatment for the elderly

1. Treat the primary disease

Calcium supplementation is necessary due to weakened calcium absorption capacity and osteoporosis in calcium loss in the elderly. However, due to atherosclerosis due to vascularization and poor circulation, cramps cannot be caused by light supplementation. Certain drugs must be selected to treat atherosclerosis and improve circulation to be effective. You can take vitamin E, Ligusticum chuanxiong and other drugs under the guidance of a doctor. At the same time, you need to actively prevent and control the risk factors that can aggravate leg atherosclerosis, such as hypertension and diabetes.

2. Maintenance

On the basis of taking medicine, pay attention to keep your legs warm during rest or sleep, usually strengthen physical exercise and exercise, daily massage the calf muscles, and promote local blood circulation. Reasonable nutrition, reduce the intake of fat and excess calories, eat legumes, fish, bone soup and other high-calcium foods and vegetables and fruits to effectively relieve leg cramps in the elderly.

Prevention of Leg Cramps in the Elderly

For calf cramps caused by cold, fatigue or malnutrition, you can soak your feet with warm water before going to bed, or pay more attention to keeping warm during sleep, proper massage, pay attention to a reasonable diet, balanced nutrition, scientific exercise, and sun exposure, but if they often occur and continue For a long time, especially middle-aged and elderly people with other diseases, they should go to the hospital for treatment.