Here’s Why You Get Leg Cramps at Night (and How to Stop It from Happening Again)

Nocturnal leg cramps are pains that occur during sleep. They can wake a person up and occur at night due to prolonged hours of inactivity. Nighttime cramps commonly occur in the calf, but can also cause pain in the thighs and feet. These cramping pains can last from a few seconds to a few minutes. Once the cramp has subsided, muscle pain may persist for the rest of the night into the next day. Both men and women can experience leg cramps, and they occur more frequently in adults over the age of 50.

Nighttime leg cramps are not restless leg syndrome

Nighttime leg cramps and restless legs both occur during sleep, but that’s their only similarity. There are many differences between these two conditions: Restless legs syndrome:

does not cause pain or cramps, whereas nighttime cramps do.

is more of a discomfort or tingling feeling in the legs.

causes the desire to move the legs, while nighttime cramps often prevent movement.

While moving your legs during restless leg syndrome provides relief, stretching does not provide relief for nighttime leg cramps.

Causes and risk factors of nighttime cramps

The exact cause of nighttime leg cramps is often unknown, but potential causes and risk factors include:

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