What Are Foot Cramps?
Involuntary sudden muscle pains in the foot are called foot cramps. It might sometimes lead to uncontrollable tightening of the foot muscles. Foot cramps are generally painful but harmless. Foot cramps may last from a few seconds to several minutes. It can develop anytime, but most individuals experience foot cramps at night or while resting. Muscle cramps, especially affecting the legs, are also called a charley horse. The affected individual may experience pain on top of the feet, around the toes, or foot arches. It makes mobility challenging as the foot muscles freeze suddenly and stop working instantly. Massaging and stretching usually relieve the symptoms. Chronic foot cramps require medical treatment, especially when they recur.
What Are the Causes of Foot Cramps?
Foot cramps are caused by one or more of the following factors:
-
Ill-Fitting Footwear: Tightly fitting footwear impairs proper blood circulation in the foot, leading to foot cramps. Tight shoes make the individual feel numb and discomfort on the foot. If the footwear leaves indentations on the foot skin, it implies they are tightly fitting and must be replaced.
-
Hypokalemia: Hypokalemia is a state of decreased potassium (an electrolyte with a vital function in muscle operation) levels. Moderate to severe hypokalemia affects the muscles, leading to muscle cramps affecting the foot and other body parts. Malnutrition, fluid loss, particular medication, or underlying medical conditions can lead to hypokalemia. If the foot cramps are associated with other symptoms like constipation, weakness, and abnormal heartbeat, it could be due to hypokalemia.
-
Dehydration: Dehydration affects the function of muscle cells, leading to cramps in the foot and other body parts. Severe vomiting, diarrhea, excessive exercise, or insufficient fluid or water intake causes dehydration. If the foot cramps develop along with skin dryness, xerostomia or dry mouth, fever, headaches, halitosis or bad breath, and decreased urine output, which is highly concentrated, it could be due to dehydration.
-
Exercising: Overuse of bones and muscles of the foot can lead to foot cramps. It is mainly seen in fitness enthusiasts who spend a lot of time working out without taking the required time to rest. It may also develop in sports or athletic performers who continuously participate in activities that use legs or feet. Overutilization of foot muscles leads to spasms and cramps of the foot muscles and requires medical attention.
-
Side Effects of Medications: Several medications have adverse reactions leading to cramps of foot muscles and other body parts. Drugs for asthma (a condition where the airway passages inflame, leading to breathing difficulties), Parkinson's disease (a brain disorder causing uncontrolled body movements), hypertension (increased blood pressure), and osteoporosis (a condition characterized by a decrease in the bone density) are some examples of such drugs.
-
Peripheral Neuropathy: Peripheral neuropathy is the impairment of the nerves outside the brain and the spinal cord. It is mainly seen in those affected by diabetes (a metabolic condition characterized by increased blood sugar or glucose levels). Peripheral neuropathy leads to numbness, weakness, and pain in the legs and arms. It does not cause foot cramps, but the pain that it causes may mimic that of cramps.
How to Manage Foot Cramps?
Some of the following measures can manage foot cramps:
-
Before choosing the footwear, one should correctly identify their shoe size and choose accordingly. Loose or tight-fitting shoes can be problematic and should not be used. The footwear stores have scales that help check the foot measurements, and accordingly, the correct sized footwear can be bought.
-
The intake of fluids can manage foot cramps caused by dehydration. In severe foot cramps caused by dehydration, hospital-based treatment may involve administering intravenous or IV fluids.
-
Gentle massaging or lightly stretching the foot will help relieve mild foot cramps.
-
Taking foods rich in potassium or potassium supplements helps relieve foot cramps due to hypokalemia.
-
Low calcium (hypocalcemia) or magnesium (hypomagnesemia) may also lead to foot cramps. The doctor may assess the cause and prescribe supplements based on the individual's deficiency. In some cases, IV electrolytes may also be provided.
-
In case of foot cramps due to overexertion or over-exercising, the individual should try reducing the intensity of exercises. Taking rests in between and doing warm-up and cool-down stretches will also be helpful.
-
In case of foot cramps due to nerve damage, the doctors may prescribe topical creams and intake of pain relievers.
-
If certain medications cause side effects like foot cramps, the individual should let the doctor know about the condition. The doctor may prescribe an alternative medicine with no or fewer side effects.
Are Foot Cramps Preventable?
Foot cramps are preventable to an extent. Choosing the correctly fitting and comfortable shoes or footwear will help prevent foot cramps. Each footwear is meant for specific activities. The one used for walking may not be suitable for running or jogging. The footwear should be chosen based on the needs and the type of usage. Wearing sports shoes or workout shoes is necessary before exercising. In addition, the individual should decide to do bearable workouts and gradually increase the intensity. A sudden increase in workout intensity or repeating activities without breaks can be harmful. Consuming a well-balanced diet and maintaining proper hydration can minimize the likelihood of experiencing foot cramps.
Conclusion
Cramps are involuntary muscle contractions that lead to sudden pain. Cramps can occur in any body part. Foot cramps lead to intense pain that may last a few seconds to minutes. Foot cramps can be due to many reasons, and the management of the cramps depends on the causative factor. If a person experiences foot cramps regularly or the intensity of the pain is unbearable, they should seek medical help. The doctor will be able to rule out the exact cause of the cramp and will offer the required treatments. Occasional or mild cramps may be relieved independently. In such cases, a foot massage or gentle stretching may improve the blood circulation to the area and relieve the pain.
