Leg Cramps

One of the common symptoms people have are leg cramps. There are three major classifications of leg cramps:

• Waking at night
• Post exercise
• Walking and limit the distance one can walk

The last instance may be a symptom of a potentially serious problem. Luckily, this is the least common cause of leg cramps and is known medically as intermittent claudication. More on this later.

If you wake at night with a leg cramp, many times you have to jump out of bed and stand on your leg to get the muscle to relax. Other ways of getting temporary relief are to strongly flex and extend your toes while massaging the knot in the muscle. These are all ways of reducing the spasm once it has occurred.

The main way to prevent these types of cramps is to attack them nutritionally. In general, you have an imbalance in your intake of calcium, magnesium and vitamin D. Vitamin D is essential for the absorption of calcium. Calcium and magnesium are essential to control the degree of contraction of the muscle itself. Using Applied Kinesiology testing procedures along with a dietary intake survey, it is possible to determine which nutrients you are deficient in as well as help determine the best sources of these. There are many different types of calcium and magnesium. Some are easily absorbed; others are more difficult. Testing helps to determine which form is best for you. An old remedy for leg cramps like this was quinine, as is found in tonic water. This may help once normal levels of calcium and magnesium are included in the diet.

The next most common type of leg cramp is the post exercise cramp. These cramps are due to electrolyte imbalances or a deficiency known as glycine. Glycine is essential for muscles to maintain a relaxed state. With glycine deficiency, muscles stay in a semi-contracted state and are very tender when you rub them. The maintenance of glycine levels is dependent on your intake of folic acid. Folic acid is one of the most common nutritional deficiencies; it also plays a role in preventing certain birth defects and reducing a substance known as homocysteine, which has been related with cardiovascular disease. Electrolyte imbalances center around dehydration and the balance of minerals like potassium and sodium. Again, Applied Kinesiology techniques can be used to exactly determine what approach should be taken. Should you increase your water intake, increase potassium foods or supplements or increase or decrease sodium intake?

A good rule for water intake is that you should have to urinate every two to three hours. If you abide by this standard, you will adjust your water intake to take into account hot humid weather or an increase in physical activity.

Now, more on the condition called intermittent claudication, this is a condition that is suspected when walking causes a leg cramp. This can be due to a number of conditions that affect the blood flow to the leg. You can have either a decrease in blood getting to the leg or getting back out of it. How you walk and the length of your stride can have a bearing on this type of cramp. There are structural problems, such as an imbalanced pelvis, that shifts more weight on to one leg. Or conditions that cause pressure on the arteries and/or veins of the leg that contribute to these types of cramps.

The Shute brothers in Ontario Canada first wrote about the relationship of a deficiency in vitamin E with intermittent claudication years ago. There are some very simple tests that can be done in the office that help to determine whether you are a candidate for an increase this vital nutrient to reduce your leg cramps. It is very important to adjust the dose of this nutrient to your needs and not overdose yourself. As described above, there are different forms of vitamin E, as well as different sources of it. There are natural forms and synthetic forms. There are d-alpha tocopherol and mixed tocopherols. The real question is which form and amount is best for you.

There are other nutritional deficiencies that can cause this type of muscle cramping. These can run the gamut from a deficiency in phosphorus and niacin, to minerals like magnesium. Applied Kinesiology testing, along with a complete history and a dietary survey, help us to identify the most effective natural therapy.

Conditions that can mimic claudication are nerve entrapments. It is possible for nerves to become entrapped in the spine, pelvis or in the lower leg, and may cause similar symptoms in the lower leg. One of the differentiating characteristics is that vascular pain tends to let up within two minutes of stopping a walk. Nerve pain usually takes over ten minutes to be reduced by changing your position. Another easy-to-use test is that nerve entrapments always have muscle weakness patterns that can help to identify them. The problem is that some people have both problems and accurate diagnosis is essential for proper treatment.