We've all experienced them; a deep sleep is suddenly painfully interrupted by one of those excruciating, involuntary contractions of the calf muscles.
These night leg cramps occur without warning and can also happen whilst awake.
They can be both alarming and if in the company of someone new, a little embarrassing!One of the surest ways to put out the flames of desire is to experience cramping during sex.
One minute writhing in heated passion, the next writhing in agony!The night leg cramps can affect persons in any age-group, but they tend to occur in middle-aged and older populations.
Research has not identified precisely what causes night leg cramps, but the problem is most likely with the nerves controlling the muscles rather than with the muscles themselves.
Sometimes the night leg cramps are caused by overexertion of the muscles, structural disorders (flat feet), standing on concrete, prolonged sitting, inappropriate leg positions while sedentary, or dehydration.
Low levels of certain minerals, such as magnesium, sodium and calcium have regularly been linked to the cramps.
Muscle cramps range in intensity from a slight tic to agonising pain.
A cramping muscle may feel hard to the touch and/or appear visibly distorted or twitch beneath the skin.
A cramp can last a few seconds to 15 minutes or longer.
It might recur multiple times before it goes away.
To help prevent them, some stretching of the calf muscles with perhaps wall push-ups should be undertaken.
Keeping blankets loose at the foot of the bed will also help unnatural positioning of the feet and toes which can cause the night leg cramps.
Additional suggestions include sleeping with legs bent, steer clear of high heels (especially the men!), eliminate sugar and caffeine, and place a pillow at the end of the bed to prop up your feet.