Everyone must have experienced foot or leg cramps once in his or her life.  Many experience foot and leg cramps with a great deal of regularity.  Cramps are involuntary, sudden and pain contractions of the muscle.  

People that stay in bed are likely to have these cramps.  If your feet get cold (especially in the night) you may have foot and leg cramps.  Athletics get various cramps when they get dehydrated.  People that stand on their feet for long periods are prone to have leg and foot cramps.

Some cramps are intense and others minor.  They can last a short time or quite long and only alleviated by exerting pressure to stretch or reverse a drawn muscle. A cramp may go away only to immediately return.  

Medical science has not pinpointed the exact cause, perhaps because every incidence is different.  There are many possible explanations.  It is likely that not one alone is the culprit.  If you suffer from foot and leg cramps pay more attention to the following:

• Low levels of potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium
• Dehydration
• Some medications
• Inflammation & nerve damage
• Nerve and muscle responses
• Prolonged inactivity (sitting)
• Diseases: hypoglycemia, anemia, thyroid, diabetes,     Parkinson's
• Dialysis patients
• Alcohol or tobacco
• Environmental toxicity or chemical sensitivity
• Changing hormone levels