Cramping is oh-so painful, and it can feel like it takes forever for the pain to stop. When muscles cramp, it’s caused by a sudden and intense contraction of a muscle or group of muscles. When the cramping happens at night, it’s called nocturnal leg cramps.
A cramp in the toe every now and then is common, however, some people experience twitching, shooting pain, and involuntary movements with the cramping. We have all been there, but if you are suffering from painful toe cramping more than a few times a week, it could be something serious.
To remedy toe cramping, you need to understand why the cramping happens. Here 5 things that may be responsible:
1. Dehydration
Insufficient hydration is not only the most common cause of toe cramping, but of most bodily cramps you experience. Your body needs enough water every day to keep muscle cells hydrated; if your body becomes dehydrated, muscle function can suffer. The general rule for drinking water is to drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day. Some people need more, some need less. The more you sweat, the more water you need to drink, to replenish your body’s water supply. So, if you live in a hot place, are active, or exercising, you should be conscious of how much water you lose when you sweat and how much more you need to be drinking.
2. Mineral Deficiency
Minerals are one of the most important nutrients needed to prevent muscle cramps. Specific types of minerals, also known as electrolytes, are needed by nerve cells within muscle tissue to communicate properly. They include magnesium, potassium, sodium, phosphate, and chloride.
These electrolytes are particularly important to prevent cramps:
- Magnesium
- Calcium
- Potassium
- Sodium
Electrolytes can be found in sports drinks and, alternatively, in coconut water. Always keep electrolytes included in your diet, and replenish minerals after strenuous exercise or a hot day in order to keep muscle cramps from happening.
3. Age
Muscle mass and bone density are two things that decline with age. Over the course of a lifetime, both muscles and nerves get worn down and function less effectively than they did at their prime. Since nerves control muscles, when they don’t function at their best, they can create those painful cramps. As we age, everyday life can become more taxing on muscle tissue, making it more difficult to stay active. Avoid painful toe cramps and other muscle cramping by exercising regularly, especially after age 50.
4. Medical Conditions
Diabetes, liver problems, and peripheral neuropathy are all health problems that can worsen muscle cramping. For example, cramping is much more common in people with diabetes or liver disease, because the blood tends to get overloaded with toxins, causing muscle spasms and cramps. In people with peripheral neuropathy, nerves of the toes can become damaged, causing very painful cramping. While muscle cramps and spasms alone are not reason enough to suspect any of these medical conditions, they may be a result if you do already have any of these issues.
5. Overexertion
It may seem strange, but cramping that occurs during a workout, or shortly afterward, is most likely not the result of dehydration or an electrolyte imbalance, although they are related causes. Overexertion is what athletes experience as a result of pushing their bodies too hard in the gym, on the running track, or elsewhere. Cramping that occurs due to muscle fatigue is often relieved by a post-workout stretch (while muscles are warm).
Other Kinds of Cramps
Toe cramps are not the only kind of foot and leg cramps you can experience. More likely than not, you’ve also experienced a cramp in the arch of your foot or in your calf muscle as well. The latter is more commonly known as a charley horse. While no one quite knows where the term came from, almost everyone has experience a charley horse at some point in their life.
When your foot cramps, you’ll probably notice your toes clenched, or sticking out in odd directions. The best thing you can do is stretch your foot out, to help relax the muscle(s) that is cramping. Gently massaging the cramped area can also help.
When your calf muscles cramp, a quick solution is not so easy. Gently massaging the area may help, but standing and putting weight on the cramping leg can also help.
With any cramp, the best solution is movement.
