STV Health Centre

I'm currently training for a 10k in June but I had bad cramp on my right leg two weeks ago and haven't been able to do any running since. At the turn of the year, I was running for three miles at a time but now I can't manage a mile without this cramp pulling me up.

I have been trying to do regular stretches and it is helping slightly but is there anything else I could do to help this go away? I've heard people say aspirin or muscle relaxants can help?

You do not say how old you are, but I assume you are otherwise fit and healthy. Excessive sweating during exercise can lead to a loss of sodium (salt), which often causes cramp.

Most leg cramps come on suddenly and do not last very long. Therefore, painkillers are unlikely to help because the cramp will probably have passed before the drugs take effect.

However, if a severe leg cramp leaves your muscle feeling tender afterwards, you could take a painkiller such as paracetamol. Make sure you drink plenty water before, during and after your running sessions.

Stretching exercises can also help to reduce how often you get leg cramps. Try doing the exercises three times a day, including just before you go to bed.

If the cramp is in your calf muscle, straighten your leg and bend your ankle backwards and try walking around on tiptoes for a few minutes.

Lean forward against a wall with your arms outstretched, about a metre (39 inches) from the wall. Keep the soles of your feet flat on the floor for five seconds - repeat this exercise several times, for about five minutes.

If these exercises improve your cramps and reduce how often they occur, you may be able to do the exercises just once or twice a day.

Questions answered by NHS 24 and Scottish Ambulance Service Medical Director George Crooks. Do you have a question for the Doc?  Email askthedoc@stv.tv

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