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Leg cramps

How common are leg cramps?

Leg cramps are fairly common.

A survey found that slightly more than a third of people get leg cramps at some time.

Source:
Naylor JR, Young JB.
A general population survey of rest cramps.
Age and Ageing. 1994; 23: 418-420.

Among those who get leg cramps:

Source:
Naylor JR, Young JB.
A general population survey of rest cramps.
Age and Ageing. 1994; 23: 418-420.

4 in 10 get them more than three times a week
A small number (about 6 in 100) get them every day.

Up to half of pregnant women get leg cramps.

Source:
Young GL, Jewell D.
Interventions for leg cramps in pregnancy.
In: The Cochrane Library. John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, UK.

² They are also common in older people.

Sources for the information on this page:

Naylor JR, Young JB.A general population survey of rest cramps.Age and Ageing. 1994; 23: 418-420.

Young GL, Jewell D.Interventions for leg cramps in pregnancy.In: The Cochrane Library. John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, UK.

This information was last updated on Apr 09, 2009

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