The first step is to determine whether the elderly have any underlying conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia and diabetes, which can cause lower limb atherosclerosis and occlusive disease due to poor blood flow to the lower limbs, resulting in symptoms such as calf cramps and difficulty walking. Also with age, the spine of middle-aged and elderly people can undergo degenerative changes and calf cramps can occur due to pressure on the spinal nerve roots or reduced blood flow within the spinal nerve roots.