Foot cramp, i.e., leg and stomach cramp, is also called foot cramp. Chinese medicine called “foot contracture”, Western medicine called “gastrocnemius muscle spasm”.
Gastrocnemius muscle spasm, that is, “calf cramps”. It is the most common type of painful spasm, characterized by a sudden onset of tonic painful spasm of the gastrocnemius muscle, pulling, pain like twisting, lasting tens of seconds to several minutes or more, the pain is difficult to name.
Causes of gastrocnemius spasm: Clinically, the disease is most common in adult men and women, and is particularly common in the elderly and infirm. Although this disease can occur after vomiting, diarrhea or blood loss, the majority of patients are triggered by physical weakness, combined with cold and induced local cold, but of course there are also no triggers and occurrence. When the attack occurs. The local spasm, pain is intense, the foot cannot be stretched, stretching the pain is more intense. 2 to 5 minutes later, automatic relief. After relief, most of them are like normal people, only a few of them have local pressure pain.
According to Chinese medicine, back pain is actually muscle pain, leg cramps are naturally tendon spasms, the spleen master a muscle, liver main tendon, all limb tendon pulling constriction, are related to the liver. When there is a problem with the muscles and tendons, we must find the main cause and harmonize the liver and spleen. Are there other causes?
Modern medicine believes that the mechanism of gastrocnemius spasm is: due to cold stimulation, varicose veins in the lower limbs, too much weight climbing, swimming, diving, intense activity, the temperature difference is too large, the blood calcium drop is not replenished, the calf muscles of the random function disorder and other factors that cause stress spasm of the gastrocnemius muscle. According to traditional Chinese medicine, it is due to Qi deficiency, liver and kidney yin deficiency, tendon loss of moistening and glory, long standing and long distance travel, sudden stimulation, resulting in tendon relaxation and longitudinal reactions; the evil of cold and dampness, congestion of meridians, obstruction of the flow of Qi and blood, poor nutrition, improper exercise, so the disease.
The typical symptoms of gastrocnemius spasm are: sudden onset, the lower leg twinge, stiffness, pain, can not be flexed and extended, especially at night, the lighter the lower limb stretched, the heel force downward stirrups or massage can be relieved, the heavier the repeated attacks, the lower limb mild swelling, cold and heat, dizziness and body fatigue.
Gastrocnemius spasm countermeasures: 1, the lighter appropriate activity of the lower limbs can be relieved on their own, if it occurs in bed, should get out of bed, support the bed to stand so that the blood filling the lower limbs. If the pain is severe, you can apply heat and massage the gastrocnemius muscle, also available turpentine rubbing local.
2.Quickly pinch the Hegu point (i.e., the arm tiger mouth, the first metacarpal bone and the middle of the second metacarpal bone) and the Renzhong point (i.e., the upper lip is in the middle near the top). After pinching for 20-30 seconds, the pain will be relieved and the muscles will be relaxed, with an efficiency of up to 90%.
3.Acupuncture Chengshan point, Wei Zhong point, etc. Recurrent sufferers can take sedative drugs as appropriate.
4.Self-massage. Self-massage can play a role in warming the meridians and channels, promoting the flow of Qi and blood, relieving spasm and pain. Self-massage for the relief of gastrocnemius muscle spasm caused by calf muscle stiffness, pain and other symptoms is quite effective, and sometimes even hand to the disease. If the gastrocnemius muscle spasm suddenly appears in sleep, first of all, you can dorsiflex the affected foot, to the gastrocnemius muscle with passive pulling force, to release the spasm of the gastrocnemius muscle, and then self-massage of the gastrocnemius muscle, the method is as follows: (1) press and knead the calf muscle: take a sitting position, one hand or both hands with the method of pressing or kneading from the popliteal fossa to the Achilles tendon, press and knead for several minutes, until the calf muscle relaxation.
(2) rubbing the popliteal fossa: take a seated position and rub the popliteal fossa with the index and middle fingers of both hands, for about 2 minutes.
(3) Point Chengshan (Chengshan point is a herringbone depression in the calf muscles when the calf is straightened): take a sitting position and use your thumbs to point and rub the Chengshan point, so as to have a soreness and swelling, for about 2 minutes.
(4) Flick the Achilles tendon: take a sitting position and flick the Achilles tendon with the thumb for 10 times.
(5) Rub the calf: take a sitting position, rub the calf muscles with both hands with relative force for about 2 minutes.
(6) Pat the calf: take a sitting position, hands five fingers naturally together, palm knuckles slightly flexed, the virtual palm smoothly and rhythmically flat pat calf, about 2 minutes.