Foot cramps are due to sustained, painful, involuntary contractions of the muscles in your feet.
Foot cramps will usually go away with stretching and massaging.
Wearing supportive shoes can help prevent them from happening.
Illustration by Tara Anand for Verywell Health
You should see your healthcare provider if foot cramps persist or continue to come back.
Dehydration
Muscle cramps anywhere in the body can happen if you get dehydrated.
If you don’t give your feet enough rest, this can lead to pain and cramping.
You might get a foot cramp during or just after exercising or standing for a long time.
Stretching can help prevent foot muscle cramps.
Sometimes these cramps are called a charley horse.
Nighttime Cramping
Foot cramps at night (nocturnal leg cramps) can cause trouble sleeping.
They affect about 25% of people in the United States.
Foot Cramp Stretches
Stretches are the main treatment for foot cramps.
If youre getting foot cramps often, you should talk to your provider.
Sometimes, foot cramps can be related to a health condition or even a side effect of a medication.
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