How to Treat a Foot Cramp

A foot cramp can afflict you at any time, anywhere. It can be caused by any number of factors, from poor circulation, dehydration, injury to the foot to lack of proper nutrition. Whatever the cause, and wherever the foot cramp takes place, there are steps you can take to immediately treat the foot cramp. Following even just one of the suggested treatments below will have you on your way to pain relief.

Things You'll Need

• Foot soak basin
• Warm water
• Multivitamin
• Potassium supplement
• Magnesium supplement

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Instructions

• 1

  Get the foot immediately out of the position it was in when it cramped.

• 2

  Remove your shoe, if on, and massage the foot with hard pressure for at least 15 minutes or until the cramping stops.

• 3

  Place ice near the cramp site, but not directly on it. This is especially important if the cramp came from a sports injury, or while you were being active. Ice the foot and elevate it for at least 10 minutes, twice a day.

• 4

  Soak your foot in a warm foot bath. If you have trouble with a foot that cramps often, you should do this twice a day until you deal with the cause of the cramping. A warm foot bath will stimulate blood circulation to the foot, which will help prevent cramping.

• 5

  Drink water. Dehydration is a common cause of muscle cramping, so getting adequate hydration can help deter cramping.

• 6

  Avoid alcohol, sugar and caffeine. All of these can contribute to dehydration, and therefore cramping, in the body.

• 7

  Stay off the cramped foot until it heals. If you must walk on it, avoid high heels. Do not participate in high impact activity until the cramping has ceased.

• 8

  Eat healthy. A diet balanced in vitamins and minerals will help the muscle fibers and nerve endings stay healthy. Take a multivitamin if you are concerned your diet may not be balanced.

• 9

  Take a potassium and magnesium supplement if you are on a low sodium diet. Salt is a big contributor of potassium in the diet, and if you eat low salt you may be deficient in potassium. Potassium and magnesium are both regulators of body chemistry, and a lack of either can cause cramping.