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Table 3 Reported interventions and perceived effectiveness

From: Unknotting night-time muscle cramp: a survey of patient experience, help-seeking behaviour and perceived treatment effectiveness

Intervention

Number of users

Perceived effectiveness

  

Useless

A little help

Quite helpful

Very helpful

100% effective

Unrated

During cramp to reduce pain

Getting out of bed to stand or walk*

77

4

21

19

27

5

1

Stretching calf*

75

20

22

20

12

1

 

Massage*

69

6

42

13

7

 

1

Heat application

4

  

3

1

  

Running on the spot

1

 

1

    

To prevent cramp

Magnesium

46

12

16

11

5

 

2

Water, drinking more*

36

11

19

5

  

1

Stretching calf during day or before bed*

24

7

11

2

1

 

3

Massage during day*

21

5

11

5

   

Quinine

18

1

1

7

7

2

 

Crampeze tablet/capsule

13

5

6

2

   

Tonic water

5

1

2

2

   

Gatorade/poweraid

4

1

 

3

   

Salt

3

 

1

 

2

  

Crampeze cream

2

 

1

1

   

Vitamin B

2

 

1

1

   

Akineton (biperiden)

2

1

1

    

Hamstring stretching

2

1

1

    

Lyrica (pregabalin)

1

   

1

  

Schuessler tissue salts (homeopathic preparation)

1

   

1

  

Camphor in bed

1

  

1

   

Cramp away (homeopathic preparation)

1

  

1

   

Exercise and stretching with personal trainer

1

  

1

   

Filtered water

1

  

1

   

Homeopathic drops containing ginkgo

1

  

1

   

Iron tablets

1

  

1

   

Japanese green tea

1

  

1

   

Acupuncture

1

 

1

    

Calcium

1

 

1

    

Epsom salt bath

1

 

1

    

Glucosamine

1

 

1

    

Minerals

1

 

1

    

Panadol osteo

1

 

1

    

Tegretol (carbamazepine)

1

 

1

    

Shaking of legs during shower

1

 

1

    

Aspirin

1

1

     

Fish oil

1

1

     

Mandopar (levodopa and benserazide))

1

1

     

Multi vitamins

1

1

     

Potassium

1

1

     

Vitamin E

1

1

     

Vitamins

1

1

     

Zinc

1

1

     

Bananas

1

     

1

Oranges

1

     

1

  1. *Participants were asked whether they had tried interventions identified with an asterisk. Non-asterisked interventions were identified by participants when asked whether they had tried any other interventions
  2. Interventions are ordered from most to least commonly reported. Where a particular treatment is reported as commonly as another, interventions are ordered from perceived most to least effective, then in alphabetical order.
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Journal of Foot and Ankle Research

ISSN: 1757-1146