Table 3 Reported interventions and perceived effectiveness
Intervention
During cramp to reduce pain
Getting out of bed to stand or walk* Stretching calf*
Massage*
Heat application
Running on the spot
To prevent cramp
Magnesium
Water, drinking more*
Stretching calf during day or before bed*
Massage during day*
Quinine
Crampeze tablet/capsule
Tonic water
Gatorade/poweraid
Salt
Crampeze cream
VitaminB
Number of Perceived effectiveness users
Useless
77 4 75 20 69 6
4 1
46 12 36 11 24 7 21 5 18 1 13 5 5 1 4 1
3 312
211 211
Akineton (biperiden) 2
Hamstring stretching 2
Lyrica (pregabalin) 1
Schuessler tissue salts (homeopathic 1
preparation)
Camphor in bed 1 Cramp away (homeopathic preparation) 1 Exercise and stretching with personal trainer 1 Filtered water 1 Homeopathic drops containing ginkgo 1 Iron tablets 1 Japanese green tea 1 Acupuncture 1 Calcium 1 Epsom salt bath 1 Glucosamine 1 Minerals 1 Panadol osteo 1 Tegretol (carbamazepine) 1 Shaking of legs during shower 1 Aspirin 1 Fish oil 1 Mandopar (levodopa and benserazide)) 1 Multi vitamins 1 Potassium 1 Vitamin E 1
1 1