Treatment room: night cramps

WATCH: What's Good For You, every Wednesday 7.30pm, Channel Nine

What causes night cramps?
So, you're lying in bed, peacefully dreaming and all of a sudden you're gripped by a leg cramp. What causes them and more importantly how do you get rid of them?

VIEW GALLERY: Guess the celebrity legs

A cramp is a forced contraction of the muscle with an impaired ability to relax. People most commonly get them in the sole of their foot, in their calf, thigh or even in their hamstring. But most of the time the cause is unknown.

Factors such as dehydration, low minerals, such as calcium, magnesium or potassium, as well as an impaired blood supply or even extreme cold are potential causes. Here are some things to consider if you're getting a lot of leg cramps.

How do I get rid of a night cramp?
Help avoid that agonising pain by starting with a stretch. As soon as you feel the cramp, stretch out the muscle. You should also massage the muscle and consider using a hot pack, as by warming up the muscle you help the blood supply and improve the ability for the muscle to relax. Hopefully the pain then goes away and you may even get a good night sleep.