Self-imposed Muscle Cramps

[AFI82]

I've been able to do this for years. About once a week I can make the muscles in my foot and calf cramp up. Usually it'll be at night on a day when I've done a lot of walking and running.

I'll squeeze my big toe toward my heel for a few seconds, then the muscle cramps and I don't have to squeeze it anymore. It's not necessarily that painful. The cramp will last for around 30 seconds. Then I'll repeat the process with my middle toe and my third toe. Afterwards the muscles are kind of tight so I stretch them out a bit.

I can do the same thing with my calves, just not as frequently. Flex my calf, after a few seconds the muscle will cramp up and take over. I have to be careful with these ones to not let it go completely on its own. So I kinda raise my toes towards my knee a little bit to keep it under control. These ones can be incredibly painful if I let the muscle take over. My calves are always pretty tight the next day and require a consistent stretch every so often.

Before it's asked, I'm not into self-torture. The reason I do this is to prevent waking up in the middle of the night to a massive leg cramp. I'd much rather do it on my own and know that it's coming, than wake up out of a dead sleep with a lot of pain coursing through me.

So, is this bad for me? Am I harming myself in some way? (Aside from the obvious discomfort during the cramp.)

[Fulmen]

Originally Posted by AFI82

So, is this bad for me? Am I harming myself in some way? (Aside from the obvious discomfort during the cramp.)

I think you know the answer.

[AFI82]

Really though, I don't. I can see both positives and negatives to it.

Negative, it's painful while it's happening.

Positive, I get better sleep at night.

Sure, my legs are sore the next day. But never any worse than a lifting-induced soreness.