Waking up in the middle of the night with a painfully tight calf or foot can be alarming. Nighttime leg cramps are sudden, involuntary muscle contractions that most often affect the calves, feet, or thighs. They may last only seconds or several minutes, but soreness can linger afterward.
Most nighttime leg cramps are not dangerous. However, when they happen frequently, become severe, or appear alongside swelling, weakness, numbness, or other symptoms, they may deserve medical evaluation.
## What Causes Leg Cramps at Night?
Night cramps do not always have one
