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Managing nocturnal leg cramps--calf-stretching exercises and cessation of quinine treatment: a factorial randomised controlled trial.


ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Quinine is a common treatment for nocturnal leg cramps but has potential side effects. An uncontrolled study suggested that calf-stretching exercises could prevent nocturnal leg cramps (night cramps) but these findings have never been confirmed. AIM: To assess the effect of calf-stretching exercises and cessation of quinine treatment for patients with night cramps taking quinine. DESIGN OF STUDY: Randomised controlled trial. SETTING: Twenty-eight general practices in southern England. METHOD: One hundred and ninety-one patients prescribed quinine for night cramps were randomised to one of four groups defined by two "advice" factors: undertake exercises and stop quinine. After 6 weeks they were advised that they could take quinine and undertake the exercises freely. Documentation of cramp at 12 weeks was achieved in 181 (95%) patients. Main outcome measures were: symptom burden score, and frequency of night cramps and quinine usage. RESULTS: At 12 weeks there was no significant difference in number of cramps in the previous 4 weeks (exercise = 1.95, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -3.01 to 6.90; quinine cessation = 3.45, 95% CI = -1.52 to 8.41) nor symptom burden or severity of cramps. However, after 12 weeks 26.5% (95% CI = 13.3% to 39.7%) more patients who had been advised to stop quinine treatment reported taking no quinine tablets in the previous week (odds ratio [OR] = 3.32, 95% CI = 1.37 to 8.06), whereas advice to do stretching exercises had no effect (OR = 0.73, 95% CI = 0.27 to 1.98). CONCLUSIONS: Calf-stretching exercises are not effective in reducing the frequency or severity of night cramps. Advising those on long-term repeat prescriptions to try stopping quinine temporarily will result in no major problems for patients, and allow a significant number to stop medication.

SUBMITTER: Coppin RJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1463088 | biostudies-other | 2005 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other

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Managing nocturnal leg cramps--calf-stretching exercises and cessation of quinine treatment: a factorial randomised controlled trial.

Coppin Richard J RJ   Wicke Dorothy M DM   Little Paul S PS  

The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners 20050301 512


<h4>Background</h4>Quinine is a common treatment for nocturnal leg cramps but has potential side effects. An uncontrolled study suggested that calf-stretching exercises could prevent nocturnal leg cramps (night cramps) but these findings have never been confirmed.<h4>Aim</h4>To assess the effect of calf-stretching exercises and cessation of quinine treatment for patients with night cramps taking quinine.<h4>Design of study</h4>Randomised controlled trial.<h4>Setting</h4>Twenty-eight general prac  ...[more]

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