Interventions for leg cramps in pregnancy.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Many women experience leg cramps in the second half of pregnancy.

OBJECTIVES:

The objective of this review was to assess the effects of treatments for leg cramps in pregnancy.

SEARCH STRATEGY:

We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group trials register.

SELECTION CRITERIA:

Randomised trials of treatments for leg cramps, persisting for at least two weeks, in pregnancy.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS:

Trial quality was assessed and data were extracted independently by two reviewers.

MAIN RESULTS:

Three trials involving 217 women were included. The trials were of moderate quality. Compared with placebo, calcium reduced leg cramps (odds ratio 0.29, 95% confidence interval 0.15 to 0.56). However there was significant heterogeneity between these results. One trial comparing sodium chloride with placebo showed a reduction in leg cramps (odds ratio 0.08, 95% confidence interval 0.03 to 0.24). Based on one trial, there appeared to be no difference between calcium and sodium chloride.

REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS:

Both calcium and sodium chloride appear to help reduce leg cramps in pregnancy. However the results of the sodium chloride trial may no longer be relevant because of dietary changes.

• Authors: G L Young, D Jewell
• Journal: The Cochrane database of systematic reviews (Cochrane Database Syst Rev) Issue 2 Pg. CD000121 ( 2000) ISSN: 1469-493X [Electronic] England
• PMID: 10796143 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review, Systematic Review)

Topics

• Female
• Humans
• Leg
• Muscle Cramp (therapy)
• Pregnancy
• Pregnancy Complications (therapy)