Here’s the Real Reason Why You Get Painful Toe Cramps
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You might be sitting on the couch, feet up on an ottoman and watching TV, when BAM!, it suddenly feels as if your big toe is curling in, wrenching the entire top half of your foot into a painful cramp. Toe cramps can happen to any of the digits at the end of your foot, painful and unpleasant no matter which little piggy is cramping up.
Toe cramps, which happen when the muscles that flex and bend your toes involuntarily contract, are fairly common and can happen any time, even in the middle of the night, waking you up from an otherwise sound sleep. But what causes these weird spasms, and more importantly, what can you do to avoid the ouch?
What causes toe cramps?
“Pain is the body’s best sign that something is going awry,” says Sondema Tarr, DPM, a board-certified podiatrist and foot surgeon at Direct Podiatry Arizona in Tempe. In most cases, there are easily fixable reasons behind your cramping feet.
You’re not drinking enough water. “The most common reason for toe cramps is lack of hydration,” says Bradley Schaeffer, DPM, a board-certified podiatrist and foot surgeon at Central Park SOLE and star of TLC’s My Feet Are Killing Me. When you’re not getting enough water, there may be less blood flowing to your feet, causing the cramps.
You’re low on potassium and other electrolytes. Electrolytes are essential minerals, such as sodium, magnesium and potassium, that you get from the foods you eat and liquids you drink. “These molecules have electrical charges, and they help the body send important messages to the muscles,” explains Dr. Tarr. When you’re not getting enough electrolytes because of a restricted diet (or from dehydration), it can result in cramps. A lack of potassium, in particular, is a big cause of cramps, so heed Dr. Shaeffer’s advice: “Eat those bananas, my friends!”
It’s all about your shoes. Your choice of footwear can often be to blame for painful cramps, says Dr. Tarr — especially if you prefer sky-high stilettos. “When you wear high heels, it changes the way your foot would normally function when you walk,” she explains. “Your toes have to work a lot harder to touch the ground and maintain balance, even when you’re sitting down.” Shoes that are too tight or too loose can also lead to various types of foot pain, including cramps, says Dr. Schaeffer.
You’re working out a lot. Dr. Schaeffer says he sees toe cramping a lot in athletes and people who are doing CrossFit in particular. Overuse of any muscles — especially without proper stretching before — can lead to cramps in the legs, calves, feet and toes.
You’re getting older. While there’s no specific data tying toe cramps to any particular age or gender, Dr. Schaeffer points out that certain lifestyle factors as you age can affect your muscles. “The older we get, the more common it is to be ‘tight’ due to lack of stretching and physical activity,” he says. When the muscles are tight and then suddenly get put to use, hello cramp.
What can I do to avoid toe cramps?
First, pay attention to your shoes. Any shoes that cause pain or lead to toe cramps should probably be retired. Replacing them with shoes with a lower-heel that helps you walk more naturally is the ideal solution, though Dr. Tarr admits that may not always be possible, especially if you have to wear dress shoes for work. “Finding shoes that won’t give you cramps involves some trial and error,” she says. “One good idea is to bring a pair of flatter shoes and wear them when you are sitting at your desk, and only change into them when you need to.”
When choosing new shoes, Dr. Schaeffer recommends buying ones with plenty of room in the toe box, good arch support and a stable heel cup. "Insoles are another great option to add or enhance support and stabilize our feet," he adds that a podiatrist can also prescribe custom fitted orthotics/insoles.
Another key to preventing toe cramps is staying hydrated. Drink a glass of water before working out, and bring a refillable bottle, so you can stay hydrated while you exercise.
Plus, if you’re on a very low- or no-salt diet, talk to your doctor about making sure you have enough sodium. In addition to adding more potassium rich-foods to your diet, including bananas, avocados, coconut water and almonds, consider adding an electrolyte supplement to your water.
How can I get relief from a toe cramp?
When that toe cramp hits, it can make you feel frozen in pain for a moment, but there is plenty you can do to relieve the pain.
If you happen to have a tennis ball (or a ball made for plantar fasciitis, like this one) within reach, roll it along the sole of your foot — it can help release the muscle and lessen the spasms and cramps, suggests Dr. Tarr.
No ball nearby? Cross the leg attached to the toe with the spasm over your other leg, then gently flex the foot back, hold it for two to three seconds and release.
If your foot and toe are still in pain, try a warm soak or using a heating pad, suggests Dr. Schaeffer.
Drink down a glass of water to rehydrate, and hopefully your foot will feel fine in a matter of minutes.
Can toe cramps be a sign of something more serious?
While toe cramps are very common and almost always no big deal, you should take note if they seem to be happening more and more often, says Dr. Schaeffer. "It is very important to get blood work done by your primary care physician to check your potassium, calcium and magnesium levels and to make sure things are normal internally,” he says.
Dr. Tarr adds that recurring cramps can sometimes be a sign of circulation issues, but there would usually be other signs along with the toe cramps, including cramps in your calves and upper legs. In some cases, cramps could be a sign of neuropathy or peripheral arterial disease (PAD), which is usually related to diabetes or stroke, she says.
But in most cases, toe cramps are simply a sign you need to drink more water and slip into more comfortable shoes.
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