The Journal of Korean Medicine (대한한의학회지)

The Society of Korean Medicine (대한한의학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Conventional Western Medicine and Complementary and Alternative Medicine on Leg Cramps: A Literature Review

하지 근경련에 대한 기존 양방적 치료와 보완대체요법: 문헌조사

  • Kwon, Chan-Young (Yanggu Public Health Center) ;
  • Lee, Boram (Department of Clinical Korean Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University) ;
  • Cho, Jae-Heung (Department of Korean Rehabilitation Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University)
  • 권찬영 (양구보건소) ;
  • 이보람 (경희대학교 일반대학원 임상한의학과) ;
  • 조재흥 (경희대학교 한의과대학 한방재활의학과교실)
  • Received : 2017.07.21
  • Accepted : 2017.09.01
  • Published : 2017.09.30
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

Objectives: The objective of this review is to investigate the use of conventional Western medicine (WM) and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) on leg cramps. Leg cramps are the occurrence of muscular spasm in the leg muscles which occur frequently in the elderly and are frequently observed in the clinical field. Methods: Relevant clinical studies were searched from five medical databases including PubMed, KISS, RISS, OASIS, and J-STAGE. Systematic review, clinical studies, and clinical practice guideline were included in this review. Results: In total, 27 clinical studies, 9 systematic review and meta-analysis, and 1 clinical practice guideline met the inclusion criteria. Included studies were classified and analyzed according to the type of intervention. Studies on quinine and magnesium have been most studied in WM and CAM, respectively. Although quinine shows some clinical effects on leg cramps, however, the risk of side effects are suggested. In addition, magnesium failed to improve the clinically significant effects in most studies. Five case reports using Oriental herbal medicine (OHM) were included and OHMs were effective in improving leg cramps without side effects, however, the quality of evidence was low. Clinical studies on other interventions were lacking. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that there is no definite treatment standard for leg cramps until now, and there are limitations such as low level of evidence and side effects for each treatment. OHM can be an effective alternative to conventional intervention on leg cramps, therefore, related clinical studies are needed.

Keywords

References

  1. Butler JV, Mulkerrin EC, O'Keeffe ST. Nocturnal leg cramps in older people. Postgrad Med J. 2002;78(924):596-8. https://doi.org/10.1136/pmj.78.924.596
  2. Hallegraeff J, de Greef M, Krijnen W, van der Schans C. Criteria in diagnosing nocturnal leg cramps: a systematic review. BMC Fam Pract. 2017;18(1):29. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-017-0600-x
  3. Grandner MA, Winkelman JW. Nocturnal leg cramps: Prevalence and associations with demographics, sleep disturbance symptoms, medical conditions, and cardiometabolic risk factors. PLoS One. 2017;12(6):e0178465. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0178465
  4. Miller TM, Layzer RB. Muscle cramps. Muscle Nerve. 2005;32(4):431-42. https://doi.org/10.1002/mus.20341
  5. El-Tawil S, Al Musa T, Valli H, Lunn MP, Brassington R, El-Tawil T, et al. Quinine for muscle cramps. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015;(4):CD005044.
  6. Katzberg HD, Khan AH, So YT. Assessment: symptomatic treatment for muscle cramps (an evidence-based review): report of the therapeutics and technology assessment subcommittee of the American academy of neurology. Neurology. 2010;74(8):691-6. https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0b013e3181d0ccca
  7. Man-Son-Hing M, Wells G, Lau A. Quinine for nocturnal leg cramps: a meta-analysis including unpublished data. J Gen Intern Med. 1998;13(9):600-6. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1525-1497.1998.00182.x
  8. Young G. Leg cramps. BMJ Clin Evid. 2015;2015. pii:1113.
  9. El-Tawil S, Al Musa T, Valli H, Lunn MP, El-Tawil T, Weber M. Quinine for muscle cramps. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010;(12):CD005044.
  10. Man-Son-Hing M, Wells G. Meta-analysis of efficacy of quinine for treatment of nocturnal leg cramps in elderly people. BMJ. 1995;310(6971):13-7. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.310.6971.13
  11. Young G. Leg cramps. BMJ Clin Evid. 2009;2009. pii:1113.
  12. Food and Drug Administration. "FDA Drug Safety Communication: New risk management plan and patient Medication Guide for Qualaquin (quinine sulfate)". 2010. Available at: https://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/PostmarketDrugSafetyInformationforPatientsandProviders/ucm218202.htm.
  13. Blyton F, Chuter V, Walter KE, Burns J. Non-drug therapies for lower limb muscle cramps. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012;1:CD008496.
  14. Jones K, Castleden CM. A double-blind comparison of quinine sulphate and placebo in muscle cramps. Age Ageing. 1983;12(2):155-8. https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/12.2.155
  15. Lim SH. Randomised double-blind trial of quinine sulphate for nocturnal leg cramp. Br J Clin Pract. 1986;40(11):462.
  16. Warburton A, Royston JP, O'Neill CJ, Nicholson PW, Jee RD, Denham MJ, et al. A quinine a day keeps the leg cramps away? Br J Clin Pharmacol. 1987;23(4):459-65. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2125.1987.tb03076.x
  17. Fung MC, Holbrook JH. Placebo-controlled trial of quinine therapy for nocturnal leg cramps. West J Med. 1989;151(1):42-4.
  18. Connolly PS, Shirley EA, Wasson JH, Nierenberg DW. Treatment of nocturnal leg cramps. A crossover trial of quinine vs vitamin E. Arch Intern Med. 1992;152(9):1877-80. https://doi.org/10.1001/archinte.1992.00400210099016
  19. Dunn NR. Effectiveness of quinine for night cramps. Br J Gen Pract. 1993;43(368):127-8.
  20. Sidorov J. Quinine sulfate for leg cramps: does it work? J Am Geriatr Soc. 1993;41(5):498-500. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-5415.1993.tb01884.x
  21. Diener HC, Dethlefsen U, Dethlefsen-Gruber S, Verbeek P. Effectiveness of quinine in treating muscle cramps: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, multicentre trial. Int J Clin Pract. 2002;56(4):243-6.
  22. Woodfield R, Goodyear-Smith F, Arroll B. N-of-1 trials of quinine efficacy in skeletal muscle cramps of the leg. Br J Gen Pract. 2005;55(512):181-5.
  23. Jansen PH, Veenhuizen KC, Verbeek AL, Straatman H. Efficacy of hydroquinine in preventing frequent ordinary muscle cramp outlasts actual administration. J Neurol Sci. 1994;122(2):157-61. https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-510X(94)90294-1
  24. Jansen PH, Veenhuizen KC, Wesseling AI, de Boo T, Verbeek AL. Randomised controlled trial of hydroquinine in muscle cramps. Lancet. 1997;349(9051):528-32. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(97)80085-2
  25. Baltodano N, Gallo BV, Weidler DJ. Verapamil vs quinine in recumbent nocturnal leg cramps in the elderly. Arch Intern Med. 1988;148(9):1969-70. https://doi.org/10.1001/archinte.1988.00380090055015
  26. Young JB, Connolly MJ. Naftidrofuryl treatment for rest cramp. Postgrad Med J. 1993;69(814):624-6. https://doi.org/10.1136/pgmj.69.814.624
  27. Prateepavanich P, Kupniratsaikul V, Charoensak T. The relationship between myofascial trigger points of gastrocnemius muscle and nocturnal calf cramps. J Med Assoc Thai. 1999;82(5):451-9.
  28. Kim DH, Yoon DM, Yoon KB. The effects of myofascial trigger point injections on nocturnal calf cramps. J Am Board Fam Med. 2015;28(1):21-7. https://doi.org/10.3122/jabfm.2015.01.140151
  29. Garrison SR, Allan GM, Sekhon RK, Musini VM, Khan KM. Magnesium for skeletal muscle cramps. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012;(9):CD009402.
  30. Sebo P, Cerutti B, Haller DM. Effect of magnesium therapy on nocturnal leg cramps: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials with meta-analysis using simulations. Fam Pract. 2014;31(1):7-19. https://doi.org/10.1093/fampra/cmt065
  31. Frusso R, Zarate M, Augustovski F, Rubinstein A. Magnesium for the treatment of nocturnal leg cramps: a crossover randomized trial. J Fam Pract. 1999;48(11):868-71.
  32. Roffe C, Sills S, Crome P, Jones P. Randomised, cross-over, placebo controlled trial of magnesium citrate in the treatment of chronic persistent leg cramps. Med Sci Monit. 2002;8(5):CR326-30.
  33. Garrison SR, Birmingham CL, Koehler BE, McCollom RA, Khan KM. The effect of magnesium infusion on rest cramps: randomized controlled trial. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2011;66(6):661-6.
  34. Molema MM, Dekker MC, Voermans NC, van Engelen BG, Aarnoutse RE. Caffeine and muscle cramps: a stimulating connection. Am J Med. 2007;120(8):e1-2. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjmed.2006.07.035
  35. Coppin RJ, Wicke DM, Little PS. Managing nocturnal leg cramps--calf-stretching exercises and cessation of quinine treatment: a factorial randomised controlled trial. Br J Gen Pract. 2005;55(512):186-91.
  36. Hallegraeff JM, van der Schans CP, de Ruiter R, de Greef MH. Stretching before sleep reduces the frequency and severity of nocturnal leg cramps in older adults: a randomised trial. J Physiother. 2012;58(1):17-22. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1836-9553(12)70068-1
  37. Choi SH, Shin YI, Lee JY. Case Study; Manual Therapy for Patients with Calf Cramps. Korean J Orthop Manu Ther. 2010;16(2):93-7.
  38. Tahara E, Inutsuka H, Iwanaga J, Murai M, Ohtake M, Dokura J, et al. Four Patients with Calf Cramps who did not Respond to Shakuyakukanzoto but Responded well to Sokeikakketsuto. Kampo Med. 2011;62(5):660-3. https://doi.org/10.3937/kampomed.62.660
  39. Ishida K. Efficacy of Goshajinkigan in the Treatment of Sleep-Related Leg Cramps : a Study of Distinctive Patient Features from the Viewpoint of Kampo Medicine. Kampo Med. 2014;65(2):100-7. https://doi.org/10.3937/kampomed.65.100
  40. Ito T, Kimura Y, Ota S, Yamamoto S, Suda N, Nakazawa K. The Effectiveness of Shimotsuto Extract for Patients with Muscle Cramp. Kampo Med. 2015;66(3):244-9. https://doi.org/10.3937/kampomed.66.244
  41. Kimura Y, Sato H, Ito T. Three Cases of Calf Cramps with Internal Coldness Caused by Kidney Deficiency Presenting with Gastrointestinal Dysfunction Successfully Treated with Shimbuto. Kampo Med. 2015;66(4):302-6. https://doi.org/10.3937/kampomed.66.302
  42. Dokura J, Takahashi Y, Maeda H, Yoshinaga R, Inoue H, Yano H, et al. Review of 33 Patients in Whom Sokeikakketsuto was Used to Treat Recurrent Cramps of the Calf. Kampo Med. 2017;68(1):40-6. https://doi.org/10.3937/kampomed.68.40
  43. Nakae H. Treatment of Painful Muscle Cramp Due to Heat Injury Using Shakuyakukanzoto. Kampo Med. 2013;64(3):177-83. https://doi.org/10.3937/kampomed.64.177
  44. Wada K. Effect of Traditional Japanese Herbal (Kampo) Medicine, Goreisan, for Disdialysis and Muscle Cramps in Patients undergoing Maintenance Hemodialysis. Kampo Med. 2012;63(3):168-75. https://doi.org/10.3937/kampomed.63.168
  45. Manjra SI. Muscle cramps in athletes [thesis]. St, Cape Town: University of Cape Town; 1991.
  46. Lee JH, Lim JY. Muscle Cramps in Old Adults: Clinical Features and Pathophysiology. J Korean Geriatr Soc. 2013;17(4):171-7. https://doi.org/10.4235/jkgs.2013.17.4.171

Cited by

  1. 중·노년층의 전근증상에 대한 간정격 활용의 증례군 분석 vol.30, pp.1, 2017, https://doi.org/10.18325/jkmr.2020.30.1.115