How to Treat Thigh Muscle Spasms

Muscle spasms, especially if they occur in the thigh muscles, can be painful. Sudden and uncomfortable muscle contractions that are not only painful, but also interfere with daily activities such as sleeping. Muscle spasms are not usually a serious medical problem and can be treated with home remedies such as stretching, massage, dietary changes, and exercise.

Table of Contents

Stretch tight thigh muscles

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Determine which muscle of the thigh is contracting. Before treating a thigh spasm with a stretch, you need to determine which muscle in the thigh is contracting. Thighs have different muscles and they can get spasms. Determining which of the major thigh muscles is contracting will help you stretch most effectively. A health care professional, such as a doctor, physical therapist or personal trainer can help identify thigh muscle spasms.

The hamstring muscle runs along the back of the thigh, affecting movement of the hip and knee. The upper part of the hamstrings begins under the gluteus maximus behind the hip bones and ends at the knees. ^{[1] X Research Source}
The quadriceps (commonly called the “quadriceps” muscle) runs along the front of the thigh and is the main extensor muscle of the knee.The front thigh muscle is the strongest and leanest muscle in the body. ^{[2] X Research Source}

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Stretch the hamstrings back. If you have a spasm in the back of your thigh, you should stretch your hamstrings. There are different ways to stretch the hamstrings to relieve spasms.

Using a towel or belt, spread it flat on the floor, and then raise the constricted leg. Wrap a belt or towel around the mid-toe with the soles of your feet, grasp the ends of the towel or waistband, and gently pull your feet back. You can use one hand to massage the hamstrings while pulling your legs back, or wait until the stretch is complete. ^{[3] X Research Sources}
If you can’t lie down, you can do the same stretch with a belt or towel while sitting. Sitting with legs straight and just bending forward will have the same effect. ^{[4] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}
Do not pull too hard on tight muscles and spasms. Instead, you should pull gently. Only increase traction when the feeling of tension in the leg decreases.
Consider walking back and forth between stretches to help stretch the hamstrings.

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Stretch the front thigh muscle. If you have spasms in the front of your thighs, you should stretch your anterior thigh muscles. There is a very effective hamstring stretch that helps relieve spasms.

To stretch the spasmed quadriceps, stand straight and contract the cramped leg, toward the gluteus medius (buttock). If possible, grab your feet and pull toward your buttocks for a deeper stretch. ^{[5] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}
Make sure the knee is in a straight line with the thigh so as not to damage the muscles and ligaments in the knee.
You can use one hand to massage the quadriceps while pulling the leg toward the buttocks, or wait until the stretch is complete. ^{[6] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}
Do not pull too hard on tight muscles and spasms. Instead, you should pull gently. Only increase traction when the feeling of tension in the leg decreases.
Go back and forth between stretches to help stretch the hamstrings.

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Do some gentle exercises. Light exercises can help loosen tight thigh muscles. Movements in general will naturally stretch your muscles and relax you, but you can also consider other exercises like yoga.

Exercise only if possible and do not force yourself. You can only work out after a few light stretches.
Light walking is the best exercise to help stretch the thigh muscles. Long strides to ensure full muscle use. ^{[7] X Research Sources}
Gentle yoga also helps to relax the muscles. Restorative yoga and Yin yoga are specifically used to stretch and repair muscles. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

Use other home remedies

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Massage your thighs yourself or visit a masseuse. Massage is one of the most effective ways to get rid of spasms because it helps increase circulation to the muscle tissues. Combined with muscle relaxation, massage can quickly relieve pain in spasmed muscles, while helping you relax. ^{[9] X Research Source}

Massage the thighs at the site of muscle spasms. Use your hand to gently press on the muscle contraction and increase pressure if there is no pain.
Massage rollers are another effective way to massage thighs. These rollers help you roll over tight muscles by applying pressure.
You can also visit a masseuse for a massage of your spasmed thigh muscles. Professional massage is a necessary step because experts clearly understand which muscles are affected and which will become inflamed secondary to the initial injury or spasm. Swedish massage, neuromuscular massage, and tendon massage are the most effective forms of spasm-relieving massage. It’s a good idea to talk to your masseuse that you have a problem with your contractions so they don’t over-massage your muscles. ^{[10] X Research Source}

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Use heat to relax muscles and relieve pain. Applying heat to spasmed muscles can be extremely effective in relaxing muscle spasms and reducing pain. This will also help you relax to reduce muscle spasms. From using a heat pad to taking a warm bath, there are many other methods of using heat to help get rid of thigh spasms. ^{[11] X Research Source}

A warm shower or bath will help you relax and relieve the pain of muscle spasms. The high heat from the water also improves blood circulation to the area of the muscle that is immersed in the water. ^{[12] X Research Source}
Mixing Epsom salts in a warm bath can help relieve sphincters. ^{[13] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}
Fill a bottle with hot water or prepare a heat pad to apply to the thigh muscle spasm.
Over-the-counter massage creams can also help relieve muscle spasms and relax tight muscles.

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Monitor your diet. Some research suggests that low levels of nutrients like potassium and calcium can increase the risk of muscle spasms. You need to make sure you get enough of these nutrients in your diet to reduce the frequency of muscle spasms. ^{[14] X Research Source}

Try eating bananas and oranges for potassium. ^{[15] X Research Source}
Eat brown rice, almonds, and avocados for magnesium. ^{[16] X Research Source}
Calcium is found in yogurt, milk and other animal products, as well as in vegetables such as spinach. ^{[17] X Research Source}
Muscle spasms can be a sign of a mineral deficiency. Multi-mineral supplements may provide benefits.

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Provide enough water. There are no definitive studies linking dehydration to leg cramps, but there is some evidence that not drinking enough water can contribute to thigh spasms. Making sure to drink enough water throughout the day can help avoid leg cramps. ^{[18] X Research Sources}

Drinking water is enough to keep the body hydrated. If you prefer a drink with a bit of flavor, you can try pairing a sports drink or juice with water throughout the day.

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Sleep on your side and do not lie on hard sheets. Lying on tightly wrapped sheets and sleeping in certain positions, such as lying on your stomach, can increase your risk of muscle spasms. You should loosen the bed sheet and sleep on your side to avoid muscle spasms.

Sheets can limit foot and leg movement, so you’ll need to remove them from your bed. ^{[19] X Research Source}
Sleeping on your side with your knees slightly bent is the best position to reduce the risk of thigh muscle spasms. ^{[20] X Research Source}
Sleeping in positions that point your toes down can trigger spasms. ^{[21] X Research Source}

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Consider taking pain relievers or muscle relaxants. If other methods don’t help or your spasms don’t go away, you should try an over-the-counter pain reliever or a prescription muscle relaxer. However, if the pain or spasm persists, you should talk to your doctor to identify an underlying medical problem.

Take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce inflammation that may be present in the muscles.
Talk to your doctor about taking muscle relaxants like Flexeril (cyclobenzaprine) to relieve muscle tension and spasms. ^{[22] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

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Do not take Quinine. Some information on alternative medicine claims that taking quinine can help reduce muscle spasms. This treatment is very dangerous and can cause serious health problems such as arrhythmias, nausea, headaches and ringing in the ears. Therefore, you need to avoid taking Quinine if possible. ^{[23] X Cleveland Clinic Trusted Source Go to Source}

Understanding the causes of thigh muscle spasms

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Identify the cause of thigh muscle spasms. There are many different causes of thigh muscle spasms, including poor blood circulation and muscle fatigue. Identifying the cause can help treat thigh muscle spasms quickly.

Poor circulation in the legs, excessive muscle movement, improper stretching before and after exercise, muscle fatigue, dehydration, magnesium or potassium deficiency, or pinched nerves can cause spasms. thigh muscle tightening. ^{[24] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}
You can treat most cases of thigh muscle spasms with home therapy. For some people, thigh muscle spasms are caused by a mineral deficiency. Taking a high-quality mineral supplement may help.

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Learn about the medical problem that can cause thigh spasms. Not all thigh muscle spasms are caused by simple factors like overtraining or improper sitting. Certain medical problems such as Parkinson’s disease or diabetes can put you at higher risk for thigh spasms. If home remedies don’t help with thigh muscle spasms, you should see your doctor to make sure you don’t have any underlying health problems.

Pregnancy can cause thigh muscle spasms. ^{[25] X Cleveland Clinic Trusted Source Go to Source}
Addiction to alcohol can cause thigh muscle spasms. ^{[26] X Cleveland Clinic Trusted Source Go to Source}
Dehydration can cause thigh muscle spasms. ^{[27] X Cleveland Clinic Trusted Source Go to Source}
Parkinson’s disease can cause thigh muscle spasms. ^{[28] X Cleveland Clinic Trusted Source Go to Source}
Endocrine disorders such as diabetes and hypothyroidism can cause thigh muscle spasms. ^{[29] X Cleveland Clinic Trusted Source Go to Source}
Neuromuscular disorders such as neuropathy can cause thigh muscle spasms. ^{[30] X Cleveland Clinic Trusted Source Go to Source}

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Be wary of drugs that can cause thigh muscle spasms. Like some medical problems, certain medications also make you more prone to thigh spasms. Recognizing which medications may be causing the spasms can help you or your doctor determine the cause and recommend the best treatment.

Diuretics like Lasix can make you more prone to thigh muscle spasms. ^{[31] X Research Source}
Aricept for Alzheimer’s patients can cause thigh muscle spasms. ^{[32] X Research Source}
Procardia treats angina and high blood pressure that can cause thigh spasms. ^{[33] X Research Sources}
Proventil or Ventpin for people with asthma may increase the risk of thigh muscle spasms. ^{[34] X Research Source}
Tasmar for people with Parkinson’s disease can cause thigh muscle spasms. ^{[35] X Research Source}
Stain drugs that control chpesterp such as Crestor and Lipitor can cause thigh muscle spasms. ^{[36] X Research Source}

Advice

See your doctor if thigh muscle spasms recur. Frequent spasms can be a sign of injury, nutrient deficiencies, or dehydration. Your doctor can advise you on remedies.
If thigh spasms occur during the post-workout period, simply stretch your thigh muscles and then sit down for a while to massage the muscles.
Another way to get rid of a thigh spasm is to stretch by straightening your leg forward, then grabbing your foot and pulling it behind your knee.
Try to get up and walk slowly.
Many people don’t know this but mustard can help relieve pain caused by spasms in the thighs and legs.

Steps

Stretch tight thigh muscles

Use other home remedies

Understanding the causes of thigh muscle spasms

Advice

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