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Age (M, SD) 52.2 16.7 Gender (#, %) Female 255 70.4% Male 107 29.6% Are you Hispanic/Latino (#, %) No 336 94.9% Yes 18 5.1% Race (#, %) White 321 90.2% Black 26 7.3% Asian 2 0.6% Native American 1 0.3% Other 1 0.3% More than one race selected 5 1.4% Location (#, %) Urban 104 28.5% Rural 261 71.5% Abbreviations: M, Mean; SD, Standard deviation.
Have you tried this treatment? If you tried this treatment, was it helpful in relieving your leg cramps? No Yes No Response Not Helpful Somewhat Helpful Usually Helpful # % # % # % # % # % # % Non-pharmacologic treatments Massage of the affected muscle 71 21.8% 254 78.2% 20 7.9% 21 8.3% 116 45.7% 97 38.2% Stretching 84 25.8% 241 74.2% 20 8.3% 19 7.9% 106 44.0% 96 39.8% Walking 108 33.3% 216 66.7% 18 8.3% 18 8.3% 91 42.1% 89 41.2% Hot shower/Warm bath 206 63.8% 117 36.2% 9 7.7% 13 11.1% 55 47.0% 40 34.2% Keeping legs warm in bed 225 70.3% 95 29.7% 9 9.5% 9 9.5% 42 44.2% 35 36.8% Pharmacological treatments Verapamil 319 99.4% 2 0.6% 0 0.0% 0 0.0% 2 100.0% 0 0.0% NSAIDs 226 69.5% 99 30.5% Aleve/Naproxen Sodium 276 86.0% 45 14.0% 3 6.7% 5 11.1% 25 55.6% 12 26.7% Advil/Ibuprofen 232 71.4% 93 28.6% 3 3.2% 16 17.2% 52 55.9% 22 23.7% Tylenol/Acetaminophen 223 68.6% 102 31.4% 3 2.9% 18 17.6% 56 54.9% 25 24.5% Magnesium supplements 269 83.0% 55 17.0% 9 16.4% 8 14.5% 29 52.7% 9 16.4% Quinine 317 98.1% 6 1.9% 0 0.0% 2 33.3% 1 16.7% 3 50.0% Vitamin B supplements 274 85.1% 48 14.9% 8 16.7% 11 22.9% 21 43.8% 8 16.7% Calcium supplements 264 82.0% 58 18.0% 10 17.2% 15 25.9% 29 50.0% 4 6.9% Vitamin E supplements 291 91.2% 28 8.8% 7 25.0% 6 21.4% 12 42.9% 3 10.7% Abbreviation: NSAID, Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug.
Medications/Supplements Non-Drug “Other” Treatment Tried Found on Internet “Other” Treatment Tried Found on Internet Potassium 3 15 Hydration/Water/Gatorade/Electrolytes 6 30 Magnesium 14 Stretching 18 Calcium (Tums) 3 Banana 4 9 Tylenol 2 Pickle Juice 5 7 Supplements 2 Massage 7 Multivitamin 1 2 Heat 3 5 Unspecified OTC meds 2 Mustard 1 4 B6 2 Ice 1 4 Exercise/Move 4 Gabapentin 1 Hot showers/warm bath 1 3 Ibuprofen 1 Bar of soap near feet while sleeping 1 Muscle rub lotion 1 Vitamin E 1 Essential oils 1 Iron 1 Compress 1 Quinine 1 Milk 1 Muscle relaxants 3 Thera 1 Leg cramp med? 1 Less sodium intake 1 Ropinirole (Requip) 1 Salt 1 Vinegar 1 Abbreviation: OTC, Over-the-counter.
