Toe stiffness or spasm of the toes is one of the most painful problems that we are all exposed to, and there are a variety of causes of toe spasm, and it is a health problem that does not cause concern, but if it continues for several weeks, it may cause some concern, and in this article we will talk about the most prominent reasons for this Cramping and how to treat it.

Causes of toe cramps

The following are the main causes that lead to stiff toes:

1. Poor blood circulation

Poor blood circulation in the toes leads to a lack of oxygen that reaches the muscles of the fingers, and poor blood circulation occurs as a result of narrow blood vessels, which occurs for several reasons, such as calcium deficiency and potassium deficiency.

2. Dehydration

Not consuming the right amount of water and fluids leads to dehydration that affects muscle spasms, but dehydration does not necessarily result in muscle spasms in the feet and fingers.

3. Lack of some nutrients

Deficiency of some important vitamins and nutrients leads to muscle spasms in different areas of the body, including the toes, such as vitamin B12 deficiency, and vitamin D deficiency, which causes the body’s inability to absorb some important nutrients, such as calcium and phosphate.

4. Wearing uncomfortable shoes

Wearing tight, high-heeled shoes puts pressure on the toes, causing cramps.

5. Some diseases

Certain conditions, such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and diabetes, affect the nervous system’s functions, causing muscle spasms, and some medications that treat these diseases also cause this.

6. Cramping toes during sleep

There are some disorders that cause toes spasm when sleeping, such as the vibrations of the beginning of sleep that occur for several reasons, such as anxiety, caffeine, and exercise right before bed, and there is another disorder that causes spasms called restless legs syndrome.

7. The reason for the toes cramping of the pregnant woman

Feet cramps are a common occurrence, especially in the second and last trimester of pregnancy, for several reasons such as changes in blood circulation and pressure on the muscles of the feet due to excess weight and calcium deficiency.

8. Lack of exercise

Exercising helps enhance the strength and flexibility of the feet, and activates the muscles, nerves and joints, which prevents muscle spasms, but the lack of movement increases the incidence of toe spasms.

Toe cramp symptoms

There are some symptoms that appear when you have these spasms, which you should consult a specialist doctor if they increase in severity:

• Very painful cramps, up to the inability to move.
• Cramps accompanied by some symptoms of infection, such as fever and the appearance of a noticeable injury to the foot.
• These cramps do not improve within a week.
• Feet swollen or discolored.
• Feeling of numbness in the feet.

Toe cramp treatment

There are a variety of treatments for these cramps, whether home remedies or using medications, and the following are some of the treatment methods:

1. Healthy diet

Eating foods rich in important nutrients, such as calcium, magnesium and potassium, such as spinach, bananas, broccoli, milk and yogurt, and drinking appropriate amounts of water and fluids, helps prevent muscle cramps.

2. Wear comfortable shoes

Wearing comfortable shoes helps relieve pressure on the toes and avoid toe cramps.

3. Warm water

Using warm water for the toes helps relieve cramps, by soaking the feet in warm water for 20 minutes, or applying warm compresses.

4. Cold compresses

Applying ice or cold water compresses, along with massaging the toes, helps relieve cramps.

5. Doing sports

Regular exercise helps to enhance the functions of muscles, joints, and tendons, which prevents cramps.

6. Medicines

The doctor’s prescription of medications depends on the cause of the seizure, such as prescribing medications to reduce chronic diseases such as arthritis and diabetes, physical therapy or surgery to treat injuries.

After identifying the causes of toe spasm, the treatment of these spasms depends on the cause of their appearance, and there are some simple healthy habits that can be followed, to prevent infection, such as eating healthy food, exercising and drinking sufficient amounts of water and fluids.