A revised stretch for preventing nocturnal cramps and a plausible mechanism for its benefit.

The study by Hallegraeff et al (2012) was of unusual interest to us, having nicely supported our uncontrolled observation that nocturnal cramps could often be prevented by prophylactic calf stretching (Daniell 1979). Differences between our stretching regimen and that which they used included the number of muscle groups stretched, the position in which each stretch was performed, and the frequency and duration of each repetition.