| Managing nocturnal leg cramps--calf-stretching exercises and cessation of quinine treatment: a factorial randomised controlled trial. | |
MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 15808033 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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BACKGROUND: Quinine is a common treatment for nocturnal leg cramps but has potential side effects. An uncontrolled study suggested that calf-stretching exercises could prevent nocturnal leg cramps (night cramps) but these findings have never been confirmed. AIM: To assess the effect of calf-stretching exercises and cessation of quinine treatment for patients with night cramps taking quinine. DESIGN OF STUDY: Randomised controlled trial. SETTING: Twenty-eight general practices in southern England. METHOD: One hundred and ninety-one patients prescribed quinine for night cramps were randomised to one of four groups defined by two "advice" factors: undertake exercises and stop quinine. After 6 weeks they were advised that they could take quinine and undertake the exercises freely. Documentation of cramp at 12 weeks was achieved in 181 (95%) patients. Main outcome measures were: symptom burden score, and frequency of night cramps and quinine usage. RESULTS: At 12 weeks there was no significant difference in number of cramps in the previous 4 weeks (exercise = 1.95, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -3.01 to 6.90; quinine cessation = 3.45, 95% CI = -1.52 to 8.41) nor symptom burden or severity of cramps. However, after 12 weeks 26.5% (95% CI = 13.3% to 39.7%) more patients who had been advised to stop quinine treatment reported taking no quinine tablets in the previous week (odds ratio [OR] = 3.32, 95% CI = 1.37 to 8.06), whereas advice to do stretching exercises had no effect (OR = 0.73, 95% CI = 0.27 to 1.98). CONCLUSIONS: Calf-stretching exercises are not effective in reducing the frequency or severity of night cramps. Advising those on long-term repeat prescriptions to try stopping quinine temporarily will result in no major problems for patients, and allow a significant number to stop medication. |
Authors:
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Richard J Coppin; Dorothy M Wicke; Paul S Little |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: Clinical Trial; Journal Article; Multicenter Study; Randomized Controlled Trial; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't |
Journal Detail:
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Title: The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners Volume: 55 ISSN: 0960-1643 ISO Abbreviation: Br J Gen Pract Publication Date: 2005 Mar |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2005-04-05 Completed Date: 2005-09-30 Revised Date: 2009-11-18 |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 9005323 Medline TA: Br J Gen Pract Country: England |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 186-91 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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The Surgery, Station Road, Overton, Basingstoke, Hants RG25 3DZ, UK. overtonsurgery@dial.pipex.com |
Export Citation:
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| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Aged Data Collection Exercise Therapy* Family Practice Female Humans Leg Male Middle Aged Muscle Cramp / prevention & control* Muscle Relaxants, Central / adverse effects* Quinine / adverse effects* Sleep-Wake Transition Disorders / prevention & control* Treatment Outcome |
| Chemical | |
Reg. No./Substance:
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0/Muscle Relaxants, Central; 130-95-0/Quinine |
| Comments/Corrections | |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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