Charley Horse: Why It’s Called That, Plus 7 Cures
Those painful leg and foot cramps can ruin a good night's sleep. Here's a list of our best natural remedies for when one strikes, and what you can do to prevent them from "cramping" your style!
Quick Reference: The Charley Horse
- What it is: a sudden, painful muscle cramp, most often in the calf, foot, or thigh.
- Why the name: American baseball slang from the 1880s and 1890s, tied to a lame ballpark horse named Charley and to pitcher Charley “Old Hoss” Radbourn.
- Summer risk: you are about twice as likely to get one in the summertime, when heat and sweat pull fluids and electrolytes from your body.
- When it strikes: pull your toes up toward your knee, stand on a cool floor, or ice the muscle for 10 to 15 minutes.
- See a doctor if: cramps happen often or wake you regularly, which can signal a condition that needs attention.
A Charley horse can hit out of nowhere. One minute you are asleep or stepping off the back porch, and the next your calf knots up like a fist. The pain in your leg has an oddly all-American name, and no one knows for certain where it came from. Here is the story behind the name, why these cramps strike more often in the heat of summer, and the home remedies and prevention tips folks have leaned on for years.
Why Are They Called “Charley Horses”?
The term is all-American, and no one seems to know exactly why we landed on such an interesting name for a leg cramp. The two best-known stories both come out of early baseball. Some believe the name came from a lame horse named Charley, who pulled the roller on the Chicago White Sox ballpark in the 1890s. Others say it has everything to do with baseball pitcher Charley Radbourn. His nickname was “Old Hoss” and stories say he got cramps during baseball games in the 1880s.
Both tales point to the same picture: a hobbled gait, a sore leg, and a ballfield. Wherever the name truly originated, the cramp itself is no fun, and one fact is worth knowing before summer hits its stride. You are about twice as likely to get a Charley horse in the summertime, when heat and heavy sweating drain the fluids and electrolytes your muscles need to relax. If you are planning a stretch of hot-weather work or travel, our long-range forecast can help you see the warm spells coming.
What Causes a Charley Horse?
A Charley horse is a muscle cramp, a sudden, involuntary contraction that will not let go. Most strike the calf, the foot, or the thigh, and many arrive at night. The common triggers are easy to picture: hard exercise, muscle fatigue, sitting or standing too long in one position, and dehydration that throws off the balance of potassium, magnesium, calcium, and sodium your muscles rely on. That last one explains the summer spike, since a hot day and a good sweat carry those minerals out with the water.
For most people, the occasional cramp is nothing to worry over. The National Library of Medicine’s MedlinePlus guide to muscle cramps notes that most cramps are harmless and pass on their own, though frequent or severe ones are worth a conversation with your doctor. Knowing the cause helps you reach for the right fix, and most of those fixes are already in your kitchen.
7 Charley Horse Home Remedies
When a cramp seizes up, you want relief fast. These are the home remedies folks reach for the moment a Charley horse strikes. Try the one closest to hand.
- Put your bare foot on a cold floor. Some say it will make a leg cramp disappear.
- As soon as the leg cramp happens, pull your toes up toward your knee and it may disappear.
- Magnesium oil is a good natural remedy for muscle cramps. Massage the oil into the cramp and it will be relieved within minutes.
- Take a swig of dill pickle juice.
- Mix a tablespoon of vinegar with a teaspoon of honey and drink up.
- Elevate the area. Try to raise the affected area by putting pillows under it or propping it on an armrest.
- Ice it. Ice may help calm down the muscle spasm. Place an ice pack or cool compress wrapped in a towel on the area the Charley horse is affecting. Keep it on for 10-15 minutes.
The vinegar-and-honey trick is an old standby, and vinegar earns its keep around the house in plenty of other ways too. If it works for you, our guides to the many powers of vinegar and the everyday uses for apple cider vinegar are worth a look.
How to Prevent Future Charley Horses
The best cramp is the one you head off before it starts. A few steady habits go a long way, especially through the sweaty months.
- Stretch regularly, especially before and after working out, and before bed.
- Wear good, comfortable, supportive shoes.
- Don’t overextend yourself. Whether working out or doing household chores, listen to your body and don’t push yourself beyond your capabilities.
- Drink plenty of water on a regular basis. During workouts, or on very hot days, switch to a sports drink to replace electrolytes that are lost through your sweat.
- Drink alcohol and coffee in moderation, as they can contribute to dehydration.
- Eat foods that are rich in potassium and magnesium, such as whole grains, bananas, dates, raisins, apricots, cabbage, broccoli, citrus fruits, tomatoes, potatoes, corn, and fish.
- Eat the recommended daily allowance of dairy products, such as milk and cheese, and talk to your doctor about whether you would benefit from a calcium supplement.
- Make sure your bed sheets are loose. Tight-fitting sheets can force the legs and feet into awkward positions.
Foods That Help Fight Cramps
Three minerals do most of the work of keeping muscles loose: potassium, magnesium, and calcium. The everyday foods below are easy ways to keep them topped up, and they double as a grocery list for the hot stretch of the year.
| Mineral | Why It Helps | Where to Find It |
|---|---|---|
| Potassium | Helps muscles contract and relax in rhythm | Bananas, dates, raisins, apricots, citrus fruits, tomatoes, potatoes |
| Magnesium | Eases muscle tension and steadies nerve signals | Whole grains, broccoli, cabbage, fish |
| Calcium | Works with the other two to control muscle function | Milk, cheese, and other dairy; ask your doctor about a supplement |
On a very hot day or during a hard workout, plain water alone may not keep up. A sports drink replaces the electrolytes you sweat out, and going easy on alcohol and coffee keeps dehydration from creeping in.
When to See a Doctor
For most people, Charley horses are a mild and occasional annoyance. If you experience leg cramps on a regular basis, pay a visit to your doctor. Frequent muscle spasms can indicate a more serious underlying condition requiring medical attention. The same goes for cramps that are severe, that come with swelling or redness, or that keep waking you night after night. Do what is best for you and your family.
Charley Horse: Frequently Asked Questions
Why is a leg cramp called a Charley horse?
The name is all-American baseball slang and no one knows the exact origin. One story credits a lame horse named Charley that pulled the roller on the Chicago White Sox ballpark in the 1890s. Another credits pitcher Charley “Old Hoss” Radbourn, who reportedly got cramps during games in the 1880s. Both point to a sore, hobbled leg on a ballfield.
Why do I get more Charley horses in the summer?
You are about twice as likely to get a Charley horse in the summertime. Heat and heavy sweating pull water and electrolytes such as potassium, magnesium, and sodium out of your body, and that imbalance makes muscles more likely to cramp. Drinking enough fluids and replacing electrolytes on hot days helps.
How do I get rid of a Charley horse fast?
Pull your toes up toward your knee, or stand with your bare foot on a cool floor, to coax the muscle to release. Massaging magnesium oil into the cramp, sipping dill pickle juice, or drinking a tablespoon of vinegar mixed with a teaspoon of honey are old standbys. You can also elevate the leg or ice the muscle for 10 to 15 minutes.
What foods help prevent muscle cramps?
Foods rich in potassium and magnesium help, including whole grains, bananas, dates, raisins, apricots, cabbage, broccoli, citrus fruits, tomatoes, potatoes, corn, and fish. The recommended daily allowance of dairy such as milk and cheese supplies calcium, and your doctor can tell you whether a calcium supplement would help.
Does dill pickle juice really stop a cramp?
Many people swear by a swig of dill pickle juice for a sudden cramp. The salt and vinegar are thought to help, and it has long been a go-to remedy among athletes. It is one of several kitchen fixes worth trying alongside stretching, elevating, and icing the muscle.
When should I see a doctor about leg cramps?
For most people, Charley horses are a mild and occasional annoyance. See your doctor if leg cramps happen on a regular basis, are severe, come with swelling or redness, or keep waking you at night. Frequent muscle spasms can point to a more serious underlying condition that needs medical attention. Do you have a favorite home remedy for a Charley horse? Share it with us in the comments below.
This article was published by the Staff at FarmersAlmanac.com. Any questions? Contact us at questions@farmersalmananac.com.
- Farmers' Almanac Staff
- Farmers' Almanac Staff
- Farmers' Almanac Staff
- Farmers' Almanac Staff
My grandfather would tie a string around his big toe when he got leg cramps at nite. Never worked for me.
Hi Timothy! Thanks for sharing this memory about your grandfather. We hope some of these other remedies help you on your way.
tonic water with quinine. instant cure keep a bottle by your bed
When they say yellow mustard, and he just mean yellow mustard seed or mustard out of the store, bought jar
Drinking lots of water and a teaspoon of yellow mustard (the kind you may put on sandwiches) is supposed to be helpful!
I drink plain yellow mustard when I get a cramp.
Works like magic.
Take a magnesium supplement each day. Talk to your dr.
I’ve kept two bars of soap under my sheets for decades for restlees leg syndrome helped for the longest, nobody can explain this that I’ve seen my boyfriend told me this in the 1970’s still using it , started getting cramps in thighs and lower legs on high does of LassixI take a spoon of mustard or pickle juice , my Mother gets them bad not a big water drinker she takes mustard .
My dad got some really bad to people told him mustard, but he’s not sure what kind of mustard and how much to take
We have heard yellow mustard, and about a teaspoon. Also be sure he is drinking lots of water!
Keep 6 -oz. bottles of tonic–as in gin and tonic– next to the bed. Works wonders!
i purchased the cloud foot massager and use it once a day and have never had another leg or foot cramp at night while sleeping and i used to jump out of bed at least two or three times a night with severe leg and foot cramps…works for me and thankful…
Potassium capsules
Arch supports in shoes
As a teenage athlete they were crippling!
1/2 teaspoon salt in about 1-1/2 oz. warm water and toss it back. This works for me consistently.
I’m having terrible restless legs; nothing helps! Any other suggestions? I have chronic low back pain! I can’t sleep! Please help with ideas! Ready to choose surgery for my low back pain!
Hi Kathy, we have a story on restless legs that may help: You can find it here.
A bar of soap with “Limonene” high in the ingredients list secured under the fitted sheet or in a nylon stocking at the foot of your bed helps with restless leg syndrome. Rub your feet lightly against it nightly & it helps. Helps my hubby with his!