Prevalence of rest cramps at night in collegiates

Nocturnal leg cramps refer to a condition involving sudden and intense muscle spasms in the lower limbs, typically happening during nighttime. These spasms cause severe, pulsating pain and can last from a few seconds to several minutes. During a cramp, the affected muscles feel tender and rigid when touched. Leg cramps often stem from muscle fatigue and are associated with exertion levels surpassing the usual intensity. The current study seeks to uncover the prevalence of Nocturnal Leg Cramps among college students. Online google form portal, Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram were used as a material to distribute the google form link. The study employed online survey. Face validity was utilized to ensure the questionnaire's accuracy before distribution to participants. It only takes approximately five minutes to complete the survey, which consists of 15 questions. 326 college-bound students aged 18 to 26 were the target respondents. The survey found that nocturnal leg cramps (NLC) are prevalent among participants, with 42.94% experiencing them frequently. These cramps significantly disrupt sleep duration (45.40%) and quality of life (38.04%). The calf region is the primary site of discomfort for 50.61% of respondents. Excessive exercise or soreness (40.49%) are common contributing factors, and 48.16% use stretching for relief. The prevalence of nocturnal leg cramps among college students is substantial, at 42.16%. This highlights the effectiveness of utilizing e-surveys to gather data on this issue, a method proven successful through its implementation.

夜间下肢痛性痉挛（Nocturnal Leg Cramps, NLC）是指突发剧烈的下肢肌肉痉挛病症，通常于夜间发作。此类痉挛会引发剧烈的搏动性疼痛，持续时间从数秒至数分钟不等。痉挛发作时，受累肌肉触之有压痛感且僵硬紧绷。下肢痉挛常源于肌肉疲劳，与超过日常强度的运动负荷相关。本研究旨在调查大学生群体中夜间下肢痛性痉挛的患病率。研究通过Google Form门户、Facebook、WhatsApp以及Instagram分发Google Form链接，采用在线问卷调查的方式开展。在向受试者发放问卷前，通过表面效度（Face Validity）检验以确保问卷的准确性。本次问卷共包含15个问题，完成时长约为5分钟。研究的目标受访者为326名年龄在18至26岁之间的准大学生。调查结果显示，受试者中NLC的患病率较高，其中42.94%的人群频繁发作此类痉挛。这类痉挛会显著干扰睡眠时长（45.40%的受访者受此影响）与生活质量（38.04%的受访者受此影响）。50.61%的受访者表示不适部位主要为小腿区域。过度运动或肌肉酸痛（40.49%）是常见的诱发因素，另有48.16%的受访者通过拉伸来缓解症状。大学生群体中NLC的总体患病率达42.16%。本研究证实，利用电子问卷开展此类问题的数据收集是行之有效的，该方法的实际应用也证明了其可行性。