Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41680812›Full record

Trial reportTrials2026

Secondary prevention of leg cramps using compression stockings or magnesium supplements: a three-arm randomized clinical trial.

Arno Kuusipalo, Juhani Laitila, Eemil Lehtonen, Jenni Joensuu, Pertti Mustajoki, Pekka Mustonen, Heini Huhtala, Minna Kaila, Tuomas H Koskela

Registry-linked trialAbstract readRandomized Controlled TrialMulticenter Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in Trials, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT04694417 (Prevention of Leg Cramps Using Compression Stockings or Magnesium Supplements in the Age Group of 50 to 84), which is not on this map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT04694417 naunknown statusnot on this map

Prevention of Leg Cramps Using Compression Stockings or Magnesium Supplements in the Age Group of 50 to 84: a Study Protocol for a Randomised Controlled Trial

TypeinterventionalSponsorTampere University HospitalRan2021 to 2021Enrolled225ConditionsMuscle Cramp, Stockings, Compression, MagnesiumArmsCompression stocking, Magnesium tablet, Placebo tablet
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Arno Kuusipalo *Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland. arno.kuusipalo@tuni.fi.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0008-1765-6379
Juhani Laitila *Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.
Eemil LehtonenFaculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.
Jenni JoensuuWellbeing Services County of Pirkanmaa, Tampere, Finland.
Pertti MustajokiUniversity of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
Pekka MustonenThe Finnish Medical Society Duodecim, Helsinki, Finland.
Heini HuhtalaFaculty of Social Sciences, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.
Minna KailaThe Finnish Medical Society Duodecim, Helsinki, Finland.
Tuomas H KoskelaFaculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundLeg cramps are common among older adults and often lead to sleep disturbances and reduced quality of life. However, there is no consensus on how to treat this condition. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of compression stockings in preventing leg cramps in individuals aged 50 to 85.

methodsThis study was a three-arm, parallel-group, partially blinded, randomized placebo-controlled trial conducted in Finland. Participants were recruited nationwide through online advertisements and primary care centers. Eligible individuals had experienced at least two leg cramps per week during the previous 4 weeks. Participants were randomized to receive either knee-high medical compression stockings, magnesium hydrochloride, or placebo pills, to be used daily for 4 weeks. The primary outcome was the change in leg cramp frequency at week 8. Secondary outcomes included the number of leg cramp-related nocturnal awakenings and the perceived pain intensity on an ordinal scale.

resultsA total of 121 participants were randomized, and 109 (90.1%) completed the trial. The primary outcome analysis included 114 participants. The mean age was 65.8 years (SD 7.8), and 87 (71.9%) were women. At baseline, the median number of weekly leg cramps was 4 (IQR 3-7). At week 8, the median weekly leg cramp frequency was 2 (IQR 1-2.5) in the compression stockings group, 3 (IQR 2-6) in the magnesium group, and 3 (IQR 2-5) in the placebo group. The baseline-adjusted mean difference in leg cramp frequency between the compression stockings and placebo group was -1.43 (95% CI -2.36 to -0.50; P = .001). No significant difference was observed between the magnesium and placebo groups, with an adjusted mean difference of -0.20 (95% CI -1.49 to 1.09; P = 0.929). Four participants discontinued compression stockings due to adverse reactions. No serious adverse events were reported.

conclusionsAmong older adults, daily use of compression stockings was effective in reducing the frequency and pain intensity of leg cramps, as well as the number of nocturnal awakenings caused by them.

trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT04694417. Registered on 4 January 2021.

Indexed as

MagnesiumMuscle CrampSleep-Wake Transition DisordersStockings, CompressionAgedAged, 80 and overFemaleFinlandHumansMaleMiddle AgedPain MeasurementTime FactorsTreatment OutcomeMagnesiumCompression stockingsLeg crampMagnesiumSecondary prevention

Identifiers

PMID41680812
PMCPMC13005370

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Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.