I've suffered from painful cramps pretty regularly at nights for years , but have noticed that I haven't been afflicted since the recent onset of ice and snow . The pavements around here have been like ice rinks which forces me to walk around cautiously with my achilles tendons tensed up .

I did have a problem with twitchy calf muscles two years ago and was very worried about it - hypochondriac that I am. The doctor referred me to a physiotherapist who said that the problem probably came from my achilles tendons being too relaxed . The simple exercises she gave me cured the twitchy muscles . Now I wonder if cramps might also be caused by over relaxed achilles tendons . The exercises consisted of keeping my heel pressed to the floor while raising the rest of my feet which has the effect of tensing up the achilles tendons.