3 AM crisis: When muscle spasm strikes POS agent by Remmy Nweke - Telecoms Clinic@ITREALMS

A midnight leg cramp is not just pain for Nigeria’s 1.5 million POS agents standing up to 14 hours daily, it’s an occupational hazard. In this Telecoms Clinic feature, REMMY NWEKE explores the physical toll of agency banking, debunks the "tight band" myth, and offers practical ergonomic fixes for operators.

Midnight Agony at 3:15 AM:
The time was 3:15 AM on a quiet Sunday morning. While most of the neighborhood was fast asleep, Bisi woke up screaming in agony. A sharp, excruciating knot had seized her right calf, locking her leg in a rigid, unbearable spasm. 

Disoriented and unable to move, Bisi relied on her husband, who fortunately was right beside her, to react quickly. Panicked but following her desperate instructions, he pulled her toes back toward her shin and massaged the hardened muscle until the contraction slowly released, leaving behind a deep, dull ache.