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Muscle cramps are involuntary contractions of a muscle that occur suddenly and do not relax. They can affect any muscle under your voluntary control and can involve part or all of a muscle, or several muscles in a group. Cramps can last a few seconds to 15 minutes or longer and usually go away on their own without seeing a doctor. Although the exact cause of muscle cramps is unknown, some researchers believe inadequate stretching and muscle fatigue lead to abnormalities in the mechanisms that control muscle contraction.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | An involuntary contraction of a muscle that occurs suddenly and does not relax |
| Appearance | A cramping muscle may feel hard to the touch and/or appear visibly distorted or twitch beneath the skin |
| Duration | A few seconds to 15 minutes or longer |
| Recurrence | May recur multiple times before it goes away |
| Treatment | Stop the triggering activity, stretch and massage the muscle, apply heat or ice, hydrate and replenish electrolytes, take medication |
| Causes | Inadequate stretching, muscle fatigue, not getting enough fluids |
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What You'll Learn
Muscle cramps can be caused by inadequate stretching and muscle fatigue
A muscle cramp is an involuntary contraction of a muscle that occurs suddenly and does not relax. It can affect any muscle under your voluntary control (skeletal muscle). Cramps can involve part or all of a muscle, or several muscles in a group. They can occur during sports such as tennis, golf, bowling or swimming.
Although the exact cause of muscle cramps is unknown, some researchers believe that inadequate stretching and muscle fatigue lead to abnormalities in the mechanisms that control muscle contraction. In other words, if you don't stretch enough, or if your muscles are too tired, you may experience a muscle cramp.
If you experience a muscle cramp, stop the activity you are doing and try stretching and massaging the muscle. Heat will relax the muscle when the spasm begins, but ice may be helpful when the pain has improved. If the muscle is still sore, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines can help with the pain. If the muscle cramps are severe, your health care provider can prescribe other medicines.
The most common cause of muscle cramps during sports activity is dehydration. Often, drinking water will ease the cramping.
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Cramps can be treated with gentle stretching and massage
Muscle cramps are involuntary contractions of a muscle that occur suddenly and do not relax. Cramps can affect any muscle under your voluntary control (skeletal muscle). They can involve part or all of a muscle, or several muscles in a group. Cramps in the feet, hands, arms, abdomen, and along the rib cage are also very common. Although the exact cause of muscle cramps is unknown, some researchers believe inadequate stretching and muscle fatigue lead to abnormalities in the mechanisms that control muscle contraction.
If the muscle is still sore, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines can help with pain. If the muscle cramps are severe, your health care provider can prescribe other medicines. The most common cause of muscle cramps during sports activity is not getting enough fluids. Often, drinking water will ease the cramping. Low-sugar sports drinks, low-fat cow's milk, or electrolyte-rich foods like yogurt, bananas, lentils, and spinach can help replace lost electrolytes.
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Applying heat to tense muscles can help relax them
A muscle cramp is an involuntary contraction of a muscle that occurs suddenly and does not relax. Cramps can affect any muscle under your voluntary control (skeletal muscle) and can involve part or all of a muscle, or several muscles in a group. Although the exact cause of muscle cramps is unknown, some researchers believe inadequate stretching and muscle fatigue lead to abnormalities in the mechanisms that control muscle contraction.
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Severe cramps can be treated with an ice pack
A muscle cramp is an involuntary contraction of a muscle that occurs suddenly and does not relax. It can be caused by inadequate stretching and muscle fatigue, and can be treated by stopping the activity that caused the cramp, and gently stretching and massaging the muscle.
If you are experiencing severe muscle cramps, an ice pack applied for a few minutes may help the muscle to relax. This is because applying cold reduces inflammation, muscle spasms, and blood flow, which benefits the healing process. It can also reduce swelling, bruising, and pain. To use an ice pack, wrap it in a towel and apply it to the affected area for up to 20 minutes at a time, ensuring that there is no direct contact between the ice pack and your skin. You can reapply the ice pack after an hour, if necessary.
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Drinking water can help ease muscle cramping
Muscle cramps are an involuntary contraction of a muscle that occurs suddenly and does not relax. They can affect any muscle under your voluntary control and can involve part or all of a muscle, or several muscles in a group. Cramps in the feet, hands, arms, abdomen, and along the rib cage are also very common.
Although the exact cause of muscle cramps is unknown, some researchers believe inadequate stretching and muscle fatigue lead to abnormalities in the mechanisms that control muscle contraction. Muscle cramps can also be caused by dehydration. Dehydration can cause fluid loss, which affects the muscles' ability to contract and relax.
To ease muscle cramping, it is recommended to stop the activity that triggered the cramp and gently stretch and massage the cramping muscle. Applying heat to tense or tight muscles can also help, while ice or cold packs can be applied to sore or tender muscles.
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Frequently asked questions
A muscle cramp is an involuntary contraction of a muscle that occurs suddenly and does not relax.
The exact cause of muscle cramps is unknown, but researchers believe inadequate stretching and muscle fatigue lead to abnormalities in the mechanisms that control muscle contraction. Muscle cramps can also be caused by dehydration.
If you experience a muscle cramp, stop the activity you are doing and try stretching and massaging the muscle. Apply heat to tense or tight muscles, or cold to sore or tender muscles. Drink water and replenish electrolytes.
Muscle cramps usually resolve after a few seconds or minutes. They can recur multiple times before they go away.
