Muscle cramp - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic

A muscle cramp is a sudden and involuntary contraction of one or more of your muscles. If you've ever been awakened in the night or stopped ... COVID-19:Advice,updatesandvaccineoptions Weareopenforsafein-personcare. Learnmore: MayoClinicfactsaboutcoronavirusdisease2019(COVID-19) OurCOVID-19patientandvisitorguidelines,plustrustedhealthinformation Lateston COVID-19vaccination bysite: Arizonapatientvaccinationupdates Arizona, Floridapatientvaccinationupdates Florida, Rochesterpatientvaccinationupdates Rochesterand MayoClinicHealthSystempatientvaccinationupdates MCHS Skiptositenavigation SkiptoContent ThiscontentdoesnothaveanEnglishversion.ThiscontentdoesnothaveanArabicversion. SectionsforMusclecrampSymptoms&causesDiagnosis&treatmentDoctors&departments Print OverviewAmusclecrampisasuddenandinvoluntarycontractionofoneormoreofyourmuscles.Ifyou'veeverbeenawakenedinthenightorstoppedinyourtracksbyasuddencharleyhorse,youknowthatmusclecrampscancauseseverepain.Thoughgenerallyharmless,musclecrampscanmakeittemporarilyimpossibletousetheaffectedmuscle. Longperiodsofexerciseorphysicallabor,particularlyinhotweather,canleadtomusclecramps.Somemedicationsandcertainmedicalconditionsalsomaycausemusclecramps.Youusuallycantreatmusclecrampsathomewithself-caremeasures.Products&ServicesBook:MayoClinicBookofHomeRemediesBook:MayoClinicGuidetoPainReliefShowmoreproductsfromMayoClinic SymptomsMostmusclecrampsdevelopinthelegmuscles,particularlyinthecalf.Besidesthesudden,sharppain,youmightalsofeelorseeahardlumpofmuscletissuebeneathyourskin. WhentoseeadoctorMusclecrampsusuallydisappearontheirownandarerarelyseriousenoughtorequiremedicalcare.However,seeyourdoctorifyourcramps: Causeseverediscomfort Areassociatedwithlegswelling,rednessorskinchanges Areassociatedwithmuscleweakness Happenfrequently Don'timprovewithself-care Aren'tassociatedwithanobviouscause,suchasstrenuousexercise RequestanAppointmentatMayoClinic CausesOveruseofamuscle,dehydration,musclestrainorsimplyholdingapositionforaprolongedperiodcancauseamusclecramp.Inmanycases,however,thecauseisn'tknown. Althoughmostmusclecrampsareharmless,somemayberelatedtoanunderlyingmedicalcondition,suchas: Inadequatebloodsupply.Narrowingofthearteriesthatdeliverbloodtoyourlegs(arteriosclerosisoftheextremities)canproducecramp-likepaininyourlegsandfeetwhileyou'reexercising.Thesecrampsusuallygoawaysoonafteryoustopexercising. Nervecompression.Compressionofnervesinyourspine(lumbarstenosis)alsocanproducecramp-likepaininyourlegs.Thepainusuallyworsensthelongeryouwalk.Walkinginaslightlyflexedposition—suchasyouwouldusewhenpushingashoppingcartaheadofyou—mayimproveordelaytheonsetofyoursymptoms. Mineraldepletion.Toolittlepotassium,calciumormagnesiuminyourdietcancontributetolegcramps.Diuretics—medicationsoftenprescribedforhighbloodpressure—alsocandepletetheseminerals. RiskfactorsFactorsthatmightincreaseyourriskofmusclecrampsinclude: Age.Olderpeoplelosemusclemass,sotheremainingmusclecangetoverstressedmoreeasily. Dehydration.Athleteswhobecomefatiguedanddehydratedwhileparticipatinginwarm-weathersportsfrequentlydevelopmusclecramps. Pregnancy.Musclecrampsalsoarecommonduringpregnancy. Medicalconditions.Youmightbeathigherriskofmusclecrampsifyouhavediabetes,ornerve,liverorthyroiddisorders. PreventionThesestepsmayhelppreventcramps: Avoiddehydration.Drinkplentyofliquidseveryday.Theamountdependsonwhatyoueat,yoursex,yourlevelofactivity,theweather,yourhealth,yourageandmedicationsyoutake.Fluidshelpyourmusclescontractandrelaxandkeepmusclecellshydratedandlessirritable.Duringactivity,replenishfluidsatregularintervals,andcontinuedrinkingwaterorotherfluidsafteryou'refinished. Stretchyourmuscles.Stretchbeforeandafteryouuseanymuscleforanextendedperiod.Ifyoutendtohavelegcrampsatnight,stretchbeforebedtime.Lightexercise,suchasridingastationarybicycleforafewminutesbeforebedtime,alsomayhelppreventcrampswhileyou'resleeping. ByMayoClinicStaff RequestanAppointmentatMayoClinic Diagnosis&treatment March03,2021 Print Shareon:FacebookTwitter Showreferences Musclecramp.AmericanAcademyofOrthopaedicSurgeons.http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00200.AccessedNov.18,2015. WinkelmanJW.Nocturnallegcramps.http://www.uptodate.com/home.AccessedNov.18,2015. Musclecramps.MerckManualProfessionalVersion.http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/neurologic-disorders/approach-to-the-neurologic-patient/muscle-cramps.AccessedNov.18,2015. Related Calfstretch Products&Services Book:MayoClinicBookofHomeRemedies Book:MayoClinicGuidetoPainRelief ShowmoreproductsandservicesfromMayoClinic MusclecrampSymptoms&causesDiagnosis&treatmentDoctors&departments Advertisement MayoClinicdoesnotendorsecompaniesorproducts.Advertisingrevenuesupportsournot-for-profitmission. Advertising&Sponsorship Policy Opportunities AdChoices MayoClinicPress Checkoutthesebest-sellersandspecialoffersonbooksandnewslettersfromMayoClinicPress. 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