Muscle cramps are sudden, involuntary contractions or spasms in one or more of your muscles. They often occur after exercise or at night, lasting a few seconds to several minutes. It is a very common muscle problem.
MUSCLE CRAMPS CAN BE CAUSED BY NERVES THAT MALFUNCTION. SOMETIMES THIS MALFUNCTION IS DUE TO A HEALTH PROBLEM, SUCH AS A SPINAL CORD INJURY OR A PINCHED NERVE IN THE NECK OR BACK. OTHER CAUSES ARE
- Straining or overusing a muscle
- Dehydration
- A lack of minerals in your diet or the depletion of minerals in your body
- Not enough blood getting to your muscles
Cramps can be very painful. Stretching or gently massaging the muscle can relieve this pain.
Prevention
THINGS YOU CAN DO TO LESSEN THE CHANCE OF MUSCLE CRAMPS INCLUDE:
- Stretch to improve your flexibility.
- Change your workouts so that you are exercising within your ability.
- Drink plenty of fluids while exercising and increase your potassium intake. Orange juice and bananas are great sources of potassium.
Causes
Muscle spasms often occur when a muscle is overused or injured. Things that might bring on a muscle spasm include:
Exercising when you have not had enough fluids (you’re dehydrated).
Having low levels of minerals such as potassium or calcium.
Some spasms occur because the nerve that connects to a muscle is irritated. One example is when a herniated disk irritates the spinal nerves and causes pain and spasm in the back muscles.
Spasms in the calf often occur while kicking during swimming or running. They can also happen at night when you are in bed. Upper leg spasms are more common with running or jumping activities. Spasm in the neck (cervical spine) can be a sign of stress.
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Stop your activity and try stretching and massaging the affected muscle at the first sign of a spasm.
Heat will relax the muscle at first. Ice may be helpful after the first spasm and when the pain has improved.
If the muscle is still sore after heat and ice, you can use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines to help with pain. In more severe cases, your health care provider can prescribe antispasm medicines.
After you get treated, your provider should look for the cause of the spasm so that it doesn’t happen again. If an irritated nerve is involved, you might need physical therapy or even surgery.
Drinking water or sports drinks when exercising can help ease cramps due to dehydration. If drinking water alone is not enough, salt tablets or sports drinks may help replace minerals in your body.
Recovery
Muscle spasms will get better with rest and time. The outlook is excellent for most people. Learning how to exercise properly with the right training and enough fluid intake can prevent spasms from occurring regularly.
You might need other treatments if an irritated nerve caused the spasm. Results from these treatments can vary.
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