Muscle Cramps

What Causes Muscle Cramps?

Muscle cramps have happened to almost everyone at one time or another. Some people get muscle cramps fairly often. They come on suddenly, sometimes cause intense muscular pain, and render the cramped muscle unusable for a short period of time. They often find themselves wondering what causes muscular cramps.

One of the most common and best known muscle cramps is called (at least in North America) a "charlie horse." These are painful musclar cramps that occur in the leg or foot. They often happen during or after strenuous physical activity, but they also sometimes strike for no apparent reason while you're sleeping.

Pregnant women are also prone to charlie horse-like muscular cramps.

Causes of muscle cramps

In many cases, you never know why muscular cramps happen. But you can be aware of when they're likely to happen.

You are most likely to get muscle cramps when you're dehydrated. This is why they frequently occur during sports activity or athletic competition in warm weather.

Strain and overuse can also cause muscle cramps. We've all heard of writer's cramp, which results from using your first two fingers and thumb for a long period of time without rest while holding a pen or pencil. Artists also experience this kind of pain from holding a brush.

You can get muscular cramps in your legs by sitting in one position for too long. Sometimes this blocks the flow of blood to a certain muscle or group of muscles, causing a cramping response.

Lack of blood from circulatory problems can cause cramping too, as can a pinched nerve or other types of nerve damage.

Diuretics can cause muscular cramps because they deplete minerals. Diuretics are also known as "water pills," and doctors often prescribe them when you have high blood pressure.

Diet is also a factor. If you don't get enough magnesium, potassium or calcium from the foods you eat, you are more prone to muscular cramps.

Certain physical conditions and disorders have been known to trigger muscle cramps too. These include kidney problems, thyroid disorders, diabetes, hypoglycemia and anemia.

Muscle cramp treatment and relief

Muscular cramps usually go away in a few minutes or even less. They hardly ever require medical attention. But it's probably a good idea to talk to your doctor about muscle cramp treatment if you get muscular cramps cramps often or they disturb your sleep.

When a muscle cramp strikes, the best way to get immediate relief is try to stretch the muscle and gently massage it.

If you get a cramp in your calf muscle or your hamstring (the back of your thigh), pull the top of your foot back toward your head while your leg is in a straightened position.

When a cramp strikes you quadriceps (the front of your thigh), stand up and try pulling your foot up toward your buttock. It's a good idea to use a chair or some other piece of furniture to hold yourself steady while doing this.

Another way to get quick relief is to apply a cold pack to relax the cramped muscle. If it's sore or tender later on, you can also apply a heat pack to reduce the discomfort.

See our related article on muscle pain relief.

Prevention of muscular cramps

Prevention is your best defense against muscle cramps. Stay hydrated, and keep in mind you may need to drink more fluids than normal if you're taking certain medications (like diuretics, as mentioned above).

Stretch and warm up your muscles before you exercise or play sports. If you're prone to getting muscle cramps at night, try stretching before you go to bed.