Muscle Cramps
Original Editor - Habibu Salisu Badamasi.
Top Contributors - Habibu Salisu Badamasi and Matt Huey
Introduction[edit | edit source]
Muscle cramps are mostly idiopathic, commonly affecting the calf muscles and/or foot. Muscle cramps are usually short-lived and self-limited, but may be results from varieties of serious systematic disorders. [1] Physical examination and review of medical history can rather quickly and simply rule out cramps caused by pathologies. Passive and/or active stretching of the affected muscle(s) is by far the most effective and safest non-pharmacology management for most acute idiopathic muscle cramps.[1]
Definition[edit | edit source]
A muscle cramp is a sudden, involuntary, painful muscle contraction or spasm, associated with an increase in frequency of motor action potentials and can have persistent muscle soreness and swelling with a variable rate of improvement, often terminated by stretching.[1] [2]
Epidemiology[edit | edit source]
Etiology[edit | edit source]
- Idiopathic
- Pregnancy
- Strenuous exercise
- Haemodialysis
- Cirrhosis
- Metabolic or electrolyte disturbances
- Other chronic diseases
Resources[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 BMJ best practice.Muscle Cramps. Available from: https://bestpractice.bmj.com/topics/en-gb/569 (accessed on 30July 2023).
- ↑ Katzberg HD. Case studies in management of muscle cramps. Neurologic clinics. 2020 Aug 1;38(3):679-96.
