A muscle cramp is a sudden, involuntary and forced contraction of the muscle which does not relax. Cramps can occur in any of the voluntary muscles of the body. It is more common in the muscles which hold any two joints. Almost everyone of you may experience muscle cramps at some point in your lives.
The most commonly affected muscles are:
The other muscles which are commonly affected include those of the arms, feet, abdomen, along the ribcage.
Cramps usually last for about few seconds to 15 minutes or longer. Also, it can recur for several times before it goes away completely.
Muscle cramps are common in the overused or injured muscles.
Playing games such as tennis, bowling, swimming, golf, etc. can also cause cramps.
Everyone will experience muscle cramps at some time in life. However, below factors can increase one’s chances of getting muscle cramps:
Mild muscle cramps do not require doctor’s attention, but severe cramps need medical help. Your doctor will perform a physical examination and will ask you certain related questions to know the cause of the cramps.
Test type | Purpose of the test |
---|---|
Blood test | To check the levels of calcium and potassium, kidney functions and thyroid functioning |
Electromyography | To check the muscles for any abnormalities and their activity |
Myelography | Produces images of the spinal cord |
Usually, cramps go away on their own without a doctor’s consultation. But, ifyour cramps do not go with simple stretching exercises, then your doctor may initially suggest you to take over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen to relieve pain. It helps to stretch the sore muscles slowly.
You may take the below steps to overcome the problem: