Potential contributing factors include dehydration, low levels of certain minerals ( magnesium, potassium, calcium, and sodium, although the evidence has been mixed), and reduced blood flow through muscles attendant in prolonged sitting or lying down. The precise cause of these cramps is unclear. Besides being painful, a nocturnal leg cramp can cause much distress and anxiety. They happen quite frequently in teenagers and in some people while exercising at night. These cramps are more common in older people. Muscle soreness may remain after the cramp itself ends. The duration of nocturnal leg cramps is variable, with cramps lasting anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes. Nocturnal leg cramps are involuntary muscle contractions that occur in the calves, soles of the feet, or other muscles in the body during the night or (less commonly) while resting. Īs early as 1965, researchers observed that leg cramps and restless legs syndrome can result from excess insulin, sometimes called hyperinsulinemia. Muscle cramps can also be a symptom or complication of pregnancy kidney disease thyroid disease hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, or hypocalcaemia (as conditions) restless legs syndrome varicose veins and multiple sclerosis. Ĭauses of cramping include hyperflexion, hypoxia, exposure to large changes in temperature, dehydration, or low blood salt. Motor neuron disorders (e.g., amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), metabolic disorders (e.g., liver failure), some medications (e.g., diuretics and inhaled beta‐agonists), and haemodialysis may also cause muscle cramps. Some skeletal muscle cramps do not have a known cause. Skeletal muscle cramps may be caused by muscle fatigue or a lack of electrolytes such as sodium (a condition called hyponatremia), potassium (called hypokalemia), or magnesium (called hypomagnesemia ). Skeletal muscle, with myofibrils labeled at upper right and sarcoplasmic reticulum at bottom Causes

Restless leg syndrome is not considered the same as muscle cramps and should not be confused with rest cramps. The main distinguishing features of cramps from dystonia are suddenness with acute onset of pain, involvement of only one muscle and spontaneous resolution of cramps or their resolution after stretching the affected muscle. Cramps are different from muscle contracture, which is also painful and involuntary, but which is electrically silent.

True cramps can be distinguished from other cramp-like conditions. Ĭramp definition is narrower than the definition of muscle spasm: spasms include any involuntary abnormal muscle contractions, while cramps are sustained and painful. In addition to those benign conditions cramps are also associated with many pathological conditions. They are also often associated with pregnancy, physical exercise or overexertion, age (common in older adults), in such cases, cramps are called idiopathic, because there is no underlying pathology. Cramps are common and tend to occur at rest, usually at night (nocturnal leg cramps).

A cramp usually goes away on its own over a period of several seconds or (sometimes) minutes. Quinine, stretching, massage, and drinking liquidsĪ cramp is a sudden, involuntary, painful skeletal muscle contraction or overshortening associated with electrical activity while generally temporary and non-damaging, they can cause significant pain and a paralysis-like immobility of the affected muscle.

Sudden muscle pain and a paralysis-like immobility

Foot arch cramps at night