A muscle cramp (charley horse) is a sudden, brief, involuntary, painful contraction of a muscle or group of muscles. Cramps commonly occur in healthy people (usually middle-aged and older people), sometimes during rest, but particularly during or after exercise or at night (including during sleep). Leg cramps at night Sleep-related leg cramps Parasomnias are undesirable behaviors that occur during entry into sleep, during sleep, or during arousal from sleep. Diagnosis is clinical. Treatment may include drugs and psychotherapy. (See... read more usually occur in the calf and cause plantar flexion of the foot and toes.
Other disorders can simulate cramps:
-
Dystonias Dystonias Dystonias are sustained involuntary muscle contractions of antagonistic muscle groups in the same body part, leading to sustained abnormal posturing or jerky, twisting, intermittent spasms that... read more can cause muscle spasm, but symptoms are usually more sustained and recurrent and involve muscles other than those affected by typical leg cramps (eg, neck, hand, face, muscles throughout the body).
-
Tetany can cause muscle spasm, but spasm is usually more sustained (often with repetitive brief muscle twitches); it is usually bilateral and diffuse, but isolated carpopedal spasm may occur.
-
Muscle ischemia during exertion in patients with peripheral arterial disease (claudication) may cause calf pain, but this pain is due to inadequate blood flow to muscles, and the muscles do not contract as with a cramp.
-
Illusory cramps are the sensation of cramps in the absence of muscle contraction or ischemia.
Etiology of Muscle Cramps
The most common types of leg cramps are
Although almost everyone has muscle cramps at some time, certain factors increase the risk and severity of cramps. They include the following:
-
Tight calf muscles (eg, due to lack of stretching, inactivity, or sometimes chronic lower leg edema)
-
Dehydration
-
Electrolyte abnormalities (eg, low body levels of potassium or magnesium)
-
Neurologic or metabolic disorders
-
Removal of a large volume of fluid during dialysis in patients with end-stage kidney disease
-
Drugs
Also, certain toxins can cause muscle cramps.
Evaluation of Muscle Cramps
Evaluation of muscle cramps focuses on recognition of what is treatable. In many cases, a disorder contributing to cramps has already been diagnosed or causes other symptoms that are more troublesome than cramps.
Cramps must be differentiated from claudication Symptoms and Signs Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is atherosclerosis of the extremities (virtually always lower) causing ischemia. Mild PAD may be asymptomatic or cause intermittent claudication; severe PAD... read more 
and dystonias Dystonias Dystonias are sustained involuntary muscle contractions of antagonistic muscle groups in the same body part, leading to sustained abnormal posturing or jerky, twisting, intermittent spasms that... read more ; clinical evaluation is usually adequate.
History
History of present illness should elicit a description of cramps, including their duration, frequency, location, apparent triggers, and any associated symptoms. Symptoms that may be related to neurologic or muscle disorders can include muscle stiffness, weakness, pain, and loss of sensation. Factors that can contribute to dehydration or electrolyte or body fluid imbalances (eg, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive exercise and sweating, recent dialysis, diuretic use, pregnancy) are recorded.
Review of systems should seek symptoms of possible causes, including the following:
-
Pain or loss of sensation: Peripheral neuropathies Peripheral Neuropathy Peripheral neuropathy is dysfunction of one or more peripheral nerves (the part of a nerve distal to the root and plexus). It includes numerous syndromes characterized by varying degrees of... read more or radiculopathies Nerve Root Disorders Nerve root disorders result in segmental radicular deficits (eg, pain or paresthesias in a dermatomal distribution, weakness of muscles innervated by the root). Diagnosis may require neuroimaging... read more
Past medical history should include any disorders that can cause cramps. A complete drug history, including use of alcohol, is taken.
Physical examination
General examination should include the skin, looking for stigmata of alcoholism Alcohol Use Disorders and Rehabilitation Alcohol use disorder involves a pattern of alcohol use that typically includes craving and manifestations of tolerance and/or withdrawal along with adverse psychosocial consequences. Alcoholism... read more , nonpitting edema or loss of eyebrow hair (suggesting hypothyroidism), and changes in skin moisture or turgor. A neurologic examination Introduction to the Neurologic Examination The neurologic examination begins with careful observation of the patient entering the examination area and continues during history taking. The patient should be assisted as little as possible... read more , including deep tendon reflexes, is done.
Pulses should be palpated, and blood pressure measured in all extremities. A weak pulse or low ankle:brachial blood pressure ratio in an affected limb may indicate ischemia.
Red flags
Interpretation of findings
Focal cramps suggest benign idiopathic leg cramps, exercise-associated muscle cramping, musculoskeletal abnormalities, peripheral nervous system causes, or an early degenerative disorder that can be asymmetric, such as a motor neuron disorder.
Focal hyporeflexia suggests a peripheral neuropathy, plexopathy, or radiculopathy.
In patients with diffuse cramps (particularly those who are tremulous), hyperreflexia suggests a systemic cause (eg, ionized hypocalcemia; sometimes alcoholism, a motor neuron disorder, or a drug, although effects on deep tendon reflexes can vary by drug). Generalized hyporeflexia can suggest hypothyroidism and sometimes alcoholism or be a normal finding, particularly in older patients.
A normal examination and compatible history suggests benign idiopathic leg cramps or exercise-associated muscle cramping.
Testing
Testing is done as indicated by abnormal clinical findings. No tests are routinely done.
Blood glucose, renal function tests, and electrolyte levels, including calcium and magnesium, should be measured if patients have diffuse cramps of unknown cause, particularly if hyperreflexia is present.
Ionized calcium and arterial blood gases (ABGs) to confirm respiratory alkalosis are measured if patients have tetany.
Electromyography is done if cramped muscles are weak.
MRI of the brain and often spinal cord is done if muscle weakness or neurologic signs are focal.
Treatment of Muscle Cramps
Underlying conditions are treated when identified.
If a cramp occurs, stretching the affected muscles often relieves the cramp. For example, to relieve a calf cramp, patients can use their hand to pull the toes and foot upward (dorsiflexion).
Applying heat (eg, using a warm towel or heating pad, taking a warm bath or shower) or cold (eg, massaging the affected muscle with ice) may help ease pain.
Prevention of Muscle Cramps
Measures to prevent cramps include the following:
The runner’s stretch is most useful. A person stands with one leg forward and bent at the knee and the other leg behind and the knee straight―a lunge position. The hands can be placed on the wall for balance. Both heels remain on the floor. The knee of the front leg is bent further until a stretch is felt along the back of the other leg. The greater the distance between the two feet and the more the front knee is bent, the greater the stretch. The stretch is held for 30 seconds and repeated 5 times. The set of stretches is repeated on the other side.
Most of the drugs often prescribed to prevent cramps (eg, calcium supplements, quinine, magnesium, benzodiazepines) are not recommended. Most have no demonstrated efficacy. Quinine has been effective in some trials but is no longer recommended because of occasional serious adverse effects (eg, arrhythmias, thrombocytopenia, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura [TTP] and hemolytic-uremic syndrome [HUS], severe allergic reactions). Mexiletine sometimes helps, but whether using it is worth the risk of adverse effects is unclear. These effects include nausea, vomiting, heartburn, dizziness, and tremor.
Some athletic coaches and physicians recommend pickle juice for muscle cramping, but data concerning its efficacy are insufficient.
Key Points
-
Leg cramps are common.
-
The most common causes are benign idiopathic leg cramps and exercise-associated muscle cramping.
-
Cramps must be differentiated from claudication and dystonias; clinical evaluation is usually adequate.
-
Stretching can help relieve and prevent cramps.
-
Drug therapy is usually not recommended.
