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Muscle Cramps

By

The Manual's Editorial Staff

Reviewed/Revised Sep 2023
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What are muscle cramps?

Muscle cramps are pain in your muscles when they suddenly tighten. Muscle cramps last from a few seconds to several minutes.

  • Muscle cramps usually come on without warning

  • Muscle cramps are common in healthy people, especially middle-aged and older adults

  • Cramps can happen during or right after hard exercise, or while you're in bed at night

  • Muscle cramps very rarely are a symptom of a nerve problem

What causes muscle cramps?

When should I see a doctor for muscle cramps?

See a doctor right away if you have muscle cramps and any of these warning signs:

  • Cramps in your chest, arms, or belly

  • Weakness or losing feeling in parts of your body

  • Muscle twitches

  • Cramps started after you lost a lot of body fluids from throwing up, sweating a lot, having diarrhea, or taking diuretics (medicine that makes you urinate [pee] more)

Call your doctor in 1 to 2 days if:

What will happen at my doctor visit?

Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and do a physical exam.

Sometimes, doctors will do blood tests to check for other problems that can be causing your symptoms.

How do doctors treat muscle cramps?

If your cramps are caused by another health problem, doctors will treat that problem.

If your cramps are the harmless but painful kind, you can relieve them by:

  • Stretching the muscle

For example, if the cramp is in your calf, stretch your calf by pulling your toes up toward your head (the runner's stretch or standing gastrocnemius stretch).

How can I prevent muscle cramps?

  • Gently stretch your muscles before you exercise or go to bed

  • After you exercise, drink water and other fluids (especially sports drinks, which have electrolytes)

  • Don’t do a lot of hard exercise right after you eat

NOTE: This is the Consumer Version. DOCTORS: VIEW PROFESSIONAL VERSION
VIEW PROFESSIONAL VERSION
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