A muscle cramp is a sudden and involuntary contraction of one or more of your muscles.Muscle cramps can occur in any muscle; cramps of the leg muscles and feet are particularly common.Almost everyone experiences a muscle cramp at some time in their life.Muscle cramps may occur during exercise, at rest, or at night, depending upon the exact cause. Cramps may occur in a skeletal muscle or smooth muscle. Skeletal muscle cramps may be caused by muscle fatigue or a lack of electrolytes such as low sodium, low potassium or low magnesium. Cramps of smooth muscle may be due to menstruation or gastroenteritis.
*Symptoms of cramps:
- Local pain
- Tenderness
- Firmness of the involved muscle
- This disturbs the function of the involved extremity. When a hand muscle is affected, it can lead to difficulty in writing (writer’s cramp) or grasping. When the muscles of the calf or foot are affected, it can lead to difficulty walking.