Cramps

Q: What is a muscle cramp? What causes muscle cramps?
A: A muscle cramp is a sudden involuntary contraction of a muscle or muscles. A cramp produces a hard, painful, and bulging muscle.

Most common theories/causes of a muscle cramp are:

• Muscle fatigue do to over exertion or heavy exercise
• Dehydration
• Pregnancy
• Heat cramps

Treatments for a cramp include:

• Stretching the cramped muscle
• Remaining hydrated during prolonged periods of exercise
• Icing and massaging the cramped muscle

Any skeletal muscle can cramp. Most cramps occur in the extremities. A common leg cramp is when the gastrocnemius or soleus (calf muscles) cramp. It is important to distinguish a cramp from another common condition called Acute Compartment Syndrome.

Muscles are contained within compartments. Acute Compartment Syndrome occurs when pressure builds within the compartment due to lactic acid build up and blood rushing to the muscle during strength training. The engulfed muscle presses on blood vessels, nerves, and/or tendons that run through the compartment. The pressure leads to a feeling of muscle cramping or muscle pain. However, since there is not a sudden involuntary contraction of the muscle a cramp is not occurring.