Cramps are unpleasant, often painful sensations caused by contraction or over shortening, usually of muscles. Cramps can be caused by cold or overexertion. Illness or poisoning can also cause cramps, particularly in the stomach, which is referred to as colic if it fits particular characteristics. See also Delayed onset muscle soreness. The Cramps are a punk rock band originally formed in 1972. ... A clamp is a fastening device to hold or secure objects tightly together to prevent movement or separation through the application of inward pressure. ... This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedias deletion policy. ... In anatomy, the stomach is a bean-shaped hollow muscular organ of the gastrointestinal tract involved in the second phase of digestion, following mastication. ... Colic may refer to: Baby colic – a condition, usually in infants, characterized by incessant crying. ... Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) is the pain or discomfort often felt 24 to 72 hours after exercising and subsides generally within 2 to 3 days. ...

Causes

There are five basic causes of cramping: hyperflexion; inadequate oxygenation; exposure to large changes in temperature; dehydration; or low blood salt.^[1] In human and zoological anatomy (sometimes called zootomy), several terms are used to describe the location of organs and other structures in the body of bilateral animals. ... Oxygenation refers to the amount of oxygen in a medium. ... For other uses, see Salt (disambiguation). ...

Muscle cramps may be also be a symptom/complication of pregnancy, kidney disease, thyroid disease, hypokalemia or hypocalcemia (as conditions), restless legs syndrome, and multiple sclerosis.^[1] Hypokalemia is a potentially fatal condition in which the body fails to retain sufficient potassium to maintain health. ... In medicine, hypocalcaemia is the presence of less than a total calcium of 2. ... Restless legs syndrome (RLS, or Wittmaack-Ekboms syndrome) is a condition that is characterised by an irresistible urge to move ones legs. ...

Electrolyte disturbance may cause cramping and tetany of muscles, particularly hypokalemia (a low level of potassium) and hypocalcemia (a low level of calcium). This disturbance arises as the body loses large amounts of interstitial fluid through sweat. This interstitial fluid is composed mostly of water and table salt (NaCl). The loss of osmotically active particles outside muscle cells(NaCl) leads to a disturbance of the osmotic balance and swelling of muscle cells as these contain more osmotically active particles. This causes the calcium pump between the muscle lumen and sarcoplasmic reticulum to short circuit and the calcium ions remain bound to the tropomyosin and the muscle contraction is continued. An electrolyte is a substance containing free ions that behaves as an electrically conductive medium. ... Tetany is the point at which signals from nerves (action potentials) are arriving to skeletal muscle rapidly enough in succession to cause a steady contraction, and not just a series of individual twitches. ... Hypokalemia is a potentially fatal condition in which the body fails to retain sufficient potassium to maintain health. ... General Name, symbol, number potassium, K, 19 Chemical series alkali metals Group, period, block 1, 4, s Appearance silvery white Standard atomic weight 39. ... In medicine, hypocalcaemia is the presence of less than a total calcium of 2. ... Calcium plays a vital role in the anatomy, physiology and biochemistry of organisms and of the cell, particularly in signal transduction pathways. ... Interstitial fluid (or tissue fluid, or intercellular fluid) is a solution which bathes and surrounds the cells of multicellular animals. ... The endoplasmic reticulum or ER is an organelle found in all eukaryotic cells that is an interconnected network of tubules, vesicles and cisternae that is responsible for several specialized functions: Protein translation, folding, and transport of proteins to be used in the cell membrane (e. ... Troponin Tropomyosin, along with the troponin, regulate the shortening of the muscle protein filaments actin and myosin. ... A top-down view of skeletal muscle A muscle contraction (also known as a muscle twitch or simply twitch) occurs when a muscle cell (called a muscle fiber) lengthens or shortens. ...

Treatment

Muscle cramps can be treated by applying a soft massage on the cramped muscle, stretching the muscle and applying heat or cold. Heat improves superficial blood circulation and makes muscles more flexible, so some people find that heat is more soothing for muscle cramps than applying ice. Application of excessive heat or cold to sore muscles may bring on cramps. Pounding on a cramped muscle can increase soreness.

• In the case of inadequate oxygenation, excess lactic acid, produced by anaerobic respiration, builds up and stresses the muscle. In addition to the methods described above, cramps from poor oxygenation can be improved by rapid deep breathing.

• Cramps from lack of water and/or salt can be treated, of course, by drinking water and/or increasing salt intake, respectively.

There is no scientific evidence to support the widely held claim by the sports nutrition industry that intake of specially composed and intensely marketed electrolyte drinks has any advantage over intake of plain table salt (via drink or food) and water to counter these electrolyte disturbances and muscle cramps in people with a well-functioning renal system. Anaerobic respiration refers to the oxidation of molecules in the absence of oxygen to produce energy, in opposition to Aerobic respiration which does use oxygen. ...

Eating foods high in potassium, such as bananas, potatoes, and prunes, can help prevent muscle cramps.^[2] General Name, symbol, number potassium, K, 19 Chemical series alkali metals Group, period, block 1, 4, s Appearance silvery white Standard atomic weight 39. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... For other uses, see Potato (disambiguation). ... Prune refers to any of more than 125 varieties of fruit, most grown for drying. ...

Specific Types of Cramps

Smooth Muscle Cramps

Smooth muscle contractions lie at the heart of the cramping (or colicky) pain of internal organs. These include the intestine, uterus, ureter (in kidney stone pain) and various others. Cultured Smooth muscle of the aorta. ... In anatomy, the intestine is the segment of the alimentary canal extending from the stomach to the anus and, in humans and other mammals, consists of two segments, the small intestine and the large intestine (or colon). ... This article is about female reproductive anatomy. ... “Bladder stone” redirects here. ...

Menstrual Cramps

Main article: Dysmenorrhea

Menstruation is also highly likely to cause cramps of varying severity in the abdomen that may radiate to the lower back and thighs. Menstrual cramps can be treated with ibuprofen, acetaminophen or paracetamol, stretching exercises or the application of heat through such means as warm baths or heating pads. Menstrual cramps that do not respond to self-treatment can be a symptom of endometriosis or other health problems. Dysmenorrhea (or dysmenorrhoea), cramps or painful menstruation, involves menstrual periods that are accompanied by either sharp, intermittent pain or dull, aching pain, usually in the pelvis or lower abdomen. ... Menstrual cycle The menstrual cycle is a recurring cycle of physiological changes that occurs in the females of several mammals, including human beings and apes. ... For the human abdomen, see human abdomen. ... Ibuprofen (INN) (IPA: ) (from the earlier nomenclature iso-butyl-propanoic-phenolic acid) is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) originally marketed as Nurofen and since under various trademarks including Act-3, Advil, Brufen, Dorival, Herron Blue, Panafen, Motrin, Nuprin and Ipren or Ibumetin (Sweden), Ibuprom (Poland), IbuHEXAL, Moment (Italy... Paracetamol (INN) (IPA: ) or acetaminophen (USAN), is the active metabolite of phenacetin, a so-called coal tar analgesic. ... Paracetamol (INN) (IPA: ) or acetaminophen (USAN), is the active metabolite of phenacetin, a so-called coal tar analgesic. ...

Skeletal Muscle Cramps

Skeletal muscles are muscles that can be voluntarily controlled. Of the skeletal muscles, those which cramp the most often are the calves, thighs, and arches of the foot. This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... The calf or gastrosoleus is a pair of muscles—the gastrocnemius and soleus—at the back of the lower human leg. ... Diagram of the human thigh bone In humans the thigh is the area between the pelvis and buttocks and the knee. ... In order to allow it to support the weight of the body in the erect posture with the least expenditure of material, the foot is constructed of a series of arches formed by the tarsal and metatarsal bones, and strengthened by the ligaments and tendons of the foot. ...

Nocturnal Leg Cramps

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. The duration of nocturnal leg cramps is highly variable with cramps sometimes only lasting a few seconds and other times several minutes. Soreness in the muscles may remain for some time after the cramp ends. These cramps are more common in older people but may happen to anyone. They can happen quite frequently in teenagers and in some people while they are exercising at night. Nocturnal leg cramps can be very painful especially if the person is dehydrated. A nocturnal animal is one that sleeps during the day and is active at night - the opposite of the human (diurnal) schedule. ... The calf or gastrosoleus is a pair of muscles—the gastrocnemius and soleus—at the back of the lower human leg. ... The Sole is the bottom of the foot. ... This article is about a foot as a unit of length. ...

The precise cause of these cramps is unclear. Potential contributing factors are believed to include low levels of certain minerals (magnesium, potassium, calcium and sodium); dehydration; and prolonged sitting. Less common causes include more serious conditions or use of drugs. General Name, symbol, number magnesium, Mg, 12 Chemical series alkaline earth metals Group, period, block 2, 3, s Appearance silvery white solid at room temp Standard atomic weight 24. ... General Name, symbol, number potassium, K, 19 Chemical series alkali metals Group, period, block 1, 4, s Appearance silvery white Standard atomic weight 39. ... For other uses, see Calcium (disambiguation). ... For sodium in the diet, see Edible salt. ... Dehydration (hypohydration) is the removal of water (hydro in ancient Greek) from an object. ...

Nocturnal leg cramps may be relieved by stretching the affected leg straight out and pointing the toes upward. People report that quickly standing up and walking a few steps may also shorten the duration of a cramp.

See also

• Trigger points
• Side Stitch

Trigger points are described as hyperirritable spots in skeletal muscle that are associated with palpable nodules in taut bands of muscle fibers. ... For other uses, see Traditional Chinese bookbinding. ...

References

External links

• What are Cramps?
• Cramps at Patient UK
• Leg cramps at night