According to MayoClinic.com, a muscle spasm, or cramp, is a sudden and involuntary contraction of one or more muscles. Specifically, a muscle spasm can occur in any one or more of the muscles in the legs, including the calves, hamstrings, quads or other leg muscles. Muscle spasms are rarely dangerous, but can be painful and make walking or moving the legs difficult. In most cases, muscle spasms resolve without medical treatment. A patient should understand the causes of muscles spasms in the legs to prevent their occurrence.
Heavy Exercise
Medline Plus, of the National Institutes of Health, states that heavy exercise can cause muscle spasms in the legs. This occurs because heavy exercise can overstimulate a leg muscle, which can cause it to spasm. Specifically, excessive running, biking or other physical activities that involve intense use of the leg muscles can cause a leg muscle spasm. If this occurs, the patient should slowly stretch the affected muscle until the spasm resolves. He may need to take a break from the physical activity that is causing a spasm for a few minutes so the muscles can rest. If spasms continue to recur, he should schedule an appointment with his doctor.
Inadequate Blood Supply
MayoClinic.com states that inadequate blood supply can cause spasms in the legs. This occurs because narrowing of the blood vessels in the legs reduces the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to leg muscles, which can cause spasms. The most common cause of narrow blood vessels in the legs is atherosclerosis, and is commonly related to heart disease. Spasms usually resolve after rest. If a patient has a known history of heart disease and is experiencing spasms in his legs, he should see his doctor. In this case, medications may help relieve muscle spasms, but surgery may be necessary to widen blood vessels in the legs.
Nerve Compression
In some cases, compression of spinal nerves in the back may cause muscle spasms in the legs, according to MayoClinic.com. This occurs when the spinal canal is narrowed, in a condition called spinal stenosis. The narrow canal compresses spinal nerves that run to the legs, which can cause muscle spasms in the legs. Furthermore, pain worsens the longer a patient walks and improves if the patient leans forward in a slightly flexed position. In this case, the patient should schedule an appointment with his doctor so that they can discuss treatment options. If the patient loses control of his bowel or bladder functions, he should seek emergency medical treatment.
