According to the National Institutes of Health, muscle cramps are involuntary contractions of your muscles that can be painful. Muscle cramps most commonly occur in your calf muscles, your hamstrings--the muscles in the back of your thighs--and...
Calcium is an essential mineral that plays a critical role in nerve transmission, hormone function, blood pressure regulation and muscle contraction and relaxation. Around 99 percent of the calcium is found in bones and teeth. The remaining...
Muscle cramps are caused by sudden, painful and uncontrollable spasms of the muscle tissue. These cramps commonly occur in the calves but can affect muscles throughout the body. Muscle cramps are more common in people who are middle-aged or...
A muscle cramp is a sudden, painful spasm of the muscle tissue, usually happening either at night or during exercise. Usually they only last a few minutes. Most often associated with the calf or other leg muscles, cramps can also manifest in the...
A cramp is an involuntary and forcible contraction of a muscle that does not relax, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Cramps can occur in any skeletal muscle, but one of the most commonly affected muscles is the...
Potassium is an essential electrolyte concentrated within the cells of your body. It affects the way neuromuscular cells discharge and regenerate energy. An imbalance in serum potassium levels impacts normal body functions. Hypokalemia, or low...
Painful muscle cramps commonly occur during exercise, and generally, they aren't cause for concern. Cramps can usually resolve on their own with minimal treatment within just a few minutes, MedlinePlus reports. If you frequently develop cramps...
A cramp occurs when a muscle is forcibly and involuntarily contracted. The muscle will not relax. The calf muscle is one of the most commonly affected muscles, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Just about everyone will...
Lactose can be found in a number of foods and beverages, but milk is the most predominant product ingested with the most lactose. Lactose is a complex sugar found in dairy products that requires the enzyme, lactase to break it down so that the...
According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, a muscle cramp is an involuntary contraction of a muscle. Cramps affect skeletal muscles, but most commonly affect the calf, hamstring and quadriceps muscles. Leg cramps can range from a...
Calf muscle cramps can strike just when you've established a good pace on the treadmill. Because calf cramps occur when you are running or walking, many of the same things that cause cramps when you exercise outdoors also cause cramps when you use...
A leg cramp, or charley horse, is the involuntary contraction of one or more leg muscles, including the thigh, hamstring, calf and foot muscles. MayoClinic.com states that the signs of a muscle cramp include a sudden and sharp muscle pain and a...
Low levels of vitamin D can cause muscle weakness and bone pain. The vitamin is stored in the liver where it is then metabolized. Because vitamin D is needed for bone formation and growth, deficiency decreases calcium absorption in the body and...
Humans rely on the leg muscles for innumerable activities. Whether standing motionless or engaging in a competitive sprint, the leg muscles support the body. A variety of temporary or chronic conditions and diseases can interfere with the normal...
Muscle cramps and spasms can occur for a variety of reasons. Most people experience them from time to time. Electrolyte depletion is one factor that can contribute to muscle cramps. Athletes frequently experience cramping because of insufficient...
Since creatine was first identified in 1832, researchers have continued to study the amino acid. Conclusions link the nutrient to improved athletic performance. But creatine is also associated with muscle cramps. It is difficult to say whether the...
Vitamin and mineral deficiencies can lead to muscle cramping and spasms. Even eating a balanced diet, you may have difficulty obtaining all of the necessary vitamins and minerals to support your activity levels. If you are exercising intensely,...
Potassium is an electrolyte essential for muscle function. Too much or too little potassium in your bloodstream causes problems with the skeletal muscle that moves your body, the smooth muscle in your digestive system and arteries, and the cardiac...
Although both high and low calcium levels in the blood can cause muscle symptoms, low levels are typically the culprit behind muscle cramping. Low serum calcium levels, medically termed hypocalcemia, or high calcium levels, called hypercalcemia,...
A seizure often includes muscle cramping and other involuntary body movements. Medically, a seizure originates in the brain. Neurotransmitters needed to communicate messages across neural pathways in your brain become disrupted prior to a seizure....
You get between 80 and 90 percent of the vitamin D your body needs through exposure to sunlight, according to Medline Plus. Small amounts come from your diet through fortified foods such as milk and cereal. Fatty fish such as mackerel and herring...
Through its action on calcium, vitamin D has a direct bearing on the function of muscles everywhere, so deficiency can contribute to muscle problems located anywhere in your body. However there is evidence that the muscles of the lower back may be...
Muscle spasms and leg cramps are caused by sudden involuntary contractions of the muscles. Spasms and cramps are common problems, often occurring after periods of exercise or strenuous labor. While the conditions may cause pain and discomfort,...
A muscle spasm, also known as a muscle cramp, is a painful but common occurrence. During a muscle spasm, the muscle contracts and will not release. A muscle spasm in the leg is also sometimes called a charley horse and may occur in the thigh or...
Your feet contain approximately 33 muscles each. When you work out, these muscles move you around, balance you and absorb shock. Some people may find that exercising creates cramping in these hard-working muscles. The causes for cramping vary and...
Eat a light snack before you go for a swim, if you prefer. The common belief that eating before swimming causes muscle cramps is unfounded, according to Gerald Endress, exercise physiologist at Duke Diet and Fitness Center. Previously, people...
Muscle cramps can occur for a variety of reasons due to a muscle injury, overuse of a muscle or they can occur if you're not getting the right amount of certain minerals. You can ensure that you receive an adequate amount of minerals in your diet...
A muscle cramp is often harmless, but for long-distance riders its effects can be crippling. Muscle cramps can easily occur on a bicycle ride lasting multiple hours, and the temporary effects of a muscle cramp can force a rider off to the side of...
Sodium loss after exercising or from dehydration may cause muscle cramps. Though cramps don't usually result in any long-term damage they can cause incredible pain. Athletes in particular are at risk of losing sodium and other minerals from the...
Don't let a cramp put an end to your exercise workout. Learn what causes cramping and how to prevent it in this medical treatment video from a clinical dietician.
