Sign or Symptom
muscle cramp
[ muhs-uhl kramp ]
Subclass of:
Neuromuscular Manifestations;
Myopathy
Also called:
Charley horse
Definitions related to muscle cramp:
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(cramp) A sharp pain that occurs when a muscle suddenly contracts (tightens up). Cramps commonly occur in the abdomen and legs.NCI Dictionary of Cancer TermsU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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A sustained and usually painful contraction of muscle fibers. This may occur as an isolated phenomenon or as a manifestation of an underlying disease process (e.g., UREMIA; HYPOTHYROIDISM; MOTOR NEURON DISEASE; etc.). (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p1398)NLM Medical Subject HeadingsU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
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A sustained, sudden and involuntary contraction of a muscle or group of muscles.NCI ThesaurusU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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Sustained and usually painful contraction of muscle fibers.CRISP ThesaurusNational Institutes of Health, 2006
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Muscle cramps are sudden, involuntary contractions or spasms in one or more of your muscles. They are very common and often occur after exercise. Some people get muscle cramps, especially leg cramps, at night. They can be painful, and they may last a few seconds to several minutes. You can have a cramp in any muscle, but they happen most often in the Thighs; Feet; Hands; Arms; Abdomen; Area along your ribcage. Causes of muscle cramps include: Straining or overusing a muscle. This is the most common cause.; Compression of your nerves, from problems such as a spinal cord injury or a pinched nerve in the neck or back; Dehydration; Low levels of electrolytes such as magnesium, potassium, or calcium; Not enough blood getting to your muscles; Pregnancy; Certain medicines; Getting dialysis. Sometimes the cause of muscle cramps is unknown. Anyone can get muscle cramps, but they are more common in some people: Older adults; People who are overweight; Athletes; Pregnant women; People with certain medical conditions, such as thyroid and nerve disorders.MedlinePlusU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
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(muscle cramping) Sudden and involuntary contraction of a muscle or group of muscles.NICHD Pediatric TerminologyU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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A disorder characterized by marked cramping sensation originating from a muscle or group of muscles.Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse EventsU.S. National Institutes of Health, 2021
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A muscle cramp (charley horse) is a sudden, brief, involuntary, painful contraction of a muscle or group of muscles. Cramps commonly occur in healthy people (usually middle-aged and older people), sometimes during rest, but particularly during or after exercise or at night (including during sleep). Leg cramps at night usually occur in...Merck & Co., Inc., 2020
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A muscle cramp is a sudden and involuntary contraction of one or more of your muscles. If you've ever been awakened in the night or stopped in your tracks by a sudden charley horse, you know that muscle cramps can cause severe pain. Though generally harmless, muscle cramps can make it temporarily impossible to use the affected muscle.Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
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A muscle cramp is a sudden, involuntary, painful muscle contraction or spasm, associated with an increase in frequency of motor action potentials. Idiopathic (ordinary) muscle cramps are common. About 80% of episodes involve the gastrocnemius, with a mean duration per episode of 8 to 9 minutes in adults and 2 minutes in children. The...Athenahealth, Inc., 2019
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Cramp, painful, involuntary, and sustained contraction of muscle, most common in the limbs but also affecting certain internal organs. Examples of cramping include menstrual cramps and spasms of the circular muscles of the bowel (irritable colon), blood vessels (vasospasm), and pylorus of the...Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 2020
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