Muscle cramp

ARTICLE SECTIONS

Definition
Symptoms
Causes

Treatments and drugs
Lifestyle and home remedies
Prevention

Definition

A muscle cramp is a sudden and involuntary contraction of one or more of your muscles. Muscle cramps can result in intense pain and leave you temporarily unable to use the affected muscles.

Common causes of muscle cramps include overuse and dehydration during physical activity in warm weather. Some medications and certain medical conditions also may cause muscle cramps.

You can usually treat muscle cramps at home with self-care measures.

Symptoms