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What does spasm mean?
What is a muscle spasm?
What is a series of spasms called?
1. a sudden involuntary contraction of a muscle or group of muscles. 2. a sudden, transitory constriction of a passage, canal, or orifice; spasms usually occur when the nerves supplying muscles are irritated, and are often accompanied by pain. A vasospasm is a rare type that occurs in a blood vessel.
Oct 20, 2023 · Muscle spasms (muscle cramps) are painful contractions and tightening of your muscles. They’re common, involuntary and unpredictable. Although there are steps you can take to prevent a muscle spasm and treat it when it attacks, those methods aren’t always dependable.
- Overview
- Causes of muscle spasms
- Symptoms of muscle spasms
- Treatment for muscle spasms
- Muscle spasm prevention
- When to see a doctor about muscle spasms
- Summary
A muscle spasm — also known as a charley horse, muscle cramp or twitch — is a sudden, involuntary movement in one or more muscles. Common causes include stress, exercise, or dehydration, but nerve disorders and thyroid problems may increase the risk.
These movements can happen in any muscle of the body, but often affect the calf muscle. They are very common and mostly not a cause for concern.
Muscle spasms are very common. They can happen in any part of the body, but they tend to affect the following:
•hands
•feet
•arms
•thighs
•abdomen
Not all muscle spasms are painful, but some can be. It can feel like the muscle is jumping or moving on its own, with this feeling typically lasting just a few seconds. Some people might even be able to see the muscle twitching.
Sometimes, it can feel as though the whole muscle has cramped up and cannot move. This effect most commonly happens in the legs and can be quite painful. The muscle may feel hard to the touch. The cramping sensation tends to pass within several minutes or so, but the muscle may continue to hurt for some time afterward.
If a muscle spasm is part of a neurological health condition, the person will usually experience other symptoms. These might include:
•pain in the back, neck, or head
•weakness in the muscles
•skin numbness
Muscle spasms usually resolve on their own. It might take a few seconds or several minutes to stop completely, but they do not often need treatment. Drinking water can help ease dehydration-related muscle cramps.
Someone with a painful cramp can try a few methods to help ease their symptoms. The American Osteopathic Association recommends:
•stopping any activity that led to the cramp — for example, running
•gently massaging or stretching the cramping muscle
•using a heating pad to relax tight muscles
•applying an ice pack to soothe sore muscles
Drinking plenty of water and stretching the muscles before any exercise or repetitive movements can help prevent muscle spasms.
Some people experience muscle cramps in the legs during the night. Stretching the limbs before bed can help prevent this from occurring.
Muscle spasms, twitches, and cramps are not usually a cause for concern. People who exercise regularly or athletes tend to experience them more often.
In some cases, however, they can indicate an underlying health condition, such as multiple sclerosis, thyroid disease, or cirrhosis of the liver. They may also suggest problems with:
•nutrition
•circulation
•metabolism
•nerves
Muscle spasms are very common, and people do not usually need to worry about them. Overexercising, dehydration, and stress are the most common causes.
The spasms happen when the muscle suddenly moves involuntarily. Muscle spasms may feel like a slight twitch or a painful cramp, and they can occur in the muscles in any part of the body.
Muscle spasms can last just a few seconds or up to several minutes, but they tend to go away on their own or without any treatment. Gently stretching or massaging the affected area or using a heat or ice pack may help.
Sometimes, muscle spasms can be a sign of an underlying health condition. Anyone with frequent or severe muscle spasms should speak to a doctor.
- Amanda Barrell
A spasm is a sudden involuntary contraction of a muscle, [2] a group of muscles, or a hollow organ, such as the bladder. A spasmodic muscle contraction may be caused by many medical conditions, including dystonia. Most commonly, it is a muscle cramp which is accompanied by a sudden burst of pain.
Jan 3, 2024 · A muscle spasm, also known as a charley horse or muscle cramp, refers to the involuntary and forceful contraction of a muscle, most commonly in the thighs, calves, feet, hands, and arms. They can also occur in the abdomen or along the rib cage.
- Muscle spasms can occur due to several causes, including a lack of nutrients, muscular tension, overuse of the muscle, increased demand of blood fl...
- The experience of a muscle spasm can range from minor discomfort with accompanying stiffness to a sudden, tight, and intense pain. This pain may pr...
- A clinician typically determines the diagnosis of a muscle spasm after considering the individual’s full history of symptoms and physical examinati...
- Often, muscle spasms do not require treatment since they typically disappear on their own. An individual may be able to ease a muscle spasm in the...
- Muscle spasms can last anywhere from a few seconds to 15 minutes or longer. Within that time frame, multiple muscle spasms may occur before ultimat...
- A muscle spasm is the forceful and involuntary contraction of a muscle, usually in the upper or lower extremities. While painful, muscle spasms are...
1. : an involuntary and abnormal contraction of muscle or muscle fibers or of a hollow organ (as an artery, the colon, or the esophagus) that consists largely of involuntary muscle fibers. 2. : the state or condition of a muscle or organ affected with spasms. the renal artery went into spasm.
Spasm definition: a sudden, abnormal, involuntary muscular contraction, consisting of a continued muscular contraction (tonic spasm ) or of a series of alternating muscular contractions and relaxations (clonic spasm ).. See examples of SPASM used in a sentence.
