What Are Muscle Cramps?

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A muscle cramp is muscle that contracts involuntarily and will not relax. Muscle cramps can happen in any muscle under voluntary control and can affect the whole muscle, part of it, or an entire group of muscles. Cramps are more common in muscles that span two joints. The most commonly affected muscles are the gastrocnemius (back of lower leg/calf), hamstrings (back of thigh), quadriceps (front of thigh), as well as the muscles in the feet, hands, arms, abdomen, and rib cage. Cramps vary in their intensity. They may be just a slight tic, or you may find yourself in agonizing pain. A cramp can last anywhere from a few seconds to 15 minutes or longer, and it may occur multiple times before relaxing.

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