Highlights & Basics
- Muscle cramps are mostly benign and self-limited, but may also be indicative of a wide variety of potentially serious systemic disorders.
- Idiopathic (ordinary) muscle cramps are common, short-lived, and usually involve the calf muscle and/or foot.
- The diagnostic approach for idiopathic muscle cramps is one of exclusion. Cramps due to known pathologies can be ruled out reasonably quickly and easily by medical history and targeted physical exam.
- Nonpharmacologic therapy forms the cornerstone of management of muscle cramps in the acute phase. Passive and/or active stretching of the affected muscle(s) is by far the most effective and safest therapy for most acute idiopathic muscle cramps.
- Data are extremely sparse regarding ongoing prevention of muscle cramps. With the exception of drug therapies targeted at underlying/precipitating conditions, there are no proven, specific, effective, and safe drug therapies for muscle cramps. Quinine is used in some countries for the prevention of idiopathic cramps, but is associated with serious side effects (e.g., cardiac arrhythmias, thrombocytopenia, hepatotoxicity, blindness). Therapeutic trialing of various medications used for symptomatic benefit is a reasonable approach.
Quick Reference
History & Exam
Key Factors
Other Factors
Diagnostics Tests
Treatment Options
Definition
Epidemiology
Etiology
Pathophysiology
Citations
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Zhou K, West HM, Zhang J, et al. Interventions for leg cramps in pregnancy. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015;(8):CD010655.[Abstract][Full Text]
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Garrison SR, Korownyk CS, Kolber MR, et al. Magnesium for skeletal muscle cramps. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2020 Sep 21;(9):CD009402.[Abstract][Full Text]
El-Tawil S, Al Musa T, Valli H, et al. Quinine for muscle cramps. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015;(4):CD005044.[Abstract][Full Text]
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