Exercise-Associated Muscle Cramps

Abstract

Context:Exercise-associated muscle cramps (EAMC) are a common condition experienced by recreational and competitive athletes. Despite their commonality and prevalence, their cause remains unknown. Theories for the cause of EAMC are primarily based on anecdotal and observational studies rather than sound experimental evidence. Without a clear cause, treatments and prevention strategies for EAMC are often unsuccessful.Evidence Acquisition:A search of Medline (EBSCO), SPORTDiscus, and Silverplatter (CINHAL) was undertaken for journal articles written in English between the years 1955 and 2008. Additional references were collected by a careful analysis of the citations of others’ research and textbooks.Results:Dehydration/electrolyte and neuromuscular causes are the most widely discussed theories for the cause of EAMC; however, strong experimental evidence for either theory is lacking.Conclusions:EAMC are likely due to several factors coalescing to cause EAMC. The variety of treatments and prevention strategies for EAMC are evidence of the uncertainty in their cause. Acute EAMC treatment should focus on moderate static stretching of the affected muscle followed by a proper medical history to determine any predisposing conditions that may have triggered the onset of EAMC. Based on physical findings, prevention programs should be implemented to include fluid and electrolyte balance strategies and/or neuromuscular training.

Are electrically induced muscle cramps able to increase the cramp threshold frequency, when induced once a week?

“…That is, the cramp training may have adapted the proprioceptive sensors to forceful contractions in a shortened position, avoiding an imbalance between the inhibitory and excitatory drive -with pre-eminence of the latter. This would be in line with the neuromuscular theory of exercise induced muscle cramps proposed by Miller et al 4 According to this theory, muscle fatigue predisposes the muscle to cramp, as it further decreases the inhibitory drive of GTO and increases the excitatory drive from muscle spindles.…”

“…These idiopathic cramps often occur during prolonged intense contractile activity and are therefore commonly denominated as exercise-associated muscle cramps (EAMC). 4 Despite a potential overlap with the aforementioned acute depletion of the extracellular volume due to extensive sweating, it has been reported that 69% of the EAMCs occur in subjects that were well hydrated and sufficiently supplemented with electrolytes. 5 Therefore, it seems questionable if those factors are capable of explaining the development of EAMCs.…”

Associations between poor oral health and reinjuries in male elite soccer players: a cross-sectional self-report study

“…On the basis of these results it is tempting to suggest that poor oral health may belong to the class of intrinsic risk factors for sports injuries labeled ‘health problems’ by Bahr and Krosshaug [ 4 ]. Support for this suggestion comes from studies showing that (1) poor oral health is also associated with chronically higher levels of IL-6 and other cytokines [ 10 - 13 ], that (2) chronically higher levels of IL-6 and other cytokines are associated with fatique [ 12 , 13 ] and that (3) fatique is a serious risk factor for (re)injuries [ 14 , 15 ].…”

“…According to the neuromuscular theory of exercise-associated muscle cramps, muscular fatigue is not only a risk factor but is a requirement for cramping [ 14 ]. Therefore, our finding that REAMC was associated with player position and with SumDental, indicates that both physical effort and poor oral health are associated with the development of muscular fatigue.…”

“…These cytokines play an important role in the origin of muscle fatigue during exercise and oxidative stress after exercise [ 10 - 13 ]. Muscle fatigue may cause exercise-associated muscle cramps and leads to a reduction in its energy-absorbing capabilities, making the muscle more susceptible to strain injury [ 14 , 15 ]. In addition, muscle fatigue increases the possibility of proprioceptive errors and disturbances in the interactions between limb segments [ 16 , 17 ].…”