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Related Experiment Videos

Muscle cramps.

S R McGee1

  • 1Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle.

Archives of Internal Medicine
|March 1, 1990
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Muscle cramps, painful involuntary contractions, can be diagnosed through patient history and physical exams. Stretching and quinine show the best evidence for treating ordinary cramps.

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Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Clinical Medicine

Background:

  • Muscle cramps are frequent patient complaints.
  • Cramps can manifest as true cramp, tetany, contracture, or dystonia.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe the pathophysiology and clinical features of different types of muscle cramps.
  • To outline an effective diagnostic and therapeutic approach for patients experiencing cramps.

Main Methods:

  • Emphasis on detailed patient history and physical examination.
  • Inclusion of minimal routine laboratory data when diagnosis is uncertain.

Main Results:

  • Stretching exercises and quinine are supported by the best evidence for treating ordinary cramps.
  • Pathophysiologic and clinical distinctions between cramp types are detailed.

Conclusions:

  • A systematic approach focusing on history and physical exam is crucial for diagnosing muscle cramps.
  • Further research is needed to explore this common symptom.