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Exercise-Associated Muscle Cramps in the Tennis Player
Wesley Troyer1, Ally Render2, Neeru Jayanthi3,4,5
1Emory Sports Medicine Center, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Current Reviews in Musculoskeletal Medicine
|July 29, 2020
Summary
Exercise-associated muscle cramps in tennis players are primarily linked to neuromuscular fatigue, not dehydration or electrolyte loss. Differentiating cramp types may improve future prevention and treatment strategies for athletes.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Exercise Physiology
- Athletic Training
Background:
- Exercise-associated muscle cramps (EAMC) are common in athletes, particularly tennis players.
- The exact causes and effective treatments for EAMC remain incompletely understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To clarify the proposed causes, risk factors, and treatment strategies for EAMC in tennis players.
- To differentiate between acute localized cramping and systemic or recurrent cramping.
Main Methods:
- Review of current scientific literature on EAMC in athletes.
- Analysis of proposed etiologies including neuromuscular fatigue, dehydration, and electrolyte deficits.
Main Results:
- Neuromuscular fatigue is considered a primary factor in EAMC development.
- Electrolyte deficits and dehydration appear less significant than neuromuscular fatigue for acute cramping.
- Electrolyte imbalances may contribute to recurrent or systemic cramping in tennis athletes.
Conclusions:
- Classifying EAMC into acute localized versus systemic/recurrent types may aid in developing targeted prevention and treatment plans.
- Further research is necessary to definitively establish the etiology of EAMC and optimize interventions for tennis players.
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