Skeletal muscle cramps during exercise

Cramps are painful, involuntary contractions of skeletal muscle that occur during or immediately after exercise and are common in endurance athletes. Although cramps can occur in many rare medical conditions, most athletes wh o have exercise-associated muscle cramping do not have congenital or acquir ed medical disorders. The cause of cramping is not well understood but may have to do with abnormal spinal control of motor neuron activity, particula rly when a muscle contracts in a shortened position. Important risk factors include muscle fatigue and poor stretching habits. Treatment consists main ly of passive stretching, with supportive measures as needed. Special diagn ostic studies and conditioning programs may be necessary for recurrent epis odes.