Summary
Definition
History and exam
Key diagnostic factors
- concurrent hemodialysis (organic cause)
- cirrhosis (organic cause)
- pregnancy (idiopathic cramp)
- strenuous exercise (idiopathic cramp)
- medication use (idiopathic cramp)
- nocturnal onset (idiopathic cramp)
- gastrocnemius muscle involvement, with or without foot involvement (idiopathic cramp)
- duration <10 minutes (idiopathic cramp)
- unilateral (idiopathic cramp)
- precipitation by both trivial movements and forceful contractions (idiopathic cramp)
- visible or palpable muscular knotting
- good response to passive/active stretching (idiopathic cramp)
- normal neurologic exam (idiopathic cramp)
- normal general physical exam (idiopathic cramp)
- other local muscle involvement (neuromuscular disease cramp)
- widespread muscle cramps (lower motor neuron disease)
- duration >10 minutes (organic cause)
- abnormal neurologic exam (organic cause)
- abnormal musculoskeletal exam (organic cause)
Other diagnostic factors
- signs of a chronic medical condition (organic cause)
Risk factors
- pregnancy
- strenuous exercise
- hemodialysis
- cirrhosis
- use of imatinib
- use of beta-blockers with intrinsic sympathomimetic activity
- age >60 years
- female sex
- family history of cramp
- use of statins
- use of other agents that may cause muscle cramps
- hypoglycemia in patients with diabetes mellitus
- chronic diseases
- home parenteral nutrition
Diagnostic tests
1st tests to order
- clinical diagnosis
Tests to consider
- serum or urine hCG
- fasting serum metabolic panel
- thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
- HbA1c
- serum liver function tests
- prothrombin time (PT) and INR
- serum myoglobin and urinalysis
- serum creatine kinase (CK)-MM
- serum alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E)
- serum zinc
- EMG
- nerve conduction studies
- serum aldolase
- muscle biopsy
- genetic studies
Treatment algorithm
idiopathic cramps
exercise-associated
hypoglycemia-associated in diabetes mellitus
pregnancy-associated
dialysis-associated
cirrhosis-associated
multiple sclerosis- or lower motor neuron disease-associated
familial syndrome-associated
medication-associated
Contributors
Authors
Michael Rubin, MD, FRCP(C)
Professor of Clinical Neurology
Weill Cornell Medical College
Attending Neurologist
Director, Neuromuscular Service and EMG Laboratory
New York Presbyterian Hospital
New York
NY
Disclosures
MR states that he has no competing interests.
Acknowledgements
Dr Michael Rubin would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr Justin Mhoon and Dr David R.P. Guay, previous contributors to this topic. JM declares that he has no competing interests. DRPG is an author of a reference cited in this topic.
Peer reviewers
Timothy M. Miller, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor of Neurology
Department of Neurology
Washington University School of Medicine
St. Louis
MO
Disclosures
TMM is an author of a reference cited in this topic.
Sami Khella, MD
Physician
Department of Neurology
Penn Presbyterian Medical Center
University of Pennsylvania Health System
Philadelphia
PA
Disclosures
SK declares that he has no competing interests.
Felicity Goodyear-Smith, MB CHB, DipObs, MGP, FRNZCGP, MFFLM, RCP
Professor and Goodfellow Postgraduate Chair
Department of General Practice & Primary Health Care
University of Auckland
Auckland
New Zealand
Disclosures
FG-S declares that she has no competing interests.
Differentials
- Tetany
- Tetanus
- Occupational cramps
More DifferentialsGuidelines
- International classification of sleep disorders 3rd edition, text revision
- Assessment: symptomatic treatment for muscle cramps (an evidence-based review)
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