leg cramp
Painful calf seizure
A leg cramp is a sudden, involuntary contraction of leg muscles—typically the calf—causing sharp pain and temporary immobility.
Cramps often strike during sleep or exercise, usually lasting seconds to minutes.
Stretching, hydration, and electrolyte balance help prevent them: I woke up with a terrible leg cramp.
- charley horseSudden involuntary muscle contraction
- muscle spasmInvoluntary tissue contraction
- calfJuvenile cow or leg part
- calf muscleRear lower leg muscle
- thighLeg between hip, knee
twitch · knot · seize · tighten · pain · ache · nighttime · middle of the night · potassium · banana · pickle juice · magnesium · hydration · stretch · massage · foam roller · flex · walk it off
- crampscharley horse, spasm
- leg injuriesknee injury, hamstring strain, ACL tear, hamstring tear, calf strain
- sharp painsstab, stabbing, stabbing pain, jab, prick
- muscle movementscontraction, flexion, extension, twitch, spasm
- water injuriesdrowning, near drowning, near-drowning, jellyfish sting, shark bite