Muscle cramps

A sudden, involuntary, painful and sustained contraction of skeletal muscle fibers, typically affecting part or all of a single muscle or a muscle group, often associated with palpable hardening of the muscle and transient functional impairment. Possible causes are muscle fatigue during physical exertion, dehydration, electrolyte imbalance (low levels of Ca²⁺/Mg²⁺/K⁺), spinal nerve compression, poor blood circulation, systemic conditions (hypothyroidism, chronic kidney disease, pregnancy), and medications (diuretics, statins).