[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2016\/09\/causes-of-charley-horses\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2016\/09\/causes-of-charley-horses\/","headline":"Symptoms, Treatment, and Causes of Charley Horses","name":"Symptoms, Treatment, and Causes of Charley Horses","description":"A charley horse is another name for a muscle spasm. Learn how you can prevent this uncomfortable cramping.","datePublished":"2016-09-22","dateModified":"2023-06-14","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/","name":"UPMC","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/upmc\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/causes-of-charley-horses.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/causes-of-charley-horses.jpg","height":325,"width":753},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2016\/09\/causes-of-charley-horses\/","about":["Family Health"],"wordCount":1109,"keywords":["charley horse","muscle cramp","muscle spasm"],"articleBody":"Charley horses, a painful muscle spasm in the leg or foot, can happen to people of all ages and lifestyles. Worse yet, they can strike at any time of the day or night, though it\u2019s common to have muscle cramps while sleeping.\u00a0Although they appear to happen randomly, some habits and conditions have been linked to charley horses, and there are steps you can take to prevent them.\u00a0What Is a Charley Horse?\u00a0A charley horse is another name for a muscle spasm, which is when a muscle contracts and will not relax. Muscle spasms can happen to any muscle in the body, but they are most common in the leg and foot. During a muscle spasm, the muscle becomes hard and tight and may be tender to the touch. After the spasm subsides, the muscle may be sore for hours or even days.\u00a0What Causes Charley Horses?\u00a0While there is no definite cause for charley horses, several factors make their occurrence more likely, including:\u00a0Overusing the muscle: This is the most common cause. Overuse of the muscle can place an extra strain on it, causing a cramp or spasm.\u00a0Dehydration: If your body is losing more water than it\u2019s taking in, such as during exercise, it can cause your body not to function properly.\u00a0Exercising in very hot or cold temperatures: Exercising in heat can more easily cause dehydration, while cold weather may affect your body\u2019s ability to warm up properly.\u00a0Stress: Your muscles can become tense under stress, leading to spasms.\u00a0Poor blood flow\/circulation: If not enough blood is getting to your muscles, this can cause cramps.\u00a0Not getting enough vitamins\/minerals: A lack of electrolytes (sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium) can cause muscles to spasm.\u00a0Standing or sitting too long without moving: Periods of inactivity can reduce blood flow to the muscles. This also can happen while sleeping.\u00a0Malfunctioning nerves: Problems such as a spinal cord injury or a pinched nerve in the neck or back can cause signal disruption to the muscles.\u00a0Certain medications: Drugs that can cause cramps include diuretics (for high blood pressure, heart failure, and kidney disease), nicotinic acid and statins (for high cholesterol), raloxifene (osteoporosis prevention), and nifedipine (for angina and Raynaud\u2019s phenomenon).\u00a0Pregnancy: The extra weight of pregnancy can put more strain on leg muscles.\u00a0Liver disease: Toxins can build up in your system, which can cause muscle spasms.\u00a0Infections: Bacterial infections like tetanus can cause muscle cramps.\u00a0Who Is At-Risk?\u00a0Groups at risk for muscle cramps and spasms include:\u00a0Athletes.\u00a0Overweight\/obese individuals.\u00a0Older adults.\u00a0Pregnant women.\u00a0People with medical conditions like thyroid and nerve disorders.\u00a0Charley Horse Treatments\u00a0Most of the time, muscle spasms resolve on their own. To help ease the pain when they happen, you can try one of the following:\u00a0Apply heat during the cramp and ice after it ends.\u00a0Gently stretch the muscle: If you\u2019re suffering from a calf cramp, you can get relief by laying down with your leg straight, lifting your foot, and bending your ankle so your toes point toward your shin. This causes the injured muscles to move in the opposite direction of the contracted muscles, loosening the tightness.\u00a0Massage the muscle.Drink fluids.Take anti-inflammatory medicines if the pain remains after heat and ice.\u00a0The best treatment for charley horses is prevention. You can take steps to prevent them by:\u00a0Drinking plenty of water.\u00a0Stretching before and after exercise or before bed if you experience cramps at night.Eating foods high in magnesium, potassium, and calcium.\u00a0Wearing comfortable, supportive shoes.\u00a0Adjusting your exercises.\u00a0The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons recommends the following stretches to prevent charley horses:\u00a0Calf stretch: Place both hands on a wall and lean forward with one leg in front of the other. Straighten your back leg and press your heel into the floor. Your front knee will be bent. Hold for 15 to 30 seconds and repeat for the other leg.\u00a0Hamstring stretch: While on the ground, sit tall and point both legs straight in front of you. Put your palms flat on the ground and slide them toward your ankle. Stop when you feel the stretch.\u00a0Quadriceps stretch: While holding on to a wall or the back of a chair for balance and support, grasp your foot and bend your leg backward, bringing your heel toward your buttocks. Pull your heel closer to your body and hold position for 30 seconds. Repeat with the other leg.\u00a0Why Do Charley Horses Hurt So Badly?\u00a0\u00a0The pain you feel from a charley horse can be severe because your muscle is fatigued from the continual contraction. Since you are unable to control and relax the muscle, it can continue to feel painful even after the muscle contraction has subsided.\u00a0\u00a0When to See a Doctor\u00a0In some cases, repeated charley horses can be the result of nerve issues, which can be diagnosed with an MRI scan.\u00a0If you experience muscle spasms frequently, they may be a symptom of an underlying health condition such as:\u00a0Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig\u2019s disease).\u00a0Nerve damage.\u00a0Hardening of the arteries.\u00a0Spinal stenosis.\u00a0Thyroid disease.\u00a0Infections.\u00a0Liver disease.\u00a0Consult your doctor if your cramps:\u00a0Are frequent.\u00a0Are severe.\u00a0Don\u2019t go away with home treatment.\u00a0Last a long time.\u00a0Cause you to experience swelling, redness, or warmth in the affected area.Cause muscle weakness.\u00a0Spread to another part of the body.\u00a0\u201cIf you are experiencing charley horses after starting new medication, talk to your doctor,\u201d says Shane Eikenberry, MD, a primary care physician at Greater Pittsburgh Medical Associates-UPMC. \u201cSometimes charley horses can be a side effect of certain medications that change your electrolyte balance. Most commonly these are diuretics (\u201cwater pills\u201d), blood pressure medications, and heart medications.\u201d\u00a0Charley horses, a painful muscle spasm in the leg or foot, can happen to people of all ages and lifestyles. Worse yet, they can strike at any time of the day or night, though it\u2019s common to have muscle cramps while sleeping.Although they appear to happen randomly, some habits and conditions have been linked to charley horses, and there are steps you can take to prevent them.Editor's Note: This article was originally published on September 22, 2016, and was last reviewed on June 14, 2023.SourcesU.S. National Library of Medicine. Muscle Cramps.  Kevin C. Miller, PhD, ATC, CSCS, Marcus S. Stone, PhD, ATC, [...], and Jeffrey E. Edwards, PhD. Exercise-Associated Muscle Cramps. Sports Health. Take that, muscle cramps!. Harvard Health Publishing. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Muscle Cramps.  NHS Inform. Leg Cramps.  North American Spine Society. Muscle Spasms.  U.S. National Library of Medicine. Charley Horse.  AARP. Charley Horse Pain Relief.  "},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2016","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2016\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"09","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2016\/\/09\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Symptoms, Treatment, and Causes of Charley Horses","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2016\/09\/causes-of-charley-horses\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]