{"id":12683,"date":"2026-10-02T08:44:57","date_gmt":"2026-10-02T08:44:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.medkart.in\/blog\/?p=12683"},"modified":"2026-10-19T09:15:33","modified_gmt":"2026-10-19T09:15:33","slug":"muscle-spasm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.medkart.in\/blog\/muscle-spasm\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is a Muscle Spasm? Causes, Relief and Treatment"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>\n.entry-content a:not([href*=\"medkart.in\"]) > span {\n    vertical-align: super !important;\n    font-size: 85% !important;\n    line-height: 0 !important;\n}\n<\/style>\n<style>\n.entry-content h2,\n.entry-content h3,\n.entry-content h4 {\n    white-space: nowrap !important;\n}\n<\/style>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A muscle spasm is a muscle tightening on its own and refusing to let go. It is a symptom rather than a diagnosis, and most episodes pass within a few minutes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Two things are worth knowing before the rest. The word covers several events that doctors keep apart, and the familiar stretching advice has weaker evidence behind it than its popularity suggests.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>What Is a Muscle Spasm, and What Does It Feel Like?\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">MedlinePlus<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">[<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/medlineplus.gov\/ency\/article\/003193.htm\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">]<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> describes a muscle cramp as a muscle that tightens without the person trying to tighten it, and then does not relax. The American Academy of Neurology<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">[<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aan.com\/globals\/axon\/assets\/6900.pdf\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">]<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> calls them involuntary and generally painful contractions of a muscle or muscle group.<\/span><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Feature<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>What the sources say<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>The sensation<\/b><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The NHS<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">[<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhs.uk\/conditions\/leg-cramps\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">]<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> describes a muscle tightening and causing sudden pain that can make movement difficult.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Where it is felt<\/b><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The AAN records that idiopathic cramps are usually most prominent in the lower leg and foot muscles.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>When it happens<\/b><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The same review notes that cramps are more evident at night.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>What follows<\/b><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The NHS records that the muscle may stay sore for up to 24 hours afterwards.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>What sets it off<\/b><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The AAN describes cramps as caused by ectopic discharges from nerves or nerve terminals.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>What it disturbs<\/b><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A survey of United States adults<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">[<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC5460850\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">]<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> links frequent night cramps with difficulty falling asleep and difficulty staying asleep.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h3><b>Spasm, Cramp and Spasticity Are Not the Same Thing\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The everyday word covers three events the literature separates. The AAN review excluded muscle spasms, dystonia and muscle pains from its analysis, as phenomena not consistent with muscle cramps.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Spasticity is different again. MedlinePlus<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">[<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/medlineplus.gov\/ency\/article\/003297.htm\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">]<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> describes it as stiff or rigid muscles with increased muscle tone, and names stroke, multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injury among its causes.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>How Long Does a Muscle Spasm Last?\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The NHS gives a range of a few seconds to 10 minutes. Soreness can continue for up to 24 hours after the episode has ended.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That range is also a threshold. The NHS lists cramps lasting longer than 10 minutes among the reasons to see a GP. Duration is one of the few features a person can use without a test.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>What Causes Muscle Spasms?\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The retrieved causes fall into three groups. The first is the muscle itself, where MedlinePlus names overuse and injury, and the NHS names overexertion in the heat.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The second is the internal environment. MedlinePlus names dehydration and low levels of sodium, potassium and calcium, alongside an underactive thyroid, kidney failure and alcohol use.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The third is circumstance. Both sources name pregnancy, MedlinePlus adds menstruation, and the NHS names ageing, alcohol-related liver disease, and medicines including statins and diuretics.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Often no cause is found. The AAN calls these idiopathic muscle cramps. The survey of United States adults states plainly that the mechanism behind night cramps is poorly understood.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Why Do Muscle Spasms Happen During Exercise?\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Exercise cramps are studied separately from the night-time kind. A 2025 cross-sectional study in the Brazilian Journal of Physical Therapy<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">[<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC12771305\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">]<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> examined 21,460 cyclists entering a South African race.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A history of exercise-associated cramps was reported by 30.5%, and 18.6% had one in the previous year. The quadriceps were affected most often, at 47.7%, followed by the calf at 27.8% and the hamstring at 20.4%.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Its risk factors were not the ones usually named. Reporting a chronic disease raised the prevalence ratio to 1.36, and using medication before or during the event raised it to 1.41.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>How Can a Muscle Spasm Be Relieved When It Happens?\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The NHS describes stretching and massaging the affected muscle, and standing and putting weight on the leg. MedlinePlus describes stopping the activity and stretching the muscle that has cramped.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Heat and cold are used in sequence rather than together. MedlinePlus describes applying heat at first, then ice once the pain improves.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Painkillers are for afterwards, not during. The NHS is explicit that paracetamol and ibuprofen will not help while a cramp is happening, because they take too long to work. They do help with the soreness that follows.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Also Read:<\/b> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.medkart.in\/blog\/magnesium-glycinate-health-benefits\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Magnesium glycinate and what it is used for<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<h2><b>Do Stretches and Exercises Prevent Muscle Spasms?\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here the sources disagree, and the disagreement is worth stating. The NHS says regular calf-stretching exercises may help to reduce cramps, while adding that they may not stop them completely.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The AAN reached a different conclusion from the same territory. A randomised trial of 191 patients compared calf stretching three times a day against a sham exercise. It found no benefit on cramp frequency or on the number of cramp-free nights.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Its verdict was therefore a non-verdict. The review graded the evidence on calf stretching as insufficient to support or refute it, its Level U rating, and made no recommendation either way.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Neither position says stretching is harmful. What neither offers is a promise that a prevention routine will work, and a reader who has tried one without success is not doing it wrong.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>What Treatment Is Available for Spasms That Keep Coming Back?\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The first step is finding a cause. MedlinePlus lists blood tests of calcium, potassium and magnesium, along with kidney and thyroid function tests.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Medicines come second and carry real caution. The AAN found quinine derivatives likely effective, its Level A rating, and still advised against routine use because of the potential for toxicity. It reserved them for very disabling cramps, where nothing else has relieved the symptoms and side effects are monitored.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Three other options carry weaker support. Naftidrofuryl, diltiazem and vitamin B complex were rated possibly effective, at Level C, on single studies each. Magnesium preparations and gabapentin were judged probably not effective.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This article gives no amounts for any of them. The NHS notes that a GP may consider quinine tablets where exercise has not helped, with the risks weighed first.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>When Should You See a Doctor?\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Book an appointment if your cramps disturb your sleep, if they come with numbness or swelling, or if a single episode lasts over 10 minutes. Those are the three the NHS names.<\/span><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Situation<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>What to do<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Cramps that wake you at night<\/b><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">See a GP. The NHS names sleep disturbance among its reasons to seek advice.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Numbness or swelling with the cramps<\/b><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">See a GP. The NHS lists both alongside the cramps themselves.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>A single episode lasting over 10 minutes<\/b><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">See a GP. This sits outside the range the NHS describes as usual.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Back spasm with numbness in both legs<\/b><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Go to A&amp;E or call 999. The NHS<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">[<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhs.uk\/conditions\/back-pain\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">7<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">]<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> treats this as an emergency.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Back spasm with loss of feeling around the genitals or bottom<\/b><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Go to A&amp;E or call 999. The NHS names it among the same emergency signs.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Back spasm with a change in bladder or bowel control<\/b><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Go to A&amp;E or call 999. The NHS lists it with the others.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Spasms after starting a new medicine<\/b><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Speak to the prescriber rather than stopping it. Statins and diuretics are among those the NHS names.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2><b>What This Article Cannot Tell You\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It cannot say why any individual is getting spasms. The same symptom follows from overuse, from mineral levels, from thyroid or kidney problems, from medicines and from nothing identifiable.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It cannot say whether a given pattern is harmless. Frequent cramps were associated with several long-term conditions in the survey of United States adults, and an association is not a cause.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It cannot promise that a prevention routine will work, because the evidence on stretching is rated insufficient.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It also cannot describe the Indian picture. No Indian prevalence figure for muscle cramps could be retrieved, so every number above comes from elsewhere.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Where Can You Buy Pain Relief and Supplements on Medkart?\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.medkart.in\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Medkart<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> sells <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.medkart.in\/order-medicine\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">medicines<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> online and highlights quality credentials for its generic range. Products containing <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.medkart.in\/composition\/paracetamolacetaminophen-500-mg\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">paracetamol<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.medkart.in\/composition\/ibuprofen-400-mg\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ibuprofen<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are listed, including <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.medkart.in\/order-medicine\/brufen-400mg-tablet-15s\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Brufen<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> from Abbott, which the NHS describes as useful for the soreness afterwards rather than during.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Among <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.medkart.in\/categories\/nutritional-supplements\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">nutritional supplements<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, Medkart lists mineral products such as <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.medkart.in\/order-medicine\/vitanourish-magnesium-bisglycinate-tablet-60s\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">magnesium bisglycinate<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. The AAN review judged magnesium probably not effective for cramps, and that finding stands whatever a product page says. Rehydration options include <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.medkart.in\/order-medicine\/ors-powder-21.0-gm\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ORS Powder<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> from Cipla and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.medkart.in\/order-medicine\/electral-orange-powder-21.8-gm\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Electral<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> from FDC.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nothing here says any of these treats the condition, which is a judgement for the prescriber. Medkart lists these products and does not test or approve them. Availability and price can change. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.medkart.in\/compare-medicines\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Medkart&#8217;s medicine comparison tools<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can be used to compare listed options on:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Active ingredient<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Strength<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dosage form<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Manufacturer<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pack size<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Current price<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is also possible to search by name, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.medkart.in\/browse-all-medicines\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">browse the full medicine list<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, or find the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.medkart.in\/store-locator\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">nearest Medkart store<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Key takeaways\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A muscle spasm is a muscle contracting without being told to and not relaxing again.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The NHS puts the usual length at a few seconds to 10 minutes, with soreness for up to 24 hours.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Spasm, cramp and spasticity describe different events, and the AAN review kept them apart.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Named causes include overuse, heat, dehydration, low minerals, thyroid and kidney problems, pregnancy and some medicines.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Among 21,460 cyclists, 30.5% had a history of exercise-associated cramps, most often in the quadriceps.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The AAN rated the evidence on calf stretching as insufficient, against NHS advice that it may help.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Quinine was rated likely effective and still advised against for routine use, because of toxicity.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cramps that disturb sleep, come with numbness or swelling, or last over 10 minutes need a GP.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>FAQs\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<h3><b>Q. Is a muscle twitch the same as a spasm?\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They are described separately. The AAN review names cramp-fasciculation syndrome among the conditions commonly associated with cramps, which makes twitching and cramping related rather than identical. A twitch that keeps recurring is worth mentioning to a doctor, because the review lists nerve conditions in that group.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Q. Do mineral supplements stop night cramps?\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The evidence retrieved here does not support that. Two trials assessed by the AAN led it to judge magnesium preparations probably not effective. Low mineral levels are still listed by MedlinePlus among the causes of cramps, which is why blood tests come first.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Q. Are frequent cramps a sign of a serious illness?\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They can accompany one, without proving it. The survey of United States adults found frequent night cramps to be more common in people reporting high blood pressure, heart failure, stroke, arthritis or cancer. That is an association across a population rather than a finding about any one person.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Q. How common are cramps in older people?\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Common enough that the reviews treat it as expected. The AAN cites a study of 365 outpatients aged 65 or over in the United Kingdom, half of whom reported frequent cramps. A review of 515 older veterans found a similar figure, with half of those affected cramping at least weekly.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Q. Why do cramps happen in pregnancy?\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The sources record that they do without explaining why. Both MedlinePlus and the NHS list pregnancy among the situations in which cramps occur, and the AAN notes they are frequent in late pregnancy. None of them sets out a mechanism, and the AAN excluded pregnancy cramps from its treatment analysis altogether.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Q. Does drinking more water prevent cramps during sport?\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is widely done and thinly tested. The AAN states that hydration is frequently used by patients, particularly for exercise-associated cramping, and that no formal studies support its use. The 2025 cycling study pointed instead at chronic illness, medication use and recent injury.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>References\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/medlineplus.gov\/ency\/article\/003193.htm\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/medlineplus.gov\/ency\/article\/003193.htm<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aan.com\/globals\/axon\/assets\/6900.pdf\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/www.aan.com\/globals\/axon\/assets\/6900.pdf<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhs.uk\/conditions\/leg-cramps\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/www.nhs.uk\/conditions\/leg-cramps\/<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC5460850\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC5460850\/<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/medlineplus.gov\/ency\/article\/003297.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/medlineplus.gov\/ency\/article\/003297.html<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC12771305\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC12771305\/<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhs.uk\/conditions\/back-pain\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/www.nhs.uk\/conditions\/back-pain\/<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Medical disclaimer:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> This article gives general information about muscle spasms and is not a diagnosis. It cannot tell any individual what is causing their spasms, how serious they are, or which treatment suits them, because those decisions need a doctor and the right tests. Anyone with the emergency signs described here should seek immediate care rather than self-treat, and no medicine or supplement should be started, stopped or changed without advice from the prescriber or a qualified pharmacist.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A muscle spasm is a muscle tightening on its own and refusing to let go. It is a symptom rather than a diagnosis, and most episodes pass within a few minutes. Two things are worth knowing before the rest. The word covers several events that doctors keep apart, and the familiar stretching advice has weaker [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":12684,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12683","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health-wellness"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Muscle Spasm: Causes, Relief &amp; When to See a Doctor | Medkart<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn what causes muscle spasms, how to relieve one when it strikes, and the warning signs, like a spasm lasting over 10 minutes, that need a doctor.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.medkart.in\/blog\/muscle-spasm\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Muscle Spasm: Causes, Relief &amp; When to See a Doctor | Medkart\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Learn what causes muscle spasms, how to relieve one when it strikes, and the warning signs, like a spasm lasting over 10 minutes, that need a doctor.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.medkart.in\/blog\/muscle-spasm\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"www.medkart.in\/blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-10-02T08:44:57+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-10-19T09:15:33+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/blog.medkart.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-11-1024x576.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1024\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"576\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Ritu Bansal\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Ritu Bansal\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"9 minutes\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Muscle Spasm: Causes, Relief & When to See a Doctor | Medkart","description":"Learn what causes muscle spasms, how to relieve one when it strikes, and the warning signs, like a spasm lasting over 10 minutes, that need a doctor.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.medkart.in\/blog\/muscle-spasm\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Muscle Spasm: Causes, Relief & When to See a Doctor | Medkart","og_description":"Learn what causes muscle spasms, how to relieve one when it strikes, and the warning signs, like a spasm lasting over 10 minutes, that need a doctor.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.medkart.in\/blog\/muscle-spasm\/","og_site_name":"www.medkart.in\/blog","article_published_time":"2026-10-02T08:44:57+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-10-19T09:15:33+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1024,"height":576,"url":"https:\/\/blog.medkart.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-11-1024x576.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"Ritu Bansal","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Ritu Bansal","Est. reading time":"9 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.medkart.in\/blog\/muscle-spasm\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.medkart.in\/blog\/muscle-spasm\/"},"author":{"name":"Ritu Bansal","@id":"https:\/\/www.medkart.in\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/ca8e9dfcef00402fd75929175f9a651b"},"headline":"What Is a Muscle Spasm? 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