Muscle cramps and fasciculations

Abstract

Muscle cramps and fasciculations commonly affect healthy individuals, particularly in the setting of exercise, but also frequently occur in diseases of the peripheral nerves. Disturbances of metabolism including renal and liver failure also predispose to cramps and fasciculations. The physiology of the lower motor neuron accounts for most of the observed behavior of cramps and fasciculations, and there is emerging evidence that these neuromuscular phenomena are manifestations of peripheral nerve hyperexcitability. There are many proposed treatments for muscle cramps but most have not been evaluated rigorously.