Muscle Cramps: Common Myths and Potential Treatments

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Muscle cramps are a common nuisance. They are basically involuntary muscle contractions which generally won’t cause serious health problems, but are darn uncomfortable. Their cause and the best way to handle them remains somewhat of a mystery… Here we investigate the science behind the popular recommendations of magnesium and various other treatments that have been touted. 

Key points:

1. Muscle cramps are involuntary, sustained muscle contractions that can be very uncomfortable. They seem to be caused by increased neuromuscular excitability.
2. What causes the increased neuromuscular excitability is uncertain, but there may be many contributors eg: some nervous-system and non-nervous system diseases, excessive exercise, deficiencies of some nutrients/hormones, pregnancy, advancing age, sedentary lifestyle, prolonged use of certain postures.
3. Magnesium supplements are popularly used for muscle cramps, but there’s no definitive evidence that they work. Vitamin B complex supplements, naftidrofuryl (a vasodilator), and calcium-channel blockers such as diltiazem are possibly effective with minimal side effects, although the evidence is minimal. The antimalarial drug quinine seems to have modest impact, but potentially life-threatening side effects, and so should only be used in the most extreme circumstances under medical supervision.
4. Stretching and keeping muscles strong may offer benefit. The role of dehydration today is under doubt, but it has been recently suggested electrolyte replenishment may have potential. More research is required to shed light on this.

Why do we get muscle cramps?

As mentioned, the precise cause/s of muscular cramps is unclear. One constant theme, however, is increased neuromuscular excitability. Stress on the parts of the nervous system responsible for movement increases the frequency of cramps. There are many possible contributors to this: it has been thought this stress could be caused by dehydration, excessive exercise, or neuromuscular diseases such as Motor Neuron Disease, neuropathy, recovered poliomyelitis, or nerve root compression. Low levels of blood magnesium, calcium, thyroid hormone, some medications (eg:diuretics and inhaled beta-agonists), haemodialysis  or renal or liver disease could also be contributors. There is also a rare condition known as cramp-fasciculation syndrome where otherwise healthy people experience persistent cramps. However, muscle diseases are usually not associated. Cramps are also common in the third trimester or pregnancy. Idiopathic muscle cramps- which have no apparent cause- are also common, particularly in the lower leg and foot and at night.

There is a bit of confusion as to whether cramps are initiated from the peripheral nervous system, the central nervous system, or both. As of 2005, a variety of evidence pointed to the peripheral motor neuron or its axons as the culprits. More recently, however, there has been evidence for involvement of the central nervous system- at least in the case exercise-associated muscle cramps (see below). Whether any central nervous system diseases may cause muscle cramps needs further investigation.

An interesting observation has been made that more people in the US, UK and Australia perform internet searches on leg cramps in the summer months than in winter. This suggests there may be seasonal variation, although there’s no clear explanation of this.

Exercise-associated muscle cramps 

These usually occur during or right after exercise, in contrast to DOMS.

It currently is thought that neuromuscular mechanisms are more likely. Historically, it has been thought that muscle cramps initiate from the peripheral nervous system. Recent studies, however, suggest that the excitation signals come from the body of alpha motor neurons, located within the spinal cord. The studies also demonstrate an increased output from muscle spindles (stretch receptors within muscle that encourage muscle excitation) and decreasing inhibitory drive from Golgi tendon organs (receptors in the muscle-tendon border that inhibit muscle activation) to the alpha neurons. 

In any case, sustained contraction of a muscle already at its shortest length commonly causes cramps.

Pregnancy 

In a systematic review of randomised controlled studies among women 14-36 weeks pregnant- an inconsistent effect of magnesium and calcium on intensity or frequency was observed. Small studies of low quality showed small but insignificant effects of vitamins B or C.

Idiopathic Leg Cramps- most commonly Nocturnal Leg Cramps

Muscle Cramp Treatments

Numerous treatments have been tried, with varying success… it seems we have yet to find an ideal solution. Let’s look at what we do know, though…

Magnesium

There are also risks to magnesium supplementation. Magnesium is primarily absorbed in the small intestine, and there is a limit to how much it can absorb. So, if you significantly increase your oral dose of magnesium salts from supplements, a smaller percentage will be absorbed. At best, this may just be a waste of supplements/money without the desired effect, but it can also potentially lead to diarrhoea.

There may be cases where magnesium supplementation is called for- for example, if you are deficient or unable to obtain your requirements from food. (Dark green leafy vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds and unrefined grains are typically good sources). However, in January of this year (2020) an observational trial of 132 pregnant women with leg cramps in the first trimester of pregnancy was published. These women had blood magnesium levels in the minimum limit of normality (1.8 mg/dl) and approximately half had hypomagnesemia. Theoretically the 300mg/day magnesium would meet their intake requirements. However, the supplementation had no significant impact on their symptoms. On the other hand, blood magnesium levels do not necessarily correlate with tissue magnesium levels, so it is actually difficult to identify if someone is deficient without taking a muscle biopsy. 

Some nations use IV magnesium in extreme circumstances, such as for the management of acute seizures (eg: eclampsia in pregnancy). This bypasses the limitations of absorption imposed by the digestive system However, there are serious risks: too rapid an infusion may cause cardiorespiratory suppression and flaccid paralysis of skeletal muscle… It’s also been seen to cause a burning sensation in half the recipients, and in some it caused low blood pressure or light headedness. So, it’s not recommended outside carefully controlled, clinically indicated uses, and definitely not for ‘normal’ muscle cramps. Besides, it may not even be effective- a trial from back in 1972 found that even with an increased retention of magnesium in the body resulting from IV magnesium, there was no correlation to reduced impact of cramps. I didn’t come across more recent data, I’m afraid- maybe I missed it, or maybe the world’s researchers haven’t considered it a priority topic since. 

Does dosage or duration of supplementation matter?

We have not discovered any significant dose-response relationship between oral nagnesium supplement levels and cramps. However, this may be because the range of interventions used in studies is too narrow. Dosages have varied between 200-336mg in the case of  idiopathic muscle cramps and 364-366mg in pregnancy. Durations of studies have been limited to 4-6 weeks for idiopathic cramps, and 2-3 weeks in pregnancy. It is not advised to go beyond these levels without proof of benefit, however, because the one thing we are sure of is the potential side effects of too much magnesium.

Quinine  

Other side effects can include disturbances to hearing and sight, depressed mood, headache, nausea, vomiting, sweating, dizziness, low blood sugar , low blood pressure, skin irritations and destruction of red blood cells.

It can also have severe, negative interactions with many medications, including aluminum-containing antacids, cholinesterase inhibitors, cimetidine, digoxin, neuromuscular blocking agents, and warfarin. 

Thus, its use to manage cramps has been actively discouraged by regulatory bodies including USA’s, Australia’s and New Zealand’s. It is also contraindicated- definitely not to be used by many people, based on personal medical history and characteristics. 

A four-week trial of quinine may occasionally be considered for people with frequent, severe cramps that disrupts sleep, IF:

• They are fully informed
• Treatable causes have been ruled out
• Other treatments have been tried
• The trial has close medical supervision 

Stretching and muscle cramps

Hydration and muscle cramps

Note that this study was very small, and the results should be replicated on a larger scale before we put too much stock in them. Also, the precise quantity of what electrolytes are required for optimal effect needs to be elucidated. 

Other pharmacological treatments

Some low grade evidence shows that vitamin B complex, naftidrofuryl (a vasodilator), and calcium-channel blockers such as diltiazem are possibly effective. Minor side effects have been occasionally observed with vitamin B complex use. A trial of these pharmaceuticals could be considered (with realistic expectations). 

Gabapentin (an anticonvulsant) is likely not effective.

Muscle cramps are here to stay: where to from here?

As we’ve seen, despite muscle cramps being a common and seemingly simple problem (compared to many conditions out there), the secret of how to best be rid of them remains elusive. Further study of the efficacy and risks of the medications we’ve described, plus baclofen, carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, levetiracetam, lidocaine (and possibly others) are warranted. More investigation of non-pharmacologic strategies and the effect of cramps on quality of life would also be valuable. 

In the meantime, general healthy habits including maintaining a healthy diet including sources of B vitamins and magnesium, keeping muscles strong and regular stretching may be the best bet to reduce your chances of cramps. Should cramps be a regular, debilitating feature of your life, consult a doctor to see if a medically-supervised trial of a more specific intervention is warranted. There’s no promises, but there may be something that works for you. 

Have you found something that helps with your cramps? Comment below.

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