What Is the Difference Between Muscle Spasms and Muscle Cramps?

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Muscle cramps and muscle spasms are extremely common occurrences where bundles of muscle fibers contract outside of a person’s control. Just about everyone on Earth experiences them at some point in their lives.

But what exactly are these sudden jerks and twitches? How are they different from each other?

And most importantly, are they a cause for concern? Well, for the most part, no, though there is quite a bit of nuance to discuss regarding the subject, and that is what we’re going to do here today.

Cramps vs Spasms: What Are They?

Technically speaking, the word “spasm” refers to any involuntary contraction in a group of muscle fibers. This means that based purely on the definition, all cramps are spasms, but not all spasms are cramps.

In practice, however, people tend to use the words “cramp” and “spasm” to refer to two different types of involuntary muscle contractions. The former is often used to describe sharp and painful spasms, while the latter term refers to everything else, but usually means mild twitching sensations.

Muscle Cramps

Cramps are sustained contractions of muscles in the muscle fibers. These contractions generally last between several seconds to several minutes and are normally non-damaging but can cause varying degrees of pain depending on severity.

Muscle cramps are most common in the lower extremities, especially the legs, feet, and toes, but they can occur anywhere on the body. Multiple factors can lead to muscle cramps, but they are caused by electrolyte imbalances caused by dehydration.

Your muscles use electrolytes – electrically charged particles of mineral salts – such as sodium, potassium, and calcium in order to function. These ions are found in your body fluids, which are, in turn, regulated by your kidneys, your digestive system, and even your skin.

When you are dehydrated, however, there is just not enough water in your body to regulate electrolyte levels, meaning some may have increased concentrations while others are low. This manifests as a cramp when a muscle group has enough electrolytes to contract but not enough to relax.

In addition to dehydration, the overuse of muscles can also make a person more susceptible to cramping. Strenuous activity can rapidly consume electrolytes faster than the body can deliver them to the muscle groups that need them, leading to a cramp.

This is why cramps are a common sight in sports events and also why athletes have to stay hydrated throughout their games. Generally speaking, the more dehydrated the person and the more strenuous the activity, the more severe the cramp.

Muscle Spasms

While muscle spasms mean any sudden and involuntary muscle contractions, including cramps, the term usually refers to momentary, twitching contractions, each lasting up to a few seconds and occurring in clusters. Unlike muscle cramps (as far as the word is normally used), these are usually caused by nerve dysfunction or irritation, though ion imbalances can still be a cause.

Other causes of spasms include the following:

- Muscle overuse: As with cramps, spasms can occur when a muscle is overworked. Muscles tired from activity tend to be more excitable, which can lead to sudden contractions in the muscle itself or in surrounding muscles.
  - Again, athletes are often more susceptible to spasms due to strenuous physical activity. That said, anyone can get cramps when performing activities the body is not used to, including seemingly minor motions such as writing.

Sleep Disturbance: Disrupted sleep patterns have been connected to muscle spasms, particularly among the elderly and in pregnant women. The exact cause of nocturnal spasms has not yet been thoroughly researched, but it is generally believed that they are related to disrupted neurotransmitters—chemicals in the brain that transmit signals between nerves.

- - Nocturnal spasms usually occur in the calves and toes.

Peripheral Artery Disease: Atherosclerosis is a condition that causes arteries to narrow, leading to a decreased blood supply to the arms and/or legs. The most common symptom of this disease is pain in the legs and feet, but spasms can also present as a result of lower concentrations of electrolytes and fluids.

Stroke: Similar to peripheral artery disease, strokes may result in electrolyte imbalances in muscles or neurotransmitters in nerves. Spasms that occur as a result of stroke often present as dystonias, which are contractions of muscle groups strong enough to cause abnormal movements in the body.

Compressed Nerves: Increased pressure on the nerves can disrupt signals to the muscles, leading to spasms. Such pressure can be the result of anything from spinal injury to chronic illnesses such as obesity or diabetes.
Nerve Disease and Damage: Closely related to compressed nerves, some diseases and/or injuries can lead to spasms when they cause damage to the nervous system. The most commonly associated disease with nerve damage and muscle spasms is multiple sclerosis (MS).

Muscle spasms are rarely damaging, though sustained or uncontrollable twitching can eventually lead to tears in the connective tissues between muscles and bones. It is entirely possible for spasms to be severe enough to exceed the strength of ligaments and tendons to the point where they tear.

In addition, muscle spasms, as can be implied by several items on the list of causes, may be symptoms of larger problems. Because of this, it is always advisable to consult with a health professional, especially when symptoms reoccur or persist over time.

Treatment for Cramps and Spasms

Most muscle spasms are temporary and will go away on their own, and only rarely require urgent care. Often, home treatments are sufficient to treat the discomfort a patient experiences and relieve any pain until spasms subside.

These are some common treatments for mild cramps and muscle spasms:

Hydration: The most common treatment for cramps is simply rehydrating after heavy exercise, which can ease the pain of uncontrollable contractions and even prevent them entirely. Drink plenty of water and keep electrolyte levels up when engaging in physical activity, and you shouldn’t need to worry about cramps.

Stretching: Possibly the easiest and most readily available treatment for muscle spasms, including muscle cramps, a gentle stretch of the affected areas can alleviate symptoms by relaxing the tissues and extending contracted muscle fibers. Be mindful not to stretch too hard, as this can lead to lingering pain.

Massages: In a similar vein to stretching, massaging contracted muscles can improve blood flow to the area, reducing both twitching and sustained cramping.

Thermal Therapy: Muscle spasms are sometimes treated with the application of either heat or cold to the affected area. Warmth can be used to increase blood flow and ease tension in an area, while cold can numb an area and reduce the experience of pain.

Proper Diet: A diet rich in calcium, potassium, and magnesium, as well as with balanced levels of sodium, can help prevent spasming and cramping.
Over-the-Counter Medication: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are readily available at most pharmacies without the need for a prescription and can help alleviate non-serious spasms. That said, it’s still advisable to turn to medication after other options have been exhausted.

In cases where your cramps and spasms do not respond to home remedies, your doctor will have to determine the cause of your symptoms and address it directly to relieve you. Some treatment options they may recommend are:

Physical Therapy: Sometimes, stretches and massages done on your own do not address muscle spasms, which is usually the case when the cause is related to injury. A physical therapy regimen may have to be developed where a professional will provide tailored exercises that specifically target muscle groups, with the goal of improving strength, flexibility, coordination, and responsiveness, all of which can reduce the frequency and severity of spasms.

Botulinum (Botox) Treatment: In some cases of severe or persistent spasming, Botox injections may be recommended as an option to control symptoms. The toxin induces temporary paralysis in muscles, alleviating contractions in the process making it a useful treatment for conditions such as dystonia or spasticity.

Nerve Blockers: These drugs are used to interrupt electrical signals sent by the nervous system to the muscles. Nerve blocks are usually injected directly into the nerves or nerve clusters that control affected muscles.

Electrotherapy: This is the utilization of electrical currents to stimulate the nervous system and/or the muscles in order to improve their function. The most common form of electrotherapy used for spasm and cramp treatment is neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES), wherein electrodes are placed over motor nerves in order to stimulate controlled contractions.

Surgical Intervention: Often a last resort to treat cramps and spasms, surgery can be used in severe cases involving nerve compression or sustained contractures. The exact procedure varies per case, though most are invasive.

When to See a Medical Professional for My Muscle Spasms

While most spasms can be treated with home care, there are signs to watch out for that may point to bigger issues than the spasms themselves. Because of this, it’s important to remain vigilant while observing your symptoms just in case they might warrant a visit to the doctor.

Here are some things to pay attention to:

Severity and Duration

A rule of thumb is that the more severe and prolonged a muscle spasm is, the more likely it is that they are symptomatic of more serious conditions such as nerve damage or spinal injuries. Sustained spasms in particular, are, in fact, some of the most common indicators of neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis.

If your spasms are particularly painful regardless of duration, seeking medical attention may be a good idea. Likewise, it is also a good idea to call a doctor if spasms are relatively weak but persist over prolonged periods of time without improvement, even with proper home treatment.

Accompanying Symptoms

Redness, inflammation, weakness, fever, or even changes in digestive and urinary behavior can all accompany muscle spasms and give insight into what may be wrong with the body. For example, muscle weakness and diarrhea, together with cramps, might be indicative of hypokalemia (low potassium levels), while numbness in the feet, along with twitching muscles in the calves, might mean atherosclerosis.

Conditions are dangerous to diagnose based on the combination of symptoms alone without formal medical training. Seeking a doctor’s advice is always recommended in order to get the appropriate treatment.

Onset and Location

The location and the suddenness of the onset of a spasm may point clues as to whether your symptoms are serious or not. For instance, a cramp in the leg after an intense jog or swim is probably an understood hazard of the activity and is less likely to be serious, but a stabbing, intense pain in the same area while completely relaxed on the couch could be an emergency.

In some cases, even if the spasms do not actually point to underlying conditions, they may still be the cause of extreme discomfort or pain. Depending on where the pain manifests, patients may be suffer from functional impairments, rendering them unable to work efficiently, or at all.

In either case, a doctor’s expertise should be sought.

Call Dr. Elizabeth Auger in Salt Lake City for Your Muscle Spasm Treatment Today!

Muscle spasms and muscle cramps can range anywhere from minor annoyances to signals of dangerous medical issues that need immediate attention. The scary part is not knowing what yours are, what they mean, or what to do about them.

Thankfully, Dr. Elizabeth Auger is here to help.

Dr. Elizabeth Auger is your local podiatrist in Utah, serving patients across three cities: Salt Lake City, Sandy, and West Jordan. She is a holistic body healer with over two decades of expertise in foot care and lower extremity surgery, which she uses to bring patients’ health and wellness to the heights they deserve to be.From sprains to bunions, and yes, to muscle cramps and spasms, Dr. Auger has the experience and skill needed to treat your feet and get you back on them. Work with Salt Lake City Podiatrist Dr. Elizabeth Auger today when you call (801) 845-3960.