title: Muscle cramping in athletes--risk factors, clinical assessment, and management.
abstract: Exercise associated muscle cramping (EAMC) is defined as a painful, spasmodic, and involuntary contraction of skeletal muscle that occurs during or immediately after exercise. There is a high lifetime prevalence of EAMC in athletes, specifically in endurance athletes. The most important risk factors for EAMC in athletes are a previous history of EAMC, and performing exercise at a higher relative exercise intensity or duration, when compared with normal training and participating in hot and humid environmental conditions. The diagnosis of EAMC is made clinically, and the most effective immediate management of EAMC is rest and passive stretching. The key to the prevention of EAMC is to reduce the risk of developing premature muscle fatigue.
authors.affiliation: UCT/MRC Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, 3rd Floor, Sports Science Institute of South Africa, Boundary Road, Newlands, Cape Town 7700, South Africa. martin.schwellnus@uct.ac.za
authors.forename: Martin P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Schwellnus
authors.forename: Nichola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Drew
authors.forename: Malcolm
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Collins
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D009120:Muscle Cramp / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D012307:Risk Factors; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D013177:Sports