Sometimes they happen when you least expect them. You’re jogging around the track during gym class or you’re doing drills at volleyball practice and…BAM!…your leg muscle seizes up. The pain can be so intense that it takes your breath away.
What just happened? Does your leg hate you? Is your leg going to fall off? Nope! It’s probably just a muscle cramp.
Muscle cramps can occur in just about any of the muscles in your body. While cramps in the legs are quite common, it’s not unusual to get cramps in your arms or sides. The most common areas for muscle cramps are the calves, thighs, feet, hands, arms and abdomen.
Muscle cramps often occur when you’re exercising. However, as anyone who has ever had growing pains can tell you, they can also occur at night when you’re sleeping.
A muscle cramp is an involuntary contraction of a muscle. This means that it happens without your control. The muscle contracts — gets smaller — and hardens. It often stays that way for several seconds to several minutes, causing pain that can sometimes be severe.
Muscle cramps often won’t go away on their own. You may need to stretch and massage the muscle to get it to relax and go back to normal. Sometimes when you move immediately after a muscle cramp, the muscle will cramp again. You may have to stretch and massage it repeatedly before the cramp goes away for good.
Even though muscles have been around for as long as humans have existed, doctors still don’t know exactly what causes muscle cramps. Doctors now believe some of the main factors causing muscle cramps include dehydration, low levels of electrolytes, being out of shape and muscle fatigue.
Muscle cramps often occur when exercising in extreme heat. When you exercise in really hot weather, you sweat a lot. That sweat contains fluid and electrolytes, so your body becomes dehydrated while your muscles lose needed electrolytes. That’s why it’s important to stay hydrated when you’re exercising. If you’re going to be sweating a lot, you might also want to consider a sports drink that replenishes needed electrolytes!
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I hope my muscles don’t cramp!
Pickle juice to stop muscle cramp? I never heared of that before!
Hi there, yoseph! We’re glad you learned something new about cramps and how to prevent them! It’s about the science of our bodies– salt is necessary, as well as water, to keep our muscles cramp-free! Thanks for WONDERing with us today!
Hi there. I am in Mrs. Hess’ class and I wonder why some old people have been cramp on their muscles. I wish people exercise to make their muscles strong!
I think tomorrow’s Wonder is about rules in the world! I CAN’T WAIT TOMORROW’S WONDER!
Hi there, Kathy! Thanks for visiting us today! We learned that exercise and stretching help those muscle cramps, but age has a lot to do with it, too! Drinking water and eating healthy can also help! Thanks for joining us today– we’ll see you tomorrow!
I wonder how they cramp? You have the best website in the world.
Thanks for WONDERing with us, Isaiah! We bet you can find out how to prevent cramps and keep your body nice and healthy by checking out today’s Wonder content! Keep up the great work!
That was great how you exclaim about their muscles being cramped and drink Pickle Juice to stop their muscles! I thought that was hard, but that was easy!
Thank you for your support and please write back http://www.wonderopolis.org!
We’re so very glad you learned something new with us, Kathy! We hope your muscles don’t cramp… but if you do, you’ll know what to do!
I knew that pickle juice helped stop cramps.
Good for you, Wonder Friend Chrissy! Thanks for WONDERing with us!
That is always happened to me when I’m sleeping, such a PAIN
Maybe I should do some exercise!
I think tomorrow’s wonder will be about food rules
Oh boy, Wa’ad! We bet some stretching will help those cramps! We look forward to WONDERing with you tomorrow!
I LOVE WONDEROPOLIS!!!!!
BEST WEBSITE EVER!!!!!!
WOOHOO, thank you so very much, Chrissy!
Wow!!!! That’s cool! I love Wonderopolis so much!
Thanks for sharing your comment, lilipop! Thanks for WONDERing with us today!
Hi wonderopolis I read that the place that receives the most cramps is the leg, but I get my cramps mostly in my abdomen when I run or do many movements like dancing. Why does this happen?
We get cramps in all different muscles, depending on what we do, Emily! Keep stretching, and drinking lots of water, too! Thanks for WONDERing about muscles with us today!
I do not really drink pickle juice yuck! But it is good that you do not have to drink too much of it. I enjoy wondering with you. Thanks for evrything!
That’s okay, Blakeleigh! While pickle juice may not be your favorite thing to drink (it’s not ours, either), it can help in the case of muscle cramps. You can prevent muscle cramps in other ways, too! Thanks so very much for WONDERing with us– we enjoy your company!
I’m from Mrs. Hess’ class I thought it was boring but interesting.
Hi there, James! We’re sorry to hear that our cramping Wonder wasn’t one of your favorites, but we’re glad you’re here! Do you have a favorite new fact you learned today?
I don’t like it when I get the cramps in my stomach. Also, how did you get your picture?
Can I have one too?!
Cramps are no fun at all, we agree, Jusin! That’s why it’s important to drink lots of water and stretch after exercising! We are glad you asked about our picture! You can get an avatar, or picture, with the help of an adult or computer teacher. We bet you can find some more information about it on the Internet!
I get cramps all the time.
Oh no, Wonder Friend Jon! We’re sorry to hear that! We hope you continue to drink lots of fluids and stretch after you exercise or play a sport! The next time you are feeling cramped, try talking to an adult or parent about those cramps. Perhaps a trip to the doctor will help you understand why your body is cramping up!
I think that the belly muscle is the most common to cramp. Will pickle juice help that?
Great question, Reagan! Cramps can be caused from many different things, but usually muscle cramps can be eased with some salty and water (like pickle juice)! Thanks for sharing your comment!
I’ve never had a muscle cramp and wonderopolis I thought these videos would be more educational but I still love when will pigs fly thanks wonderopolis by the way what are your names so I can thank you all?
Hey there, Wonder Friend Chamani! We’re glad you haven’t been cramping– your muscles are in great shape and you have been drinking enough water! Good for you!
There are LOTS of Wonder Friends who read all these awesome comments we receive, and lots of us respond to you! We are so very glad you have visited us today, and we look forward to WONDERing with you again soon! 
We would like to know, what is it in the pickle juice that relieves muscle cramps? Are there other drinks that you can drink to make your cramps go away as fast as pickle juice?
Hello Wonder Friends in Mrs. Higgins’ Class! Thanks for visiting Wonderopolis today, we are so glad you’re here! Pickle juice is a way to combat dehydration. When your body doesn’t have enough sodium in it (perhaps you’ve been sweating a lot and you’ve sweat out the sodium), pickle juice can help! Some athletes eat chips after a big race. The saltiness of the chips helps them retain water!