Charley horse is a condition that affects the calf area of the leg. The more generic term used to describe charley horse is muscle cramp or muscle spasm. Muscle cramps or spasms can occur in any part of the body where there are one or more muscles. When muscles get cramped in the calf area, in other words when the calf muscles get cramped or develop spasms, it is known as charley horse. At times, muscle spasms in the upper areas of the thighs or further down the calf muscles are also referred to as charley horse.
What is a Charley Horse?
Charley horse is an involuntary condition. It is characterized by stiffening of the muscles which can cause pain, irritation and temporary immobility. It can cause very minor pain which would be seldom unbearable but it can be very painful for some people. Charley horse can happen at the time of exercising, just after you have exercised, long after you have exercised or when you are sleeping. Due to sedentary lifestyles, people sitting for a long time or being immobile for a long time can also develop charley horse at any time of the day without warning. It is necessary to highlight that it is an involuntary condition. When you are stiffening your calf muscle on your own, it isn’t a charley horse.
Causes for Charley Horses
There are many causes of charley horse. The primary causes are lack of proper blood flow or poor blood circulation to the legs and calf muscles in particular, wear and tear of the calf muscle, muscle fatigue and dehydration among others. The poor blood flow can be caused by tissue or venous inflammations or some condition in the legs. Wear and tear of muscles are very common when you do not stretch before exercising or you exercise too much, more than what your body and muscles can bear. Dehydration and malnutrition or improper nutrition can also lead to muscle spasms or charley horse.
Mineral deficiency, especially those of potassium and magnesium, can cause charley horse. Neural problems, spinal cord injury, pinched nerves in the back or in the upper thighs and lower legs and many other health ailments can also directly or indirectly cause charley horse. There are tons of medications which can cause charley horse as a side effect. You must consult your doctor and assess your medical history and current medication to know which medicine may be causing the muscle spasms.
