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Muscle cramp susceptibility increases following a volitionally induced muscle cramp
Author(s) -
Miller Kevin C.,
Long Blaine C.,
Edwards Jeffrey E.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
muscle and nerve
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.025
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1097-4598
pISSN - 0148-639X
DOI - 10.1002/mus.25562
Subject(s) - medicine , electromyography , muscle cramp , intensity (physics) , anesthesia , physical therapy , physical medicine and rehabilitation , calf muscle , motor nerve , anatomy , physics , quantum mechanics
Muscle cramping may increase peripheral nervous system excitability. It is unknown if, and how long, cramp susceptibility is affected by previous cramping. We tested whether volitionally induced muscle cramps (VIMCs) lowered cramp threshold frequency (TF c ) and how long TF c was affected post‐VIMC. Methods Fifteen cramp‐prone participants volitionally induced a flexor hallucis brevis (FHB) cramp on 4 separate days. FHB TF c was measured before VIMC (i.e., baseline) and 5, 30, and 60 min post‐VIMC. VIMC electromyography (EMG) amplitude, VIMC duration, and perceived VIMC intensity were measured to ensure consistency of VIMC between days. Results VIMC EMG amplitude, duration, and perceived intensity were similar between days ( P > 0.05). VIMC lowered TF c ; baseline TF c (18 ± 6 H z ) was higher than 5‐min (14 ± 6 H z ), 30‐min (14 ± 5 H z ), and 60‐min TF c (14 ± 5 H z ; P < 0.05). Discussion Acute VIMCs increase cramp susceptibility. Clinicians should apply treatments for at least 60 min postcramp to decrease the probability of cramp recurrence. Muscle Nerve 56 : E95–E99, 2017