Subscribe to our newsletter. If yes, you probably still remember the sudden, tight and intense pain caused by a muscle locked in spasm. A cramp is an involuntary and forcibly contracted muscle that does not relax. Muscles that span two joints are most prone to cramping.
Cramps can involve part or all of a muscle, or several muscles in a group.
Cramps in the feet, hands, arms, abdomen and along the rib cage are also very common. Muscle cramps range in intensity from a slight tic to agonizing pain. A cramp can last a few seconds to 15 minutes or longer. It might recur multiple times before it goes away. A regular program of stretching lengthens muscle fibers so they can contract and tighten more vigorously when you exercise.