A muscle cramp is a painful spasm that causes the muscle to contract spontaneously.
Cramps are common during physical activities such as jogging and swimming.
They can occur in almost any muscle but the legs are the most common site. Cramps during the night may be caused from overexerting yourself during the day, a nutrient deficiency, or from poor circulation. If you get a cramp, massaging the muscle while gently stretching it should help. Applying a heating pad may also relieve the pain. If you get cramps often, try eating more of foods high in potassium and calcium such as bananas, yogurt, cheese and fiber enriched breads.