Mnemonic : Causes of Muscle Cramps / ‘Charley Horse’

Muscle cramps can occur anywhere but most commonly affect the calf muscles. Since the pain can make you limp like a old horse, calf muscle cramps are colloquially called a “Charley Horse“. These cramps are often ‘physiologic’ with age related muscle & tendon loss or exercise stress related, which sets up imbalance between stimulatory receptors (muscle spindles) and inhibitory receptors (Golgi Tendon Organs). Frequent cramping, however, might deserve looking for underying disease or make a connection to their known disease.

Here’s my way of helping me remembering / recalling causes of muscle cramps:

C – Clot (DVT), Calcium low/high, Also common in CHF, Cirrhosis, COPD
R – Renal Failure & dehydration, Rhabdomyolysis
A – Anemia, Arterial disease, ALS
M – Magnesium low/high , Medications (Statins, Diuretics, Beta-blockers, Antipsychotics)
P – Potassium low/high, Pregnancy
S – Surgery, Stress on muscle, Sedentary

If you known anyone suffering from frequent calf muscle cramps, a device like this is an effective treatment. By stretching the calf, it activates the Golgi Tendon Organ receptor which then relaxes the muscle & breaks the spasm. To reduce your risk of age or exercise-related cramps, stay hydrated, doing easy calf muscle workouts and calf stretches on a weekly basis is a good idea.