What is a Charley Horse really?
A charley horse also known as a muscle cramp is an involuntary and forcibly contracted muscle that does not relax. A muscle cramp can be one muscle or several muscles.
Meet Charley
Just about anyone can experience a muscle cramp. However, high performance athletes, young children and older people are at higher risk.
Charley horses can be caused by heavy exercise in hot weather, muscle fatigue, insufficient stretching before exercising and poor circulation in the legs.
The best way to avoid one of these painful cramps is to stay hydrated and stretch properly before exercise.
Most of the time these charley horse cramps will go away within a couple of minutes, but if you have them frequently you should consult a doctor.
Florida Sportsmedicine and Orthopaedics, PA
Dr. James Talkington
850-763-0346
