Exercise-associated Muscle Cramps in Runners: A Review

Objective: Exercise-associated Muscle Cramp (EAMC) is an intense, painful, and involuntary contraction of skeletal muscles during a physical activity. Runners are more prone to this syndrome than other athletes. The present paper aims to review of the literature on EAMC in runners to determine the r...

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Main Authors: Ali Fattahi, Mahboobeh Dehnavi, Leila Hamzeh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Islamic Azad University, Hamedan Branch 2021-08-01
Series:Biyumikānīk-i varzishī
Subjects:
Online Access:http://biomechanics.iauh.ac.ir/article-1-253-en.pdf
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author Ali Fattahi
Mahboobeh Dehnavi
Leila Hamzeh
author_facet Ali Fattahi
Mahboobeh Dehnavi
Leila Hamzeh
author_sort Ali Fattahi
collection DOAJ
description Objective: Exercise-associated Muscle Cramp (EAMC) is an intense, painful, and involuntary contraction of skeletal muscles during a physical activity. Runners are more prone to this syndrome than other athletes. The present paper aims to review of the literature on EAMC in runners to determine the reasons and nature of EAMC in this sports field. Methods: A search was conducted for related studies from 1997 to 2021 in MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE/SCOPUS, LILACS, CINAHL, CENTRAL, Web of Science, PEDro, Google Scholar as well as MagIran, IranDoc, IranMedex, MedLib using MeSH Keywords. The reference section of the studies were also checked to find more studies. Finally, 15 eligible papers on EAMC in runners were reviewed and findings were reported. Results: Several factors were found to be effective in EAMC among runners, including dehydration, electrolyte deficit, cold, long training or competition period, increased body temperature during training or competition, history of injury or muscle cramp, increased training intensity in short time, and dietary restrictions. Conclusion: The cause of EAMC in runners seems to be multifactorial.
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series Biyumikānīk-i varzishī
spelling doaj-art-e0b6531fe07d4588b16adc406fed0ba52025-08-20T03:39:25ZengIslamic Azad University, Hamedan BranchBiyumikānīk-i varzishī2476-49062476-59372021-08-01727893Exercise-associated Muscle Cramps in Runners: A ReviewAli Fattahi0Mahboobeh Dehnavi1Leila Hamzeh2 Department of Sports Biomechanics, Faculty of Physical Education and Sports Science, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran. Department of Sports Biomechanics, Faculty of Physical Education and Sports Science, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran. Department of Sports Biomechanics, Faculty of Physical Education and Sports Science, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran. Objective: Exercise-associated Muscle Cramp (EAMC) is an intense, painful, and involuntary contraction of skeletal muscles during a physical activity. Runners are more prone to this syndrome than other athletes. The present paper aims to review of the literature on EAMC in runners to determine the reasons and nature of EAMC in this sports field. Methods: A search was conducted for related studies from 1997 to 2021 in MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE/SCOPUS, LILACS, CINAHL, CENTRAL, Web of Science, PEDro, Google Scholar as well as MagIran, IranDoc, IranMedex, MedLib using MeSH Keywords. The reference section of the studies were also checked to find more studies. Finally, 15 eligible papers on EAMC in runners were reviewed and findings were reported. Results: Several factors were found to be effective in EAMC among runners, including dehydration, electrolyte deficit, cold, long training or competition period, increased body temperature during training or competition, history of injury or muscle cramp, increased training intensity in short time, and dietary restrictions. Conclusion: The cause of EAMC in runners seems to be multifactorial.http://biomechanics.iauh.ac.ir/article-1-253-en.pdfmuscle cramptrainingathletesrunners
spellingShingle Ali Fattahi
Mahboobeh Dehnavi
Leila Hamzeh
Exercise-associated Muscle Cramps in Runners: A Review
Biyumikānīk-i varzishī
muscle cramp
training
athletes
runners
title Exercise-associated Muscle Cramps in Runners: A Review
title_full Exercise-associated Muscle Cramps in Runners: A Review
title_fullStr Exercise-associated Muscle Cramps in Runners: A Review
title_full_unstemmed Exercise-associated Muscle Cramps in Runners: A Review
title_short Exercise-associated Muscle Cramps in Runners: A Review
title_sort exercise associated muscle cramps in runners a review
topic muscle cramp
training
athletes
runners
url http://biomechanics.iauh.ac.ir/article-1-253-en.pdf
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AT mahboobehdehnavi exerciseassociatedmusclecrampsinrunnersareview
AT leilahamzeh exerciseassociatedmusclecrampsinrunnersareview