Hand cramps and spasms can come on at any time, causing pain especially when they last for more than a few seconds. They can be caused by several conditions or just happen out of the blue for seemingly no reason at all. If you’ve experienced a time where it’s hard to move your fingers or open up your hand then you know exactly what we are talking about.
Learning more about hand cramps can help you avoid them in the future, understand their causes, and treat them more effectively. You shouldn’t have to live with hand cramps that interfere with your life. Read on to learn more and stop those cramps in their tracks.
All About Muscle Contraction
Muscle contraction is a complex system that involves the brain, muscles, nerves, and spinal cord. “Certain chemicals and proteins are also involved in normal muscle contraction and are responsible for the shortening and relaxation of muscle fibers,” says Medical News Today. With a signal from the brain, muscles contract and proteins and chemicals move in and out of the cells. When something is not quite right, cramping and muscle spasms can happen.
The spasm is the muscle repeatedly contracting and releasing or just contracting and maintaining a sense of tightness. These episodes of cramping and spasming are generally short lived. When they last more than a few moments they can be very painful.