5 Signs Your Muscles Spasms Are Something More Serious
Runners are no strangers to calf cramps. But if you notice during your training that your leg or foot is always cramping at the same mile marker—it could be the third, the seventh, or any mile as long as it’s consistent— you could be suffering from compartment syndrome.
Usually when the muscles expand, the compartment—or area in which muscles and organs are organized—isn’t tight and there is no issue, says Danesh. “But for some people, either from scarring or just large muscles in the compartment, there is not enough space to accommodate the exercise,” he says. “When you exercise, your muscles need more blood and the vessels dilate to bring more blood to the muscles. In a tight compartment there isn’t enough room.” Thus, an excessive amount of pressure builds in a specific muscle area, in this case the calf, which can prevent blood flow and lead to severe tissue damage. Although the syndrome is rare, this isn’t something you want to discount. Definitely talk to your doctor.