Muscle cramps, an involuntary and painful contraction of a skeletal muscle, are a common problem for athletes. Muscle cramps can affect s player’s productivity during a game.
It’s not known what causes muscle cramps, although they’re often associated with excessive heat and the loss of fluids and minerals, such as calcium, sodium, and potassium, through sweat. In addition, a tight muscle tends to cramp more easily. They occur without warning, typically in a working muscle. Muscle cramps usually occur near the end of the activity, after the body has been stressed for a period of time.