 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (December 2016) |
| Muscle spasm | |
|---|---|
| Specialty | Neurology |
A spasm is a sudden involuntary contraction of a muscle,[1] a group of muscles, or a hollow organ, such as the bladder.
A spasmodic muscle contraction may be caused by many medical conditions, including dystonia. Most commonly, it is a muscle cramp which is accompanied by a sudden burst of pain. A muscle cramp is usually harmless and ceases after a few minutes. It is typically caused by ion imbalance or muscle overload.
There are other causes of involuntary muscle contractions, and some of these may cause a health problem.
A series of spasms, or permanent spasms, is referred to as a "spasmism".