What is a Charley horse? If you have ever had an incredibly painful leg cramp come on fast and furiously you have likely experienced a Charley horse. This type of muscle spasm tends to occur when ...

A charley horse is a painful, involuntary muscle spasm or cramp, usually in the legs. Treatment typically includes stretching and massaging the muscle, applying heat and ice, and hydrating ...

How to stop leg cramps fast Even if experts don't quite know why you get a charley horse, they do have some recommendations on how to stop them so you can relieve the pain and get on with your ...

Learn more about the causes, risk factors, diagnosis, treatment, & prevention of Charley horses - cramps caused by muscle spasms, involuntary contractions of one or more muscles ...

Before engaging in physical activity, ensure you warm up properly and avoid overexertion. Interestingly, the terms 'Charley Horse' and 'leg cramps' are often used interchangeably.

It also appears that charley horse originally implied a much more serious injury—or perhaps there was a bit of hysteria surrounding a condition that seemed new and scary in the late 19th century.

During a charley horse, an involuntary signal is sent to the muscle without the “proper instructions,” she says, and as a result, the muscle fibers shorten and contract too hard.

A charley horse is another term for a leg cramp. Learn more about why charley horses happen, how to relieve them, and when a person should seek medical help.