Photo: Nick Anderson of Greenville, N.C., left, his father Rick Anderson and stepbrother Jeramie Mullis pose with the 143-pound blue catfish caught Saturday in Virginia in Buggs Island Lake, also known as the Kerr Reservoir. The previous world record was a 130-pounder caught in the Missouri River last year.
A muscle cramp is a strong, painful contraction or tightening of a muscle that comes on suddenly and lasts from a few seconds to several minutes. It often occurs in the legs. A muscle cramp is also called a charley horse. Nighttime leg cramps are usually sudden spasms, or tightening, of muscles in the calf.
Muscle spasm facts. 1  Spasms may affect many different types of muscles in the body, leading to many different symptoms and presentations. 2  Spasms of skeletal muscles are most common and are often due to dehydration and electrolyte abnormalities. 3  The spasm occurs abruptly, is painful, and is usually short-lived. If muscle spasms are especially painful, if they do not resolve or if they recur, medical care should be accessed to look for possible underlying causes. 2  Smooth muscles that are within the walls of hollow organs can go into spasm, causing significant pain.