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Characteristics of muscle cramps in patients with polyneuropathy.
- Source :
-
Neuromuscular disorders : NMD [Neuromuscul Disord] 2014 Aug; Vol. 24 (8), pp. 671-6. Date of Electronic Publication: 2014 May 09. - Publication Year :
- 2014
-
Abstract
- Muscle cramps are common in the general population and can be disabling for patients, but there is little evidence comprehensively evaluating cramp characteristics in patients with polyneuropathy. This study describes the prevalence and characteristics of muscle cramps in this patient group. Patients over 18 diagnosed with polyneuropathy were invited to join the study. Patients completed nerve conduction studies, the Toronto Clinical Neuropathy score, neuropathy-specific Vickrey's Quality of Life Assessment and a self-administered questionnaire examining demographics, neuropathy symptoms and cramp characteristics. Two hundred and twenty-five participants were enrolled (28.0% female). Sixty-three percent of patients experienced cramps, occurring on average 6 times per week, lasting 10.5 min and scoring 6 out of 10 on a pain scale and described as disabling by 43.6% of patients. No significant difference was found in cramp prevalence according to underlying pathophysiology (p = 0.52) or fiber type (p = 0.41). Patients with disabling cramps rated their physical (p < 0.0001) and mental (p = 0.04) quality of life lower than patients without disabling cramps. This study confirms that muscle cramps are common, disabling and associated with reduced quality of life in patients with polyneuropathy. Similar prevalence of cramps across predominant nerve fiber type suggests a role of sensory afferents in cramp generation, although this needs to be confirmed in larger cohorts.<br /> (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)
- Subjects :
- Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Muscle Cramp etiology
Muscle Cramp psychology
Neural Conduction
Pain Measurement
Polyneuropathies etiology
Polyneuropathies psychology
Prevalence
Quality of Life
Severity of Illness Index
Surveys and Questionnaires
Young Adult
Muscle Cramp epidemiology
Muscle Cramp physiopathology
Polyneuropathies epidemiology
Polyneuropathies physiopathology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1873-2364
- Volume :
- 24
- Issue :
- 8
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Neuromuscular disorders : NMD
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 24878228
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nmd.2014.04.008