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Muscular atrophy
Muscular atrophy
OverviewTreatment

Hand or foot spasms

Definition:
Spasms are contractions of the hands, thumbs, feet, or toes that are sometimes seen with muscle cramps, twitching, and convulsions (tetany). They can be severe and painful.

Alternative Names:
Foot spasms; Carpopedal spasm; Spasms of the hands or feet

Considerations:

Spasms of the hands or feet may be an important early sign of tetany, a potentially life-threatening condition. Tetany is a manifestation of an abnormality in calcium level, which can be linked to the following:

These spasms are usually accompanied by the following symptoms:



Common Causes:


Review Date: 11/14/2002
Reviewed By: Elaine T. Kiriakopoulos, M.D., M.Sc., Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard University, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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