Manhattan Podiatry Office
930 Fifth Ave., East 74th St.
New York, NY 10021
(212) 570-9300
Brooklyn Podiatry Office
369 93rd Street
Brooklyn, NY 11209
(718) 680-6276
Patient Education: Reference Library and Glossary
Patient Education
Spasms
The staff at Hamilton Foot and Ankle Associates believes that informed patients are better equipped to make decisions regarding their health and well being. For your personal use, we have created an extensive podiatric reference library covering an array of educational topics. Browse through these diagnoses and treatments to learn more about items of interest to you. Or, for a more comprehensive search of our entire web site, enter your term(s) in the search bar provided.
As always, you can contact our office to answer any questions or concerns.
Spasms are contractions of the hands, thumbs, feet, or toes and are sometimes seen with muscle cramps, twitching, and convulsions. The contractions of the muscles can be violent.
Carpopedal spasms, or spasms in the feet or toes, are usually accompanied by numbness, tingling, or a "pins-and-needles" feeling; muscle weakness; fatigue; cramping; twitching; and uncontrolled, purposeless, rapid motions.
Common causes of spasms include:
- Vitamin D deficiency.
- Hyperventilation (calcium becomes temporarily unavailable to the body during hyperventilation).
- Hypocalcemia.
- Muscle cramps, usually caused by sports or occupational muscle injury.
- Parkinson's disease and other neuromuscular conditions.
Spasms of the hands or feet can be an important early warning sign of other serious health problems, so it is important to seek medical attention. Treatments may include calcium and Vitamin D supplements (if you have a deficiency).