| Charley horse | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Charley, [1] Charley-horse, [2] charlie horse, leg cramp |
| Specialty | Physiatry, Sports medicine, General practice, Primary care [3] [4] |
A charley horse is a colloquial term typically used to refer to a muscle cramp or stiffness, [5] particularly those of the calf, foot, leg, [6] or more rarely, the arm. [7] Some may use the term interchangeably with the term dead leg or thigh contusion, referring to a contusion caused by a physical blow to the leg or thigh. [8]
The term came into use in the setting of baseball in the United States in the 1880s, [9] though its exact origin is uncertain. [10]
The first known written use of the term was in 1886 in the Boston Globe. [11] [12] The origination has been attributed to two baseball players, Jack Glasscock and Joe Quest. [13] However, its exact origins is unknown. [14]
The dictionary definition of charley horse at Wiktionary The dictionary definition of dead leg at Wiktionary