HOSA Sports Medicine Practice Test 2025 – Complete Exam Prep

The main characteristic of heat cramps is spastic contraction of a voluntary muscle. This condition occurs as a result of the body losing a significant amount of salt through sweating, leading to painful cramps in involuntary muscles, particularly those that are being used repetitively. These cramps are often described as spasms or intense, involuntary muscle contractions that usually affect the abdomen, legs, or arms. The muscle contractions are typically associated with strenuous physical activity in high temperatures.

Rapid heart rate is not specifically a feature of heat cramps; rather, it may be associated with heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Swollen muscles could suggest a muscle strain or injury but are not characteristic of heat cramps. Cold, clammy skin is more indicative of heat exhaustion, which involves different physiological responses compared to the localized muscle spasms seen in heat cramps. Thus, spastic contraction of a voluntary muscle is the defining symptom of heat cramps.