Unfamiliar exercise activities can also cause muscle spasms to occur. Abdominal spasms can occur when a person decides to begin working their abdominal muscles by doing sit-ups and does too many too quickly. Writer's cramps of the hand and fingers are similarly caused by prolonged use of the small muscles in the hand. It is commonly thought that dehydration and depletion of electrolytes will lead to muscle spasm and cramping.