Stopping cramp

utherpendragon · 17 Aug 2009 at 23:47

Bit of advice needed really, started swimming again a couple of weeks ago and no matter what i seem to do I'm constantly getting cramp in my calfs when sprinting.

I do the usual preventative steps, plety of water, thorough stretching but top no avail. I used to swim to quite a high standard but haven't swam for any decent length of time in around four years.

If I take my time and just do lengths at a slower pace it's all good, never been an issue in football either. Is it just one of those things I'll have to live with, or is there something I can do to stop it?

Zip · 18 Aug 2009 at 09:01

Gatorade!

Well its suposed to help and i know people that say it helps them

aztechnology · 18 Aug 2009 at 09:41

You'll have to work on flexibliity again, lots of calf stretches etc. Cramp is basically condition, get the condition back and you'll loose the cramps.

About.com has the following to say

What Causes Muscle Cramps

The exact cause of muscle cramps is still unknown, but the theories most commonly cited include:

Altered neuromuscular control

Dehydration

Electrolyte depletion

Poor conditioning

Muscle fatigue

Doing a new activity

and suggests the following

Treating Muscle Cramps

Cramps usually go away on their own without treatment, but these tips appears to help speed the healing process:

Stop the activity that caused the cramp.

Gently stretch and massage the cramping muscle.

Hold the joint in a stretched position until the cramp stops.

Preventing Muscle Cramps

Until we learn the exact cause of muscle cramps, it will be difficult to say with any confidence how to prevent them. However, these tips are most recommended by experts and athletes alike:

Improve fitness and avoid muscle fatigue

Stretch regularly after exercise

Warm up before exercise

Stretch the calf muscle: In a standing lunge with both feet pointed forward, straighten the rear leg.

Stretch the hamstring muscle: Sit with one leg folded in and the other straight out, foot upright and toes and ankle relaxed. Lean forward slightly, touch foot of straightened leg. (Repeat with opposite leg.)

Stretch the quadriceps muscle: While standing, hold top of foot with opposite hand and gently pull heel toward buttocks. (Repeat with opposite leg.)

Most muscle cramps are not serious. If your muscle cramps are severe, frequent, constant or of concern, see your doctor.

I used to get frequent calf cramps when I took up serious swimming practice, now I get them occassionally, after an intense kick session. I'm just fitter and more used to swimming with no real change to other variables.

Beerbaron · 18 Aug 2009 at 10:02

aztechnology said:
Dehydration
Electrolyte depletion

lucozade sport helps prevent this

aztechnology · 18 Aug 2009 at 10:19

Beerbaron said:
lucozade sport helps prevent this

it does, but get pricey. I use SIS Go powders to keep costs down.

tom_e · 18 Aug 2009 at 11:20

If you decide to go down the elecrolyte drink route then www.myprotein.co.uk do an electrolyte powder which should save you a fortune, but then again how long are you swimming for? If you can still get crap right at the begining of your session then it doesnt sound like they will help

Majago · 18 Aug 2009 at 11:26

I was talking to a friend about cramp and he suggested drinking tonic water due to the quinine in it being good for cramp.

Before I go out and purchase some, could anyone confirm or deny this rumour?

Thanks

utherpendragon · 18 Aug 2009 at 11:28

Well I just drink squash with added salt and sugar when swimming. Is a lucozade really going to be that much better. Its only really swimming I get this problem, running is no big deal and the muscles are well conditioned.

Think it'll be a case of another 10 mins more thorough stretching and plenty of water in the day.

I'm swimming for around 2-2.5 hours (well, in the pool that long probably half hour of it is spent resting, drinking, etc), the cramp seems to kick in after the first hour or so after my warm ups.

tom_e · 18 Aug 2009 at 11:30

Majago said:
I was talking to a friend about cramp and he suggested drinking tonic water due to the quinine in it being good for cramp.

Before I go out and purchase some, could anyone confirm or deny this rumour?

Thanks

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=quinine+++cramps&meta= it would appear it is prescribed for them although weather theres enough in tonic water to make a difference I don't know

aztechnology · 18 Aug 2009 at 15:26

utherpendragon said:
Well I just drink squash with added salt and sugar when swimming. Is a lucozade really going to be that much better.

It tastes a lot better, and the salts "should be" correctly balanced and contain more than just sodium chloride and glucose....

#Chri5# · 18 Aug 2009 at 18:32

Maybe worth trying some electrolyte tablets like Nuun or Zym eg

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=20326

I've been using the Zym tablets for longer bike rides and they seem to work for me.