i thought i'd have a right good workout tonight,did freestyle and breastroke alternately 50's but after 750metres of not too fast a swim my calf muscles started to twinge/cramp up,cos i've had this before i eased off and just did breastroke for another1500metres by this time it had gone,so i returnes to alternate freestyle then breastroke every 25 for the last 750 this with occasional rest was ok...i've always thought it was lack of salt but whats the deal with cramps cos it really bugs me ,but not all the time?
I usually experience cramping as endurance related. My quads go out after fly, or my hamstrings will cramp, for instance, if I did weights prior to swimming. But like you mentioned, I bet your calves are probably cramping from the push-offs. What might make the problem worse is the calf is partially contracted to keep toes pointed while swimming.
If you havent tried already:
- calf raises with weights to strengthen the muscles (might get worse for awhile first)
- ankle stretching so your toes will naturally point streamlined and the exhausted (from push-offs) calves won't need to help
I usually experience cramping as endurance related. My quads go out after fly, or my hamstrings will cramp, for instance, if I did weights prior to swimming. But like you mentioned, I bet your calves are probably cramping from the push-offs. What might make the problem worse is the calf is partially contracted to keep toes pointed while swimming.
If you havent tried already:
- calf raises with weights to strengthen the muscles (might get worse for awhile first)
- ankle stretching so your toes will naturally point streamlined and the exhausted (from push-offs) calves won't need to help
