Hard core calf cramps

Thanks everyone. I tend to drink a ton of water, but I'll drink more from now on. And I'll try all the other suggestions, too. Thanks!

While you're re-acclimating, I suggest you devote serious time to calf stretching. I mean on your back, leg up in the air (other leg bent), using something elastic (strap/theraband) to gently elongate the calf muscle. Breath deeply. I'm talking at least 2 minutes per calf. Drink lots of water as mentioned, get adequate salt, and probably you need to breath a little more often, too.

I took liquid calcium to get rid of leg cramps. Two table spoons of apple cider vinegar, a little water and a table spoon of honey keeps calcium fluid in the blood. George

Eat bananas. The potassum is suppose to help. When I was pregant if I ate a banana every day I didn't get cramps. When I wasn't eating my bananas is when I got the leg cramps. My friend had the same experience.

Originally posted by nybeccaboo I just started swimming again after a 7 year hiatus and it seems that after I swim about a 1000 meters, I get calf cramps, usually in both calves. I rarely, if ever, had them when I swam competitively so this is a new experience to me. It doesn't matter which leg - usually both cramp up. And it's not like they last a few seconds. I can usually stretch them out enough to continue my workout, but my calves are then stiff and tight for a day or two afterwards. Any ideas on how to avoid them? I've tried stretching them before swimming, but it doesn't seem to help. I've started swimming after several year or more long breaks and each time my calf muscles would cramp up regularly. This time I started doing calf presses before I got back into the water. In several months of swimming I've had two calf muscle cramps and neither was very long-lasting. My calf muscles haven't cramped up in the middle of the night either (talk about a rude awakening). As I’m not sure if “calf press” is the commonly accepted term I’ll explain what I mean. Stand barefoot with your toes on the edge of a stair. You can also use a phonebook to stand on if stairs are not available or convenient. Now just raise your body up and then down below the stair/phonebook. You’ll start to feel your calf muscles burn almost immediately. Start with 3 sets of 15 and work up from there.

oh good one! calf presses! those work, too! heartily endorse those! I used to fear calf presses/raises would make the calves even more prone to cramping but the opposite is true. THis exercise really improves circulation/fuel carriage

Do you do the calf presses just before swimming, or as part of dry land conditioning?

Originally posted by swimlong Do you do the calf presses just before swimming, or as part of dry land conditioning? I do calf presses when I'm on the legs portion of my weight training routine (3 days per week). Lately that means doing them about an hour and a half before I get into the water, but I've only been swimming after weight training for the past month. Prior to that I would swim and lift on different days. From what I can tell you aren't going to run a risk of cramping unless you do them *right* before getting into the water. That said, your calf muscles will cramp up if you push them too hard, so I strongly suggest not starting out with more than 3 sets of 15.

I've had the same problem. Try a supplement with calcium, magnesium, niacin, vit. D and B6 in one. Drink water, I start the day with a full glass of water and drink alot all day I swim at night. And do calf presses/toe raises daily sets of ten along with stretches.

Put the ball of your foot on the side of the wall, your heel on the bottom, move your hip to the wall and stretch the calf muscle two or three times. Not to hard be gentle at first. My coaches remedy 60 years ago. George www.swimdownhill.com