Stopping Feet and Leg Cramping

RE: Stopping Feet and Leg Cramping

ViveBene — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 12:17:54 GMT

I expect we are all running experiments with sample size of one. Wonder if any of the docs on the forum would like to weigh in with their opinion. I'm inclined toward door 3 myself, while recognizing the perdurance of the other doors (hydrating and calcating and replacing electrolytes...). Regards, VB

RE: Stopping Feet and Leg Cramping

Former Member — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 15:03:09 GMT

An interesting article from the NY Times about muscle cramps... Summary from www.sportsgeezer.com: www.sportsgeezer.com/.../gina-kolata-on.html Gina Kolata on the Mystery of the Common Cramp "Geeky athletes who do the numbers know that cramps afflict 39 percent of marathon runners, 79 percent of triathletes, and 60 percent of cyclists at one time or another. What they don't know is why. Cramps are, as Gina Kolata writes in this New York Times piece, a medical mystery. The Times reports that cramps are commonly attributed to one of three factors: dehydration, electrolytic deficiency, and, more likely, an imbalance between nerve signals that excite a muscle and those that inhibit its contractions. Such an imbalance is more likely to occur when a muscle is growing fatigued. Geezer, who barely passed high school biology, goes with door number three. Read more about what may cause cramps, but probably doesn't, in the New York Times..." www.nytimes.com/.../14BEST.html

RE: Stopping Feet and Leg Cramping

Muppet — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 11:37:06 GMT

I've read that dehydration is a leading cause of cramps, and in some cases, ingesting water doesn't do the athlete any good if they aren't retaining the water. For those instances, it was suggested that the athlete consume salty foods (ie pretzels) prior to workout/race to help the body retain the water.

RE: Stopping Feet and Leg Cramping

Former Member — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 15:03:29 GMT

I just wanted to mention since someone may have misread what I wrote, you must take both Calcium and Magnesium. I never took anything prior to this, and I am taking minimum amounts to start with. So far, so good. And I do hydrate, I do stretch my legs/calves, etc. But this is the first time I am having great success with eliminating this kind of cramping which has stopped me from swimmer further distances. And I used to swim with Zoomer fins and I would cramp up at about 3 miles. I otta try using them again to see if this Calcium/Magnesium thing is helping. donna

RE: Stopping Feet and Leg Cramping

Former Member — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 14:39:35 GMT

I've been swimming for just over a month, 4/5 days a week, and the only cramping/muscle strain I have had thus far is on my inner thigh/groin area (think because I was kicking out wrong breaststroking). Taking this GNC multivitamin sports blend and drinking plenty of water/gatorade seems to have helped significantly but I'm just doing bout 2500 yards/day, can't even imagine a 6 mile swim :eek: Great advice in here, bookmark worthy.

RE: Stopping Feet and Leg Cramping

Former Member — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 14:08:08 GMT

Calcium and pure apple cider vinegar. 2 table spoons of Apple cider vinegar, a table spoon of honey with a little water and your calcium is how to go.

RE: Stopping Feet and Leg Cramping

Former Member — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 13:54:01 GMT

A nutritionist suggested I take 2 or 3 rolaids before a long workout the night before......(I too get leg cramps; particularly using zoomers). This is helping me somewhat as the rolaids have manganese and calcium. He also suggested sea kelp, which I've yet to try......

RE: Stopping Feet and Leg Cramping

Former Member — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 12:20:46 GMT

Donna I need to be taking calcium anyway. I am bad with forgetting. I will try it out. I was having horrible cramping in my right calve in the beginning. It seems much better. I think I did toooooooo much in the beginning and I just fatigued the muscle. Plus I had never used fins before and that was tough. As I am getting into the swimming more and in better shape it is better. But you swim such long long distances so I KNOW I would be one big body cramp:whiteflag:. I am glad you found something that seems to help you. Katie

RE: Stopping Feet and Leg Cramping

ViveBene — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 08:09:47 GMT

Leg cramps, calcium, etc. Calcium: basic needs to resupply passive losses (i.e., to run your nervous system - brain, muscular system - heart, etc., with no extra stresses such as pregnancy, lactation, smoking, or heavy exercise): equivalent to amount of calcium in 1 qt of milk a day. That's around 1500 mg of calcium per day (1200 minimum) for women and men both. Check supplement labels for elemental calcium. That's what you're getting, and it's typically lower than the amount blazoned on the package. (Avoid calcium from shells, coral, etc. because those things create problems for the kidneys, and calcium from coral has been detected with high amounts of lead and other heavy metals from the processing method.) Also needed (for exercisers) is potassium, magnesium, and probably electrolyte supplementation. Hydration is important to avoid cramps. The dr. I saw about swimming-associated leg cramps said take Tylenol, an anti-inflammatory med. He was not a sports med guy, but I decided to try it. I take a high-dose pill 30-60 minutes before a significant workout or long swim. I believe, in conjunction with everything else, it does help. What really helps is getting those muscles and tendons more flexible and used to a hard workload, hard in this case meaning stuck in an unusual position without much relief over a long swim. And that means step classes 2-3 times a week. I don't think there is a single bullet, magic, silver, or other, for leg cramps. You have to work every possible angle. Foot cramps are comparatively trivial -- they won't stop you dead, the way leg cramps will -- but try specifically warming up the feet before a swim, using dancer's exercises. Regards, VB

RE: Stopping Feet and Leg Cramping

Former Member — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 15:59:12 GMT

In addition to a multivitamin, I consume 1800 mg of calcium per day (doctor's orders). It hasn't helped my foot and leg cramps one bit. :dunno: Anna Lea

RE: Stopping Feet and Leg Cramping

smontanaro — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 10:16:00 GMT

Donna, Are you taking this once a day? When in relation to your workouts? I also get cramps (foot and calf)m pretty regularly, though much earlier in my workouts (mine are never 6 or 7 miles long!). Thx, Skip Montanaro