Leg Cramps Swimming laps

Cramps while swimming happen to many athletes, often when they are trying to do more or swim harder than they normally do. While it may be a case of fitness and just needing to build it up, there are some things that you can attempt to lessen the intensity and frequency of the cramps.

1) try to push off with your foot flat on the wall, not just from the toes

2) try to leave your ankle relaxed, not pointing your toes. You do want you toes pointed toward the opposite wall but if you are constantly pointing your toes instead of kicking with a relaxed ankle, you will often have cramping result

3) smaller, controlled kicking at all times

Shane

I had the same problem when I started two years ago. It eventually went away. The typical reasons for cramps are either; you're dehydrated, you're low on electrolytes, or you're pushing the muscle harder than it's used to. If you're drinking lots of water before and during and if you're making sure to get enough electrolytes in your diet then the most probable reason is that your muscles just have to get used to it. It took me about a year of swimming before my cramps weren't an issue anymore. I still get little cramps once in a while but I keep swimming and nurse it along and it usually goes away.

I'm prone to cramps while swimming also. The more fatigue or miles I have on my legs that week the more careful I have to be. I've had some pretty funny hobbling laps around the pool during masters swim. Had some pretty impressive knots in my calves that scared the lifeguards as well.

1, As my fitness improves the frequency has decreased (intensity has not )
2. I was dieting when I first started swimming hard, un-fueled body = more cramps

How I deal.

1. Pull buoy anytime my legs twinge, for as long as necessary, could be 100yds, could be the final 1000yds of the workout. Just let the legs relax
2. Nutrition 1/2 to 1hr before hard swims
3. Suck it up buttercup

What coincidental timing. Yesterday evening during OWS, my calves were cramping. I tend to drag my feet in the water and was working on keeping my body horizontal with a decent kick (I have been doing a lot of kick drills in the pool), but after about half a mile, my calves just kept cramping up. I couldn't exactly grab hold of the edge of the lake to recover, either. Do I need to do more kicking drills or is it something else?