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Weird Lower Leg Cramps while Swimming?
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 2005-12-28 1:38 PM |
Expert  928    Kaneohe, Hawaii |  Subject: Weird Lower Leg Cramps while Swimming?I just remembered that I got some weird lower leg cramps at the end of my 2000m OWS yesterday. I was nearly at the end and then I got this weird crap in my left calf/foot that caused my "ring-toe" on my left foot to cramp and pull down. It was uncomfortable and a little painful. All I could do was shake my left leg around and wait for it to clear on it's own. Just as the left foot was clearing I got a much sharper cramp in my right calf area that seemed to lock my ankle. I still had about 150m to go so I kept shaking my legs around to get the blood flowing. By the time I got to the shoreline both legs were fine. I even ran 2 miles after this with no cramping or anything. I've experienced the left leg/toe cramp a few times before while relaxing in bed but this is the first time this has happened while swimming. The right leg cramp is completely new. Weird, right? Any ideas? |
| 2005-12-28 1:40 PM in reply to: #312554 |
The Original 7834  Raleigh/Durham | Subject: RE: Weird Lower Leg Cramps while Swimming? I got a really bad cramp in my first OWS. Not sure why- but my one calf cramped and hurt like a mother! After the cramping subsiding, I had so much lactic acid built up that it hurt for about a week after. It was crazy! I don't know why that happened- luckily it's only happened to me once. Had I not had on my wetsuit I probably would have drown because I coudn't move my leg! |
| 2005-12-28 1:46 PM in reply to: #312560 |
Cycling Guru 15134 Fulton, MD | Subject: RE: Weird Lower Leg Cramps while Swimming? Electrolyte depletion is the main cause of cramping and the fact that you get no food/drink during the activity. Your toes are "pointed" while you swim which basically makes you act like you are flexing your calf muscle the whole time which puts a strain on the muscle. I got that a lot when body surfing for long periods of time in my youth ....... At least that's my take on it. |
| 2005-12-28 2:13 PM in reply to: #312554 |
| Crystal Lake, IL | Subject: RE: Weird Lower Leg Cramps while Swimming? About half the time I'll get a cramp in the same spot if I push toward my personal long distance in the swim. I usually just breast stroke through it dragging one leg because there's only a lap or two to go. This leads me to believe it's a conditioning issue and the result of not properly preparing my body for a long swim. In college we used to eat bananas the day before and the day of a bike race to prevent cramping. The one race I didn't do it I cramped so bad halfway through that I had to stop and let myself fall over sideways into the grass - my only DNF. So now when I cramp during a swim I mentally use the leg I'm dragging to kick myself for not eating my bananas like a good hangloose should. Do Wookies like bananas? |
| 2005-12-28 2:20 PM in reply to: #312584 |
Cycling Guru 15134 Fulton, MD | Subject: RE: Weird Lower Leg Cramps while Swimming? hangloose - 2005-12-28 3:13 PM In college we used to eat bananas the day before and the day of a bike race to prevent cramping. The one race I didn't do it I cramped so bad halfway through that I had to stop and let myself fall over sideways into the grass - my only DNF. Hmm, funny about that! Bananas = potassium = electrolytes ............ ;-P |
| 2005-12-28 2:58 PM in reply to: #312554 |
Expert 928 Kaneohe, Hawaii | Subject: RE: Weird Lower Leg Cramps while Swimming? Yep... Wookies LOVE bananas! I need to pick some up. I try to buy them regularly but the kids wack 'em almost as soon as they hit the counter. Some sort of electrolyte supplement would be good to. I'll have to look around for something suitable and cheap. |
| 2005-12-28 3:16 PM in reply to: #312613 |
Veteran 509 Oak Park, IL | Subject: RE: Weird Lower Leg Cramps while Swimming? i am just jealous that you are able to do a OWS. while it is unseasonable warm here, it is still 35 degrees F. |
| 2005-12-28 3:56 PM in reply to: #312613 |
Member 33 Imperial Beach | Subject: RE: Weird Lower Leg Cramps while Swimming? endoralytes from Hammer are good with no extra simple sugar. I get cramps in my feet while in the pool after about 1500M I think from pushing off the wall combined with a lack of electrolytes. Since adding electrolytes before my swim workouts the cramps have pretty much gona away. |
| 2005-12-28 5:20 PM in reply to: #312632 |
Expert 928 Kaneohe, Hawaii | Subject: RE: Weird Lower Leg Cramps while Swimming? instigator - 2005-12-28 11:16 AM i am just jealous that you are able to do a OWS. while it is unseasonable warm here, it is still 35 degrees F. We pay for that luxury with our tremendous tax burden and highly inflated economy, not to mention our isolation. Edited by Shaved_Wookie 2005-12-28 5:21 PM |
| 2005-12-28 9:31 PM in reply to: #312554 |
Champion 8903 | Subject: RE: Weird Lower Leg Cramps while Swimming? Are you a lazy kicker while you swim? I found that I would get bad calf cramps on 1/2 IM distance swims and greater. That is until I mad a consciencous effort to start a regular kick. For years I would swim and simply drag my feet. After adopting a steady kick, I no longer suffered calf cramps. |
| 2005-12-29 12:38 AM in reply to: #312554 |
Expert 928 Kaneohe, Hawaii | Subject: RE: Weird Lower Leg Cramps while Swimming? Not really sure about my kick. Since reading about it here I try to kick from my hips rather than my knees (when I think about it). However, there is no rhyme or reason to my kick cadence, at least I don't think there is. My kick is mostly just for balance and to keep my legs elevated and not so much for propelling. |
| 2005-12-29 8:08 AM in reply to: #312554 |
Coach 10487 Boston, MA | Subject: RE: Weird Lower Leg Cramps while Swimming? FYI - there isn’t a defined known cause for muscle cramps. However daremo is right about his suggestion. They way I can avoid calf muscles when swimming is by warming up and stretching out side of the water (this one is key), by drinking gatorade before or while swimming and having a couple of edurolytes. Max also makes a great point. For us non swimmers we tend to have pretty inflexible ankles and a “lazy” kick. When we start kicking more we might get extra cramps |
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