Charley Horse

Davidsdottir

So, I was at the gym yesterday for a leg day (I do legs/glutes 3x a week) and everything went well. After, I took off my Chucks and flexed my foot to put on my boots to leave. The flex caused an awful charley horse. I sometimes get them in the middle of the night, though not any time recently.

I've been doing research online and trying to figure out the best way to prevent them. I'm wondering if I have an electrolyte imbalance, as I'm constantly thirsty (dry office) and end up drinking about a gallon of water a day. Any thoughts would help, thanks!

cwolfman13

I used to get them a lot...for one thing, I had cut my sodium too low for my activity and what I was sweating out...that seemed to help, but I was still having some cramping going on when I did longer rides, etc...my trainer suggested trying a magnesium supplement and I haven't really had many issues since.

Davidsdottir

cwolfman13 wrote: »

I used to get them a lot...for one thing, I had cut my sodium too low for my activity and what I was sweating out...that seemed to help, but I was still having some cramping going on when I did longer rides, etc...my trainer suggested trying a magnesium supplement and I haven't really had many issues since.

Thanks, I'll look into that.

baconslave

Davidsdottir wrote: »

So, I was at the gym yesterday for a leg day (I do legs/glutes 3x a week) and everything went well. After, I took off my Chucks and flexed my foot to put on my boots to leave. The flex caused an awful charley horse. I sometimes get them in the middle of the night, though not any time recently.

I've been doing research online and trying to figure out the best way to prevent them. I'm wondering if I have an electrolyte imbalance, as I'm constantly thirsty (dry office) and end up drinking about a gallon of water a day. Any thoughts would help, thanks!

Davidsdottir wrote: »

cwolfman13 wrote: »

I used to get them a lot...for one thing, I had cut my sodium too low for my activity and what I was sweating out...that seemed to help, but I was still having some cramping going on when I did longer rides, etc...my trainer suggested trying a magnesium supplement and I haven't really had many issues since.

Thanks, I'll look into that.

I agree on the sodium. When you are drinking so so much water but don't have enough sodium intake, you flush more electrolytes. There is such thing as drinking too much water in this case. Increase sodium. 30min before exercise get a big bump, you can make your own calorie free "gatorade." Water + Mio + 1/4tsp salt. I'd do it another time in the day as well. And also 2nding the magnesium supplementation. Pills are ok. They also have a magnesium oil you can rub into your skin, which I have handy in case I still don't have enough mag, to rub in during a cramp. Go cautiously on the oral mag supplementation though. Up it slowly, because it can also give you the runs if you take too much at once. So take 200mg, and then inch it up from there to up to 300-400mg...s l o w l y to reach your tolerance level. I rarely have muscle cramps when I keep my electrolytes on par. If I have a night cramp now, it's because some DA had caffeine too late in the evening or didn't take her salt and mag. And that's her own dumb fault.

quiksylver296

Yep. I take magnesium for that reason.

MostlyWater

Drink pickle juice. Sleep with a bar of soap near your legs. And if you notice a certain activity or intensity level causing the Charley Horses, don't do them!!!

quiksylver296

MostlyWater wrote: »

Drink pickle juice. Sleep with a bar of soap near your legs. And if you notice a certain activity or intensity level causing the Charley Horses, don't do them!!!

Someone explain this to me.

baconslave

quiksylver296 wrote: »

MostlyWater wrote: »

Drink pickle juice. Sleep with a bar of soap near your legs. And if you notice a certain activity or intensity level causing the Charley Horses, don't do them!!!

Someone explain this to me.

:noway: It defies explanation.

Davidsdottir

baconslave wrote: »

quiksylver296 wrote: »

MostlyWater wrote: »

Drink pickle juice. Sleep with a bar of soap near your legs. And if you notice a certain activity or intensity level causing the Charley Horses, don't do them!!!

Someone explain this to me.

:noway: It defies explanation.

Someone at work told me to do this as well. I think I may have actually made that face in real life.

Lisa8823168

I increased sodium due to sweat, started magnesium at a low dose and made sure potassium was good. On days I don't eat potassium rich foods, I supplement. Nothing in major dose in any direction, just monitored it and tweaked it. Figured out my magic formula.

These also work good for menopausal women who suffer from muscle cramping and night sweats.