Calve Muscles
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janlee_001
Posts: 309 Member
One of my biggest issues is my calve muscles. If I dance, Zumba, aerobics .... my calf muscle get extremely sore within 5 minutes of my workout. They cramp/lock up a bit. It's enough that I have to often pause my routine and stretch (toes toward body)
BTW - I even warmed up with a 7 minute exercise today and wore my leg warmers - didn't help.
Can anyone help me to prevent this or offer any suggestions? Thank you.
BTW - I even warmed up with a 7 minute exercise today and wore my leg warmers - didn't help.
Can anyone help me to prevent this or offer any suggestions? Thank you.
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Replies
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are you getting enough potassium?0
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bump. this happened to me at my first ballet class last night. my calf muscles cramped up on EVERY position we did on the balls of our feet! Seeing if anybody has advice too0
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Are your day shoes very different from your workout shoes? Aka, are you in high heels all day and then flats when they cramp?0
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Cramping muscles is usually caused by dehydration rather than stretching issues (most of the time anyway). Try hydrating more and make sure you are getting enough potassium which aids in hydration.0
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Extra water is just about the only thing that keeps my calves from cramping.0
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are you getting enough potassium?
Good suggestion.0 -
Are your day shoes very different from your workout shoes? Aka, are you in high heels all day and then flats when they cramp?0
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Water, bananas, and drink some pickle juice every day. Just like a quarter of a cup0
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bump. this happened to me at my first ballet class last night. my calf muscles cramped up on EVERY position we did on the balls of our feet! Seeing if anybody has advice too0
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I went to physio for this, was told I had overdone it and needed to strech more after. You could also try ice on them post workout or massaging them (or both). To be honest though mine have improved but still hurt every time, will have to try upping my potassium too methinks.0
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Water and bananas0
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I had that issue in the beginning. Stretching is the only thing that helped. Before and after I'll find a step or a curb and just 'hang' from my toes (letting my heels drop) for up to 5 minutes.0
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Potassium alone might no be enough. Some times muscle cramps are a result of low calcium levels as well. Try the potassium and if that doesn't work, try taking some calcium with Vitamin D.0
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Watch the Gatorade since it has loads of sugar. Better off eating a banana or coconut water(any of these options is going to yield you around 100 calories so make sure you add them). What worked for me with my shin splints(caused by weak calf muscles) was stretching after a warm up. Spend 5min doing some light exercise then do your stretches. Once I started doing that my cramps and shin splints have mostly gone away.
If this is your first time exercising in a long time it's just going to hurt for a while. My entire body was sore for two months after I got back in the gym after a decade off.0 -
water, bananas, much more stretching and get a foam roller.0
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potassium, water, stretching, no flip flops or high heels, foam roller, calf massage.0
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I used to wear very high heels (4 or more inches) everyday, and this same thing happened to me when I started in on exercise. If this is the case for you as well, try wearing a shoe with even a tiny heel, such as the kind made by Sketchers, so that the calf muscle doesn't get over extended during your class.
I know that Zumba is supposed to be done barefoot, but if you don't ever wear the shoes outdoors, and they have a non-marking outsole, I'm sure the gym will make an exception for modification purposes.0 -
I had that issue in the beginning. Stretching is the only thing that helped. Before and after I'll find a step or a curb and just 'hang' from my toes (letting my heels drop) for up to 5 minutes.0
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BUT I love my flip flops :noway:0
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I always cramp up if I'm not getting enough calcium.0
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