charlie horse in calf muscle

shannahrose
shannahrose Posts: 585 Member
edited September 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
for the past few weeks i've been getting charlie horse cramps in my calf muscles. usually my right, but i've had both. they wake me up right out of a dead sleep and i have to massage it out - what a horrible pain!! it's been happening at least once a week for about a month now - is this normal?? for exercise, i take spin class 2 nights a week, and hit the gym for cardio (running or elliptical) for 30 mins on 3 other mornings, plus 30 day shred almost every day.

has anyone else dealt with these cramps or know how to avoid them?? i always warm up and stretch after exercise...

thanks in advance!!

Replies

  • MedaStrawn
    MedaStrawn Posts: 6
    I just started Karate after watching my boys do Kung Fu for over a year. I found that while I was in certain poses such as the cat pose or doing certain kicks, my calf would cramp up. I asked the teacher what could be causing this. She suggested it might be that I am not sufficently hydrating during the day. I never thought of making sure I was drinking enough water throughout the day and not just when I was excersising. So on the days I go to class, I make sure that I drink twice my normal amount. This may seem like a lot but my cramps have disappeared completely. Since I am an enviromental nut, I went to my local target and got a 24 oz. water bottle that is bpa free (cost 10.81 with tax). It has come in usefull for other things like when I have a Keva kick or getting a fountain drink, I will use that cup instead of the styrofoam or plastic cups. Hope this helps you.
  • MedaStrawn
    MedaStrawn Posts: 6
    Good luck and keep up the good work!
  • 00trayn
    00trayn Posts: 1,849 Member
    I get the exact same thing, in the middle of the night dead asleep. It's terrible, I usually end up leaping out of bed and rubbing it while walking around. I've realized that they happen when I stretch out my leg all the way, almost without fail that will cause one. They've happened to me for at least the last year, and last year I was completely out of shape, now I'm decently in shape so it hasn't really affected it. I'd love to hear if there is anything to do about them, I just avoid stretch my legs out all the way and that seems to prevent them from happening. But if I'm asleep and do it unconsciously... there isn't much I can do to control that...
  • babygrace2005
    babygrace2005 Posts: 1
    you may need potassium. :smile:
  • PoeRaven
    PoeRaven Posts: 433 Member
    My son, who is an athletic trainer, says you need potassium. Have a half of a banana after working out and then the other half as a snack before bedtime. Hope this helps!
    :drinker:
  • sagithia
    sagithia Posts: 135 Member
    Potassium is the correct answer.

    Aside from the aforementioned cantaloupe, potassium rich foods include:
    Bananas
    Oranges
    Apricots
    Avocado
    Strawberries
    Potatoes
    Tomatoes
    Cucumber
    Cabbage
    Cauliflower
    Chard
    Bell pepper
    Eggplant
    Squash
    Crimini mushrooms
    Brussels sprouts
    Turmeric
    Parsley
    Spinach
    Broccoli
    Tuna
    Halibut

    Here is a list of some foods high in potassium and their potassium content from the USDA National Nutrient Database:
    Potassium Rich Foods Weight Measure Potassium Content
    Raw, baby carrots 10 1 medium 24 mg
    Raw Lettuce 10 1 leaf 19 mg
    Raw Onions 14 1 slice 20 mg
    Fresh Strawberries 12 1 strawberry 18 mg
    Raw Garlic 3 1 clove 12 mg
    Honey 21 1 tablespoon 11 mg
    Raw Radishes 4.5 1 radish 10 mg
    Raw Peppers 10 1 ring 18 mg
    White Bread 23 1 slice 17 mg
    Papayas 304 1 papaya 781 mg
    Lima Beans 188 1 cup 955 mg
    Plantains 179 1 medium 893 mg
    Jerusalem Artichokes 150 1 cup 644 mg
    Bananas 118 1 banana 422 mg
    Oat Bran 94 1 cup 532 mg
    Tomatoes 255 1 cup 528 mg
    Cucumber 301 1 large 442 mg
    Cantaloupe 160 1 cup 427 mg
    Pears 275 1 pear 333 mg
    Mangoes 207 1 mango 323 mg


    Hope this helps you out!
  • TCASMEY
    TCASMEY Posts: 1,405 Member
    A cup of skim milk also has 421 mg of potassium plus much needed calcium!
  • 00trayn
    00trayn Posts: 1,849 Member
    I actually have been eating bananas and strawberries nearly daily for the past 2 weeks. Hopefully that helps the problem go away, I had no idea it could be a vitamin deficiency.
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