Cramping in Legs

Shirley61
Shirley61 Posts: 7,758 Member
edited November 8 in Fitness and Exercise
I have been doing DVD's from Leslie Sasone for a few years now. I have progressed to walking with weights now. I stretch after the workout but I still get cramping in my legs while resting at night. I think I may have a build up of lactic acid in my legs. Any suggestions how I can alleviate the cramping pain?

Replies

  • steffenson
    steffenson Posts: 312 Member
    Are you getting enough water to drink? Proper hydration during/after exercise helps alleviate some cramping.
  • Remus42
    Remus42 Posts: 149 Member
    Also potassium and other missing electrolytes. You need to replace what you sweat out.
  • wilsoncl6
    wilsoncl6 Posts: 1,280 Member
    All of the above and a lack of Calcium can also cause cramping.
  • angelexperiment
    angelexperiment Posts: 1,917 Member
    Make sure you are getting enough potassium and magnesium. Drink gatorade. The cramps come from not enough salt in the body so add it into food and drink water. My mom has this problem very low potassium so she has to add salt to every thing and drink gatorade and tale magnesium too.
  • Cherimoose
    Cherimoose Posts: 5,208 Member
    Shirley61 wrote: »
    I have been doing DVD's from Leslie Sasone for a few years now. I have progressed to walking with weights now. I stretch after the workout but I still get cramping in my legs while resting at night. I think I may have a build up of lactic acid in my legs.

    They used to think it was lactic acid. Anyway, try stretching the muscle every hour for 30 seconds (search Youtube for the appropriate stretch - presumably your calves or hamstrings).
    Post your results next week.




  • philwrightfitness
    philwrightfitness Posts: 122
    check your fluid intake and make sure you're getting adequate sodium, potassium and magnesium. i use magnesium in spray form it makes a great post workout massage rub and magnesium is absorbed better through the skin than taken orally (allegedly). also try a massage roller which will help with general flexibility.
  • Shirley61
    Shirley61 Posts: 7,758 Member
    Thanks so much for the replies. As far as salt goes, I have to watch my salt due to having high blood pressure which I am on medication. I do take magnesium supplements now but had to decrease the dosage due to constipation. The added stretching throughout the day might help, I will try and do that. I do have half a banana everyday for potassium in my smoothies or just have it as a snack. I try and drink my water all day. I do get 8 glasses most of the time but not all the time. I stopped taking calcium, I read where calcium can increase muscle pain. The spray magnesium I have never heard of that, what brand do you use? I would like to try that. I take Yoga classes twice a week so I do get my stretching in and I do stretch after workouts.
  • feralX
    feralX Posts: 334 Member
    If you're exercising a lot and sweating, your body needs more than 8 glasses of water/day. And your electrolytes are certainly low. Increase your potassium. V8 juice is loaded with potassium. It's also got a lot of sodium, but I suspect that is too low as well for the level of activity your doing. If you increase your water consumption and potassium intake you should be able to safely increase your sodium as well. Consult with your doctor and explain the cramping, I think he would agree. Good luck.
  • philwrightfitness
    philwrightfitness Posts: 122
    I use a magnesium spray by a company called better you but there are many similar products on the Internet
  • Shirley61
    Shirley61 Posts: 7,758 Member
    Thanks for your answers.
  • sofaking6
    sofaking6 Posts: 4,589 Member
    I used to get Charlie horses (calf cramps) in my sleep when I was doing low-carb. More potassium was the answer for me, I added 1 banana *and* 1/2 avocado to my daily menu and the cramps went away in a couple of days. So give it a try, you should know pretty quickly whether the potassium is the culprit or not.
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