Calf/Foot Cramps ?

longtimeterp
longtimeterp Posts: 614 Member
edited November 10 in Fitness and Exercise
okay so last night i had calf and foot cramps so bad they kept me up all night. This am, my calves feel like they are strained, especially the left one, and its focused around where the most intense cramps were. Did i actually strain muscles from cramping up, or will this go away soon? And any suggestions as to cause (besides hydration), remedy, or prevention?

Replies

  • hill8570
    hill8570 Posts: 1,466 Member
    edited January 2015
    Cramps suck -- you have my sympathy.

    Might want to up your potassium intake some, too -- if you've been sweating a lot, you'll lose a lot of electrolytes, and low K can make cramps more likely.

    The cramped muscles probably aren't strained, but they're gonna be sore as crap (like after a hard workout) for a couple of days, and more likely to cramp again until they get better. You can try some foam rolling or massage of the cramped areas to try to speed up recovery. In my experience, trying to stretch a muscle that's cramped recently just makes it cramp again, but YMMV.
  • spickard34
    spickard34 Posts: 303 Member
    Stretch them out lots or you could end up with Plantar Facisttis like I did. Most useful way is to stand on a stair and hand one foot off at a time pointing the heel down, do this lots threw the day. This will help it and keep it up and it will prevent it.
  • SueInAz
    SueInAz Posts: 6,592 Member
    hill8570 wrote: »
    Cramps suck -- you have my sympathy.

    Might want to up your potassium intake some, too -- if you've been sweating a lot, you'll lose a lot of electrolytes, and low P can make cramps more likely.

    The cramped muscles probably aren't strained, but they're gonna be sore as crap (like after a hard workout) for a couple of days, and more likely to cramp again until they get better. You can try some foam rolling or massage of the cramped areas to try to speed up recovery. In my experience, trying to stretch a muscle that's cramped recently just makes it cramp again, but YMMV.
    I can't say it much better than this. Cramps are usually a sign of dehydration or low potassium.
  • bos10fit
    bos10fit Posts: 80 Member
    Stretch!!! ACE (american counsel on exercise) recommends 15-30 seconds per stretch. Cramps like the person above me stem from dehydration and low potassium.

    Could also stem from circulation. Ginko Biloba helps.
    http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/news/20000330/ginkgo-biloba-leg-cramps
  • spunmommy
    spunmommy Posts: 29 Member
    You might also try a magnesium supplement like Natural Calm right before bed.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    also sodium is an essential electrolyte...and a lot of people think sodium is the devil so they cut way back on it. You shouldn't be eating sodium bombs, but if you're working out and sweating a lot you need to make sure you're replenishing your electrolytes...potassium yes, but also sodium.

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