Cramps while lifting

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mreichard
mreichard Posts: 235 Member
edited July 2016 in Fitness and Exercise
The last two times I've lifted I've experienced muscle cramps. This has never happened before. Been lifting for about 3 months. Thursday my legs cramped while I was benching and today it was my abs while doing ab exercises (I did abs right after deadlifting, which may have been dumb). I take multivitamins, if that matters. Anyone have any ideas about how to prevent this?

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  • Willbenchforcupcakes
    Willbenchforcupcakes Posts: 4,955 Member
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    Hamstring cramps while benching is just a thing. Tends to just mean you're getting enough leg drive so it's not always a bad thing.

    Ab cramps. Can't say I've ever done them.
  • tiggerlove
    tiggerlove Posts: 225 Member
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    lots of water everyday thru the day..gatorade while working out. You might be dehydrated.
  • drwilseyjr
    drwilseyjr Posts: 225 Member
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    Drink more water.
  • middlehaitch
    middlehaitch Posts: 8,485 Member
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    May be more hydration plus electrolytes.
    I drink lots of water and an EmergenC on lifting days. Or eat a banana.

    Cheers, h.
  • socalrunner59
    socalrunner59 Posts: 149 Member
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    A couple studies on muscle cramping on more than 200 triathletes and 75 runners concluded its not dehydration or low electrolytes, rather muscle cramps during exercise is caused by a neuromuscular response.

    Preventive approach is plyometrics (dynamic) warmup. If you get a cramp, stretching will help.

    I try to do a full body warmup (dynamic and static) before exercising. It adds about 15 min to my workout time.

  • Antonia_I
    Antonia_I Posts: 12 Member
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    Sounds like you may not be doing a sufficient warmup. Like socalrunner59 said, about 10-15 minutes of both dynamic and static stretches before lifting.

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