Leg Cramps While Walking on the Treadmill - HELP!

Jennifer2332
Jennifer2332 Posts: 15 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Lately I have been getting leg cramps while walking on the treadmill. They usually start 5-10 minutes after I start my exercise. I stretch well before I start. What could be causing it? I have never had this happen until just recently.

Replies

  • T1DCarnivoreRunner
    T1DCarnivoreRunner Posts: 11,502 Member
    You probably have an electrolyte imbalance. Drink pickle juice, add sodium to your diet and possibly potassium.
  • Adc7225
    Adc7225 Posts: 1,318 Member
    New shoes? Too fast? Not enough water? Not enough veggies in diet? These are some of the reasons I have had leg cramps.

    I once had a trainer tell me that muscle cramps are your muscles way of crying for nutrients and that is usually the first remedy I try, so far so good.
  • joeybrid
    joeybrid Posts: 65 Member
    Where do they cramp? Try foam rolling your calves quads and hammys
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    edited July 2017
    Jennifer2332 wrote: »
    Lately I have been getting leg cramps while walking on the treadmill. They usually start 5-10 minutes after I start my exercise. I stretch well before I start. What could be causing it? I have never had this happen until just recently.

    I used to get exercise-induced cramping. Adding magnesium (250 mg daily) helped. I was already getting enough potassium. I still get an occasional cramp if I get dehydrated.
  • Jennifer2332
    Jennifer2332 Posts: 15 Member
    joeybrid wrote: »
    Where do they cramp? Try foam rolling your calves quads and hammys

    Actually, they cramp in my shins!
  • Cherimoose
    Cherimoose Posts: 5,208 Member
    Maybe it's shin splints? Here's more on that: :+1:
    runnersworld.com/training-video/inside-the-doctors-office-keep-shinsplints-away
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    edited July 2017
    Jennifer2332 wrote: »
    joeybrid wrote: »
    Where do they cramp? Try foam rolling your calves quads and hammys

    Actually, they cramp in my shins!

    That is what I had (shins and the outside of the ankles just behind the ankle bone). Very hard places to stretch out unlike the calves. Here is a good test you can do: increase your water consumption, especially in the morning and just before working out. If you still get cramps, try eating something high in potassium 30 minutes before working out. If You still get cramps, try a lower dose magnesium supplement. If that still doesn't stop the cramps, see your doctor. Unless you have something really unusual medically, experimenting with food, water, and low dose supplements will not harm you and those are the 3 most common causes of cramping (beyond not stretching).
  • Jennifer2332
    Jennifer2332 Posts: 15 Member
    Cherimoose wrote: »
    Maybe it's shin splints? Here's more on that: :+1:
    runnersworld.com/training-video/inside-the-doctors-office-keep-shinsplints-away

    Yes, after talking with my doctor and doing some further research, we have determined that it is shin splints! I have decreased the speed and incline a bit and that has solved the problem!

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