Cramps! (the muscle kind)
Evelyn_Gorfram
Posts: 706 Member
I've just started exercising again. This morning, I was gently stretching my calf when it went haywire and cramped up like nobody's business (*kitten*, that hurts!). I still can't point my toes for fear that'll cramp it up again.
Is there something I should be doing, or should have done, to keep this from happening? Thanks.
Is there something I should be doing, or should have done, to keep this from happening? Thanks.
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My calves cramp a lot. Make sure you're getting enough sodium, potassium and calcium and water.5
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+ possibly magnesium to the previous list.3
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stay well hydrated
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Don't fight the cramp. Let it do it's thing, relax the rest of your body to the extent possible, and let it come back around. I find this helps it find its way out and not persist. If I try to fight it or forcibly stretch out of, it gets worse.2
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Thanks so much, everyone. Good points about the micronutrients - I could easily be low on potassium and magnesium.0
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Don't fight the cramp. Let it do it's thing, relax the rest of your body to the extent possible, and let it come back around. I find this helps it find its way out and not persist. If I try to fight it or forcibly stretch out of, it gets worse.
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Potassium for sure. I was told have someone pull on it like it's in traction. My husband gets these and I've done that to help it and it works2
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Keep hydrated, and try eating a banana, it has potassium in it and helps. I used to do a lot of swimming and would get the worst cramps ever, started eating a banana beforehand,... no more cramps2
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Pickle juice2
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For me it was 100% magnesium.2
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If it's your calf, you can stand up and put weight on that leg. It will stop it. I didn't think there's a reason to suffer through that excruciating pain. Sometimes grabbing onto the cramping muscle and squeezing really hard helos, but not always. Magnesium and potassium for sure.
ETA: it's going to be sore for a bit, depending on the severity, could be a couple of days. Stretch and massage it few times a day. It should be a good preventative measure too.1 -
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Agree with the banana advice. I used to have leg or foot cramps often. Started eating a banana (nearly) every day; rarely have them now.2
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My doctor recommended drinking Tonic water with quinine. It has worked great!1
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Evelyn_Gorfram wrote: »HermanLily wrote: »Pickle juice
They're serious.1 -
Evelyn_Gorfram wrote: »HermanLily wrote: »Pickle juice
Yes, pickles juice works if you're lacking sodium, but if you're lacking the other electrolytes, it won't help at all. I do carry pickles on long runs though, they really do help.1 -
quiksylver296 wrote: »Evelyn_Gorfram wrote: »HermanLily wrote: »Pickle juice
They're serious.VioletRojo wrote: »Evelyn_Gorfram wrote: »HermanLily wrote: »Pickle juice
Yes, pickles juice works if you're lacking sodium, but if you're lacking the other electrolytes, it won't help at all. I do carry pickles on long runs though, they really do help.
My aunt once told my sister to drink the juice remaining in a pickle-less pickle jar, as a joke; and my sister out-joked her by pretending to take her seriously and draining the jar; much to my aunt's chagrin until she realized that my sister had done it just to put her on the spot over her own joke. The point being that my judgement regarding the reasonability of pickle juice consumption has apparently been distorted for life.2 -
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Most Americans don’t get nearly enough potassium. There are lots of other foods in addition to bananas with potassium. I eat LOTS of spinach.
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods-loaded-with-potassium#section20 -
You're getting good advice on the tonic water, bananas, etc. just wanted to add that for me at least, grasping my toes and pulling them together or sometimes pressing on the bottom of my foot will stop a calf cramp, especially if it's the kind you get from pointing your toes.1
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