Leg Cramps
Are your legs cramping your style?
The most common causes for swimming-related cramps are the following:
1. Dehydration: Our bodies continue to perspire while in the water. Some people lose more fluids than others, and therefore also require more water.
Treatment:
- Be conscientious about keeping your body adequately hydrated. This means drinking fluids before, during and after workouts.
- Be sure to have replacement fluids by the side of the pool, even during short workouts.
2. Fatigue: As the muscles fatigue, there is an increased tendency for cramping, although the exact mechanism is still being debated. Suffice it to say that anecdotally, swimmers report fewer cramps as they get in better shape and when they incorporate a good stretching routine.
Treatment:
- Consistent training: Everyone’s different, but for most swimmers, that is three to five times per week.
- Stretching exercises for the lower extremities (quadriceps, hamstrings, calves, feet) should be performed daily, and especially before swimming.
3. Electrolyte Deficiencies: Most people who eat properly meet daily requirements for nutrients, including electrolytes, but sometimes intake is not sufficient for the amount and type of exercise we perform. The most commonly implicated electrolytes are potassium, calcium and magnesium.
Treatment:
- Eat one banana per day. Bananas are high in potassium and easy to eat on the run.
- Eat foods rich in calcium and magnesium, such as dairy products and green leafy vegetables. You may also consider a calcium/magnesium supplement.
- Try drinking an electrolyte replacement beverage during practice.
4. Swimming in Cold Water: Though less common, some people are sensitive to cold water and find that it causes them to cramp.
Treatment:
- Swim in warmer water.
- Do a more vigorous dry-land warm-up, including stretching, prior to swimming.
- Allow yourself time to acclimate to cold water by swimming at a moderate, consistent pace and not sprinting until your body has adapted.
Once a muscle is cramping, about the only thing you can do is to stretch it and massage it until it relaxes and lets go,” Seaton said. “Some people find that icing the muscle helps as well.”
It is important to remember that if leg cramps persist, one should definitely see a medical doctor. Serious underlying disorders, such as vascular disorders or other problems, may be causing the cramps.
Jessica Seaton, D.C.