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i've been swimming today for the 4th time in a week but had to stop due to cramp in both legs and my feet , i warmed up as much as usual,wot is cramp?,how do i avoid it ?,i am new to swimming and the water was colder today,thank u

2006-11-13 07:52:25 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports Swimming & Diving

16 answers

There can be a multitude of causes and cures for swimming cramps or charley-horses. Where is the cramp? your leg below your knee? or in you feet? The causes of cramp are generally twofold.
* Your muscles frequently cramp during and after exertion or at rest.
* You have cramps that "lock" and don't release for minutes at a time.
* A cramp recurs several times in a single day.

The principal cause lies in over-exertion of muscles that have been little used, and therefore, too strong a leg stroke should always be avoided.

Profuse perspiration can also cause a muscle cramp. Heavy sweating drains your body of important minerals: potassium, sodium, magnesium and calcium. These minerals, called electrolytes, carry electrical charges to the nerves that control a muscle's impulse to contract and relax. Lack of fluids can upset the delicate balance of electrolytes, causing nerve signals to misfire.

Muscle cramps are an "equal opportunity" pain: They don't discriminate between the star athlete and someone who barely moves. You may be competing in a long-distance bike race, taking leisurely laps in the pool or sleeping soundly in bed. Suddenly, a muscle seizes up and grips you in pain.

There are many ways to help the muscle to relax or things you shouldn't eat before swimming. One is salt, of course. It actually takes the fluids out of the muscle and into the stomach. Stretching helps. Ice pak on the muscle if all else fails. Pinching the area right above the upper lip some say helps. Good luck.

2006-11-13 08:55:12 · answer #1 · answered by texand_2003 1 · 0 1

You're getting cramps because you are new to swimming and the ways you use your legs and feet in swim practice are so different from the ways you use them on land, that you are going to get cramps until those muscles get stronger and you get used to using them so much. There are a few things you can do to reduce cramps, including drinking more water, stretching before and after you swim, and warming up before you get in the pool. Also, you can do calf raises on your stairs at home, which will help strengthen and stretch out some of the muscles that are likely causing your cramps. If you are practicing for 2 hours or more, bring a sports drink like gatorade, powerade, or even a fitness water, instead of regular water so you can replenish some of the lost carbs in your muscles while you rehydrate.
When you get cramps, massage the muscle and either continue to swim slowly or get out and walk around and stretch. Don't sit down or lift weight off of the leg or foot, that won't help and it could make it worse. If it is just a foot cramp, step on the cramped foot with your other foot; its the quickest way to get rid of a foot cramp.

2006-11-13 08:06:12 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0 1

Go easy. Your over doing it. 2 times a week for a while then increase. Make sure you eat enough and drink enough. Just because your in water dosen't mean you don't need it as much as when running. Keep the swim at a moderate pase until you build up those muscles that haven't been used. give yourself a rub and avoid going out with wet hair or without warm clothes after your swim. A cold can make you feel like this if you have over done it. Or is it period?

2006-11-13 08:00:39 · answer #3 · answered by its me 2 · 0 1

As being a former high school and middle school swimmer, I would say that because you are swimming 4 times a week and you are new to this that you may be overworking. your muscles need a chance to strengthen but you need to build up to it, you can't just start out doing the max, you need to start out doing the min and working your way up to the max. if you did that, and you did exercise for 20 minutes or so before jumping in the pool, you would feel so much better. also, cold water does help make cramps in the legs but once you are used to it, the cramps will go away.

2006-11-13 12:30:25 · answer #4 · answered by lost addict 2 · 0 1

There has been some good answer to this question so far and if you do some of each of them the problem will dissappear. But I must agree with one person in particular you are over doing it and you need to slow down and learn to pace yourself better afterall Rome was not built in one day. Go less often during the week and have the weekends off. Go say every other day so monday, wed and friday and see if this helps and then if you can stop the cramps then you are ready to increase if you feel you can but pace yourself. Also I agree to having someone help you start as no one knows it all and a problem shared is a problem halved.

2006-11-13 08:11:44 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0 1

well everyone gets cramps there is really no way to avoid cramps. You probley got a cramp because you are not used to swimming. I get cramps from just taking a 20-25 min walk to school. A cramp is when your musels are sore, because they are not getting anough oxygen. So just keep up with your swimming soon your cramps will go because you will get used to the work out..

2006-11-13 07:57:13 · answer #6 · answered by Rain-- 3 · 1 1

Cramp is basically where there is too much salt in your muscles. To avoid it you need to drink plenty of water while you're exercising. Also it could be your technique - I used to swim a lot and I used to get cramp in my legs too when I was doing front crawl but it was because I wasn't using my legs properly, might be worth getting a lesson or two, I did and it really helped.

2006-11-13 07:55:35 · answer #7 · answered by mishmash 3 · 0 3

when I cramp a lot, it is due to lack of potassium. Plenty of water and potassium, stretching and learning to relax should help. Many divers get cramps in their calves but we do what you call a fin stretch while still underwater and you can usually continue. Good luck

2006-11-13 08:10:25 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0 1

It does not matter how long you warm up. The main thing that you have to do during swimming be it serious or for fun is to drink a lot of fluids.

2006-11-14 09:57:46 · answer #9 · answered by dunfie 2 · 0 2

1

2017-02-10 15:24:27 · answer #10 · answered by ? 4 · 0 0

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