Cramps - how to avoid?

[Sol]

Yeah, ^#^*(^&^% cramps. Had to bow out of a dive today because leg kept cramping up whenever I tried kicking with a little more than minimal effort. Was trying to keep track of a couple of other OW students' air consumption but wasn't much use when I could barely keep up.

Any suggestions?

 

[00wabbit]

For me- keeping legs used to kicking fins.
Frog kick rather than flutter.
Coconut water. Hate the taste but hate bananas more.

 

[fire_diver]

simple; keep yourself hydrated (thats with water, not alcohol), eat healthy foods, exercise and stretch your muscles.

 

[TN-Steve]

As a cyclist I used to be troubled by calf cramps a lot. I found that taking a couple of TUMS antiacids before going riding seemed to do a good job at preventing them. Not sure why it works, but it seems to be effective.

RBS

 

[knotical]

Although it’s supposedly “common knowledge” that low electrolytes or dehydration are culprits, it seems a lot less is known than previously thought. See for example: What causes leg cramps? - Scientific American
However, most folks seem to agree that conditioning does play a part.

Personally, for prevention of common calf cramps in scuba, my best regimen has been calf raises and, as 00wabbit suggested, finning.

Additionally, many of us have found that different fins help. For me, Force Fins work best.

 

[Chugwhump]

One of my regular dive buddies (Doctor Ron) has me taking magnesium now.
1000mg a day, split morning and night between two tablets.
That ended the problem for me.

As I am most assuredly NOT a Doctor, consult a physician prior to taking magnesium.
For some people for various reasons this is not a good idea.

Chug
Has not stayed in a Holiday Inn for over 10 years.
I prefer Comfort Suites.

 

[Malpaso]

simple; keep yourself hydrated (thats with water, not alcohol), eat healthy foods, exercise and stretch your muscles.

This.

And no coffee, tea or caffeinated soda. Caffeine is a diuretic, and increases dehydration. You should be hydrating the night before a dive, not trying to make up for it last minute. If you're not peeing, you're not hydrated, and if your not peeing (almost) clear, you're not hydrated.

 

[diverjen]

This.

And no coffee, tea or caffeinated soda. Caffeine is a diuretic, and increases dehydration. You should be hydrating the night before a dive, not trying to make up for it last minute. If you're not peeing, you're not hydrated, and if your not peeing (almost) clear, you're not hydrated.

And yet for some of us even with all of the above, we still suffer! maybe time to try new fins? Significantly worse since knee injury, so maybe that's why?

 

[Malpaso]

And yet for some of us even with all of the above, we still suffer! maybe time to try new fins? Significantly worse since knee injury, so maybe that's why?

Yes, there are different types of cramps. I probably didn't read the original post closely enough. The most common come from dehydration, even with pro athletes. Others, like yours sound, are "structural" for lack of a better term. The knee injury sound a like over compensation (it is the same leg?). Either consciously or subconsciously, we favor the injured area and in doing so overwork the supporting areas.

I'm not a fin expert, being a relative noob to the sport, but I'm sure others can make suggestions in that area. I also have bad knees, but I work at strengthening the surrounding muscles so that they get used more and the knees less. Additionally, slow stretching so you don't pull anything, helps loosen all the structure of the legs. Two types are most effective, keeping your feet flat on the ground while leaning forward loosens tHe back of the legs, grabbing your foot and pulling your heel to your butt loosens the quads and knees. Both will help alleviate cramping.

hope this helps.

 

[tekful]

You might want to change shoes to gell or air soles, I had to it stopped leg cramps overnight.