Calf cramps

[BRT]

As a former "way back when" Iron Man, POTASSIUM is the key.
Currently do minimal diving here in Ontario, when I do duration is relatively short so no prob.
My passion right now is MX caves, spend 3/4 weeks down there doing 3.5/4 hour dives and it is rare for me to not experience calf/leg cramps in the first few days.
Stretch them out and dive on.

Potassium seems to be it for me too. V8 juice, especially the Low Sodium has a bunch and has cured my cramps.

 

[Vitesse2l]

Relax your ankles while finning. Worked for me.

 

[Viper12161]

LOts of great suggestions here. Thank you!!! We have to look into maybe a multi vitamin or something in it and up the H20. Not a fan of V8 or Tonic (even with Gin in it ) So vitamin may be the way to go. Season is kinda creeping to an end around here, but hoping to get 1 or 2 more dives in before it does.

 

[VikingDives]

Hello all. Newer diver, just completed dive #8!! One thing that has plagued me since my first cert dive is calf cramps. I am a hockey goalie, so my legs do get quite a bit of exercise.

In my experience, the flutter kick is much more likely to cause cramps. I had this problem until I "dumped" the flutter.

Worst case scenario, you learn to kick a lot more efficiently

 

[dmaziuk]

Get a foam roller and search youtube for 'foam roller calf massage' for after the cramp. If you have access to a pool: get in the pool and swim laps in swim fins w/ kickboard: that's the best cure for them.

(Fins work very different muscles and in a different way, so leg strength from other sports does not help much.)

 

[TMHeimer]

Lots of old threads on cramps so I'll be brief.
I took a potassium pill daily from about 2008-2018 and almost never had cramps (after having them on every other dive, not just calf muscles, but all leg and even arm muscles a time or two). After starting to take blood pressure pills, my Dr. said I may not need the potassium pills anymore. Another Dr. said these pills can be bad for you, depending on your physical situation, so I stopped. Cramp once in a while now, but I'm also older and don't try to cover like 20 miles on a dive anymore, so hard to tell what's what.
I don't like Bananas, especially one every day...…
So, consider the pills--they sure worked for me--but be sure to ask your doctor to be safe.
Coincidentally, in 2008 I also started using my split fins, which are slow, but supposedly very good in preventing cramping.
All the stuff you'll read about exercising/hydrating, etc. are all good and true, and won't help a lot if much of your cramping is due to heredity (my Dr.'s words). My mother cramped up throughout most of her adult life (and younger I think), and she was a tennis player, as fit as they come).

 

[icechip]

+1 on electrolyte drink pre-dive. I'll sip on a Gatorade G2 after arrival, while sorting/setting up gear. Finish it up post-dive.

 

[flyboy08]

Quinine or Tonic water which has quinine in it works...magnesium and potassium works too...better to stretch the calf muscle daily though.

 

[bjd001]

In addition, regular use of a muscle roller stick might help. It really helped me. (I already drink a lot of water and eat bananas and stretch and was still getting calf cramps regularly. Haven't had any since I started using the stick.)

Here's an example of one that was suggested on a Facebook diving group: https://www.amazon.com/Original-Tig...d=1572039692&sprefix=muslce+r,aps,198&sr=8-10

 

[flyboy08]

I disagree about electrolytes as I drink Gatorade daily during my 25 mile bike rides, but it doesn't prevent cramps.