Foot/toe Cramps!

[Cdalekat]

On my commute home last night, my foot cramped up. I ignored it and kept going since I was close to home. When I got home and unclipped, that's when I discovered that the stability of the shoes and clips prevented most of the cramping and pain. OW!!! I've never had one this bad before!

I used to be a swimmer, and I would always get toe cramps after about 45 minutes to an hour in the water. I chaulked that up to the drop in tempature in my feet. Usually I can make it go away by stretching my toes.

But while biking? It can't be a tempature thing, can it?!?

What is causing it, and what can I do about it?

I've had cramps on the trail before - the entire group had to stop our ride so I could sit on the side of the trail and stretch my toes until it stopped!

[SnowMouse]

Are you repleneshing your salts (ie sodium and potasium) during your exercise? This is the stuff they talk about in Powerade or Gatorade. I find a mid exercise break and eating a banana helps enourmously to preventing cramps. And for epic adventures, add a little bit of salt to your drinks, just a smidge, you shouldn't taste it much at all. Remember when you sweat, your loosing not just water, but salts too!

The second problem may be the foot bed in your shoes are flat, and the combination of this and pedalling crunches blood vessels to the front of your foot. The only way I know to avoid this is Specialized shoes, which have a contoured soul to avoid this very problem. You may not have to buy new shoues for this as you can buy the inserts from Specialized and it may enhabce the effect that could solve your problem. Check it out here...Specialized womens shoes and footbeds.

Good luck!

[cyclechick76]

i have super high arches and had a nerve that was being pinched in one of my toes causing all sorts of pain and my foot to cramp up. orthotics that i can wear in all of my shoes did the trick for me.

[kimba]

I agree- it could be your electrolyte balance is low- sports drinks will help - they have required salts and potassium added.

I always eat a banana ...either before during or after the ride.Ever since I ruptured a disc in my back, I've had a problem with one leg - at one point they weren't sure I'd get all the feeling and strength back- I couldn't lift my toes. But after a year and a half I'm pretty well back to normal!But I still have a cramping problem with that leg. As long as I have a banana a day- the cramps stay away!
I used to have problems with footcramps too-I got new cycling shoes and that helped- I don't get them anymore- unless I lace my shoes up too tight!!
Of course- that's not your problem!!
: D

Kimba

[Cdalekat]

Hmmm.....

thanks all, for your suggestions. I do tend to run dehydrated, in general, so I'm trying to focus on drinking more water. I think my potassium levels are ok though....

SnowMouse - I actually have moutain shoes from Cannondale - they are very comfortable and I can wear them all day if I want. So I think there's enough of a contour inside the shoe since they feel more like a sneaker. The links you provided were very interesting and something to keep in mind for the future.

Cyclechick - I actually have very high arches too and custom orthodics for them.... but my arches are so high that it's not easy to fit the orthodics into my shoes with my feet so I've stopped wearing them. Maybe I should dig them out and try them again!

Kimba - I'm glad you are feeling almost back to normal - must have been a scary process! Though your problem may actually be something for me to think about..... I was hit by a large vehicle a few years ago - some of my injuries included broken pelvis, broken tailbone, and some of my vertabrae were damaged/broken as well. So I can can feel the minor consequences in my body (including an "off" sensation down my leg), though the DR's say I'm ok.....

I think I'm sounding like a complete physical mess!