why does swimming give such horrible cramps

[alpinerabbit]

I was just sitting here and I got this massivecramp in my hamstring. I had cramps in my shins during practice from breastroking (we are re-learning it) -

????

I mean, I never get anything close from running, or cycling....??

[Tri Girl]

I wish I knew. I've been swimming seriously since I was in high school and I still get cramps in my toes on occasion- for no good reason. Makes me cranky...

Sorry about your cramps...

[colby]

A guy that I work with gets cramps swimming, but I never have - sometimes side stitches if I do hard intervals, but that's usually telling me my breathing is getting bad and I need to relax.

Maybe hydration? Electrolytes? Potassium? You are still burning calories and need to stay hydrated even under water, your body temperature does rise... maybe in the case of the breastroking it's using muscles that aren't developed? I have been doing butterfly/back/breast in place of 3 sets of drills and boy do they hit me differently, but I can't say I've cramped.

Good mystery to solve - maybe what makes you cramp makes me slow and we could both benefit from the solution

Cramps in your toes!! OW!! I can't even imagine what that feels like, but I think of it as a kind of hitting your funny bone thing. Maybe pins and needles after your foot falls falls asleep.

[Tri Girl]

Good mystery to solve - maybe what makes you cramp makes me slow and we could both benefit from the solution

I like that line of thinking. Maybe you'll hit on something that will make me speed through the water like Phelps (nah- I don't think so).

Cramps in your toes!! OW!! I can't even imagine what that feels like, but I think of it as a kind of hitting your funny bone thing. Maybe pins and needles after your foot falls falls asleep.

Yeah, it's quite pleasant. I always have to stop swimming when it happens. I can't overcome it. It makes a toe (usually the one next to my big toe) curl downward toward the bottom of my foot, and the cramp then shoots up my calf causing the whole bottom leg to cramp. I tried asking my swim coach last year what might cause this and he looked at me like he had no idea what I was talking about. I must be the only person to have ever suffered from toe cramps. Go figure.

[alpinerabbit]

I get the toes too, but I don't get stalled by that anymore.

I have to be super careful with any getting out of the pool, or lake, if it's not by the stairs - calves, thighs, anything can go - and pulling off a wetsuit can get my calves. Interestingly, it's not happened in a race, only in practice. Funny that. Maybe you're more pumped in a race, or just hotter muscles.

I can get rid of it (shins went back to useable during practice last night) - but my calves usually re-cramp overnight if I had a cramp in practice, this can turn into a hard, sore potato in there that last for days.
Doesn't look like the hammies re-cramped this time; the toes don't usually do it.

It may well have to do with hydration - I'm not good about that - but why only swimming?? Is it something about the excentric movements? or the water? it's not that cold ...?

[Bron]

Well, I'd like to know too if anyone finds a solution to the mystery.
DH gets calf cramps, usually when pushing off from the edge of the pool and I find my feet occasionally cramp so that I go cross-toed

Our pool isn't that warm, maybe we should try the baby pool and see if the problem is still there.

[colby]

I like that line of thinking. Maybe you'll hit on something that will make me speed through the water like Phelps (nah- I don't think so).

It's good to dream..... In the meantime, anything that helps me beat the boys in the pool makes me feel good. (Terrible, I know)

I guess the good news in this thread is that cramped swimmers aren't alone!!

I have had the toes crossing thing someone else mentioned, so I guess it's kind of like cramps. Feels like my toes are frozen connected for a second, but I haven't had to stop, just shake it out.

[OakLeaf]

I used to get toe and foot cramps from not completely extending my knees doing freestyle.