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.

[Tuckervill]

I virtually grew up in the pool in our back yard, spending hours and hours in it as a child. Not always "swimming", but playing games and such with my friends and brothers.

I was often a victim of toe cramps. Second toe, too. Never in the calves. I always related it to the flexed position it was in while I either pushed off to keep my head above water (when I was smaller) or the bent leg position to keep my shoulders in (when I was taller). If we were racing a lot and I was giving it my all with the kick, I could develop a cramp because those muscles weren't used to flexing that way.

On the rare occasion that I swim now, in a hotel or whatever, I have also had toe cramps, if I'm in long enough. I always thought it was a normal thing that could happen to anybody.

Karen

[HillSlugger]

Typically, once during each swim, I'll get a cramp in the arch of my foot after pushing off the wall. I can swim through it and it usually goes away before I've finished a length. I assume it's from fatigue but I don't really know.

[KayAyZee]

I've been trying to find the right combination of hydration and electrolytes to make my cramping go away, but haven't been successful yet.

It's the calf cramps that get me. Usually tighten into an unbearable knot when I'm trying to hoist myself out of the pool. There have been times when after 2 or 3 attempts I just give up and swim across a few lanes to get over to the ladder.

My calves have cramped up mid-swim too - half way through a lap one will just coil up and I have to tread water and massage it and try not to panic. But the absolute worst is when they cramp in the middle of the night and wake me up. Ugh, just writing about it is making my calves sore

[Iris616]

I mentioned this to my chiropractor a year or two ago. He suggested trying to consciously change the angle of my ankle and toes for a few kicks in every lap. It seems to work for me, when I remember to do it. But I have no idea why it works.

[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.

[luv2ride94]

I know it sounds crazy... but if you eat a pickle (or drink pickle juice) before swimming it should take care of those cramps! I am a competitive swimmer and never really have problems with cramps but my teammates do and it has worked wonders for them... Give it a try!

[alpinerabbit]

cool - ??? do you have any explanation for this?