Went to Coros yesterday for my first sail since last summer. Was having a great sail until my right calf muscle started Cramping!! The water is coolish but wouldnt of thought it a problem as I was wearing my steamer. Decided to pack it in as this has happened before and it makes it so painful to water start, and sail. I was the only one there so didnt want to get caught out there by meself at sundown.
This has happened before. My question is has it happened to any one else.
I know it is more of a personal health thing but I am fairly fit,, stretch etc.
Any tips on how to control,, stop Cramps. I must look like a spaca try to stretch it out when Im out the back in the waves lol.
Cheers
Cramps is karma's way of punishing you for being up at Corro's whilst we freeze our tits of at work
i often get cramps from windsurfing for 2 long from not eating enough food for the energy i put out into windsurfing.. eat **** loads right before u go out
I think its more about keeping up the fluids. When I start getting bad leg and arm cramps, I drink Indian Tonic water as it contains a little quinnine which is supposed to help with cramps. The sport drinks help as well by replacing electrolytes.
+1 for the quinnine. Some say a bit more salt in the diet is supposed to help also.
I get them occasionally - left calf though... but figured a powerade before and after my session lessens the likeallyhood of it occouring.
Idea is when it happens is to get blood moving as free as possible and warm up the affected area so blood flows easier through the affected area, relieving the cramp
By wearing a steamer, yes you keep your body warm which is what you want, warm easy flowing blood, but you place constriction on blood flow which is what its all about, and as you dip your calf in water and change its temperature back and forth it starts to cramp....if you have plenty of fluid you should be right, then if it happens massage it out.
Got to work yesterday and heard that my boss had spent the weekend in critical condition after running a 36km marathon. He's a fit guy, and has competed in triathlons over the last season, and a half ironman a few weeks back. He had a bout of gastro last week, and during the run, started cramping about halfway.
Thinking it was only 'the wall', he kept going and finished, with help from his running buddies. Half-hour later, his legs were solid from cramps, and blue! His wife called the ambos, and they rushed him to the hospital...found out that acids had entered his bloodstream, causing the cramps, and his kidneys & liver had shut down! Apparently, another 1/2 hour and he might not have made it!
He's still pretty crook, but will be ok...incase you're wondering.
Moral is, if you're not feeling right, even if it's 'only' cramps...be cautious!
Yes, calf muscle too. Used to get when I was first water-starting and falling off a lot more. Once I saw the muscle bulge out like a giant fist, not pretty. I sat on my board for about 10 minutes, waiting for the pain to subside.
I guess it is from the muscle not being warmed up? I guess my technique has improved because I get no more, although I do get small ones at the top-outside of leg occasionally when water-starting.
It is the cold. I have been suffering from the same thing lately (just been back into sailing for a month or so after a break over winter) but I don't usually. Cramp in the calf muscle when water starting. It's not just the steamer, and it's not that I'm just getting back into sailing (although they may be contributing factors).
When cramp happens I decide it's time to come in. Or when I start to tremble - which ever happens first!
I have some electrolyte replacement drink I'm going to try next time that is supposed to reduce cramps and aid muscle recovery. I'll let you know how it goes.
I assume the cramps become less frequent the further into the season you get?
I see a lot of people getting calf cramps whilst snorkelling and diving - mainly because your using specific muscles that aren't exercised during normal day-to-day land lubber activities.
The more you do the activity the less the cramps should effect you - and I'd agree with the need for a good dose of fluids..
If you do freestyle, go other way of sail and push. This uses all the 'contrary' muscles, and allows to stretch the calves (you're on your toes, pushing). Works for boards down to about 85-90 litres.
Make sure you are well hydrated HOURS before you go for a sail. Whilst sailing drink plenty of water and some sports drink with electrolytes and salts etc when u have a break. Sports drinks wont help quick enough if you are already dehydrated when you start.
I think we sweat a lot more when sailing than we realise, given then strenuous nature and need to replace that lost fluid.
If i go sailing with a hangover not only am i unco-ordinated and useless (more) I get calf cramps then which is dehydration from the alcohol.
My understanding is that cramps are related to hydration, electrolyte ballance and salts. Sweating during exercise can lead to an imballance and also dehydration, so its important to keep hydrated and relplace the critical neutreints.
Stretching and staying warm are also important to reducing cramps.
The tonic water trick mentiond by someone earlier is known to work as is taking vitamin B supplements, although its not really understood why.
An old airforce trick we used to use was a teaspoon of table salt in a glass of water. Tastes awful but works fantastically for curing cramps. Basically replacing the salts lost during sweating.
... not suggesting that you take a swig of sea water though.
Some really good stuff on Wikipedia which may help to formulate your own diagnosis/cure
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cramp
Thanks guys.
I will try the electolyte drinks and see how it goes. Theres no real pattern to when and how often I get them. Sure yesterday was the first sail in a while and yep it was cool-ish, but I have had them during the season when I sail heaps. Beginning of session,, end off session.
Panda I know what you mean about Pain.
Lol @ Elmo,, You could be right :-)
Looks like wind end of week so hopefully the calf is not as sore by then...
After about 3 hours sailing I used to get cramps in my forearms. I put a pinch of salt in my water bottle and come in every so often and drink that, I also eat a couple of bananas during the long sessions. this has helped reduce but not stop the cramps.
