Leg cramps

[veggiemomma]

Does anyone have any advice on how to prevent and treat leg cramps from exercise?

I have joined a gym (which is amazing for me!),and have also gone back to swimming. On occasion I get awful calf cramp,and they feel "tight" slot of the time.

Any help or suggestions would be gratefully received! Thank you!

[Elsie17]

Pointing my toes up towards my chin always helps relieve my leg cramps, but I'm afraid I'm not sure how to prevent them altogether!

[sueper]

Hi, I find relief doing the same as Elsie.

I wonder if you are exercising too hard and putting too much stress on your calves. I used to have problems with cramped if I walked a lot but now I regularly walk I don't seem to have the problem. Maybe you need to build up a bit more?

Maybe worth checking with your GP to be on the safe side.

[nhs2015]

Make sure you warm up before exercises . NHS has some stretch warm up exercises on their website.

I also used to have night cramps, really bad. For some reason, after cutting down on sugar! Alcohol, starting the 12 weeks program, eating lots of fish, eating more veges and less other stuff, I haven't had one cramp for months. I must be doing something right....

[portmoon]

This site has some useful info. It's reliable and info is all medically verified;

patient.co.uk/health/cramps...

[Hidden]

There are fizzy mineral based tablets you can get from running/cycling/ sports shops called 'high five zero' I think. I used to get a lot of leg cramps when I cycled heavily everyday. Half a tablet dissolved in a small bottle of water sipped through the day really made a difference. Doing hamstring exercises every day, not just before exercise will also help. As someone said above, eventually your muscles should adapt. But I really recommend the fizzy tablets.

[veggiemomma in reply to Hidden]

Thanks,Will have a look!

[Hidden in reply to veggiemomma]

Just noticed they even have them in halfords. I used to get the lemon-lime ones, tasted okay! halfords.com/cycling/turbo-...