Cramp

[zebroo]

Does anyone suffer cramp much while surfing?

I never used to, but since July last year it's happened quite regularly in my calf muscle. Usually just one leg at a time but yesterday I got cramp in both my legs. I couldn't do anything but wait it out and today my left calf muscle is pretty sore.

I warm up before I surf, I started drinking an electrolyte drink before surfing, which until yesterday I thought was preventing the cramp. I wasn't particularly cold yesterday, though I had worn myself out paddling.

I don't understand why it happens and don't know what else I can do to prevent it. Does anyone have any ideas:?: It's really frustrating as I have to get out once it's happened, or it just keeps happening again . It always seems to happen just as I'm catching a wave, about to pop up.

Thanks

[surfnoob]

Yeah I get cramp now and again in the calf. I was once told that the salt in the water can cause it and you should hydrate with salt drink beforehand. Not sure how much truth is in that, but i usually drink water on the way to the break and that helps.

[surf patrol]

I occcasionally get it along the bottoms of my feet when the water's cold. Stretching out seems to stop if from happening.
As for salt, I thought that the electrolyte drinks contained plenty.

[jasedrummer]

I get it all the time in my calf muscles.....had it last Saturday in both calves after spending quite a bit of time paddling out. The only way I could ease it was to paddle back in so I could stand on the floor.
I used to get it during my pop up if my feet slipped a bit too.....for this reason I've taken to wearing boots all year round which has now stopped it from occurring in this way.

I also get it if I've drunk a lot of booze too....usually end up hopping around the bedroom swearing a lot. The calf muscles are usually pretty tender for days afterwards...

I've spent quite a bit of time trying to find the cause, but there seem to be varying opinions from lack of salt and also dehydration. I think it is related to both to be honest, so I try and balance my diet a bit better making sure I eat salt every now and again, especially after going for a run, but also rehydrating myself well before going for a surf. I've managed to reduce the amount of occurrences but like Saturday I still get it....

Will be really interested if anyone else knows the prevention / cure.

[drowningbitbybit]

Lack of salt does cause cramp, but because you have cramp doesn't mean you're short on salt, if you follow me
Except in this case...

I also get it if I've drunk a lot of booze too....usually end up hopping around the bedroom swearing a lot.

...when you have washed every electrolyte out of your body

Drink a sports drink before you go in, as it wont do you any harm, and after that its just conditioning the muscles so they're used to it ie surf more

[surf patrol]

I also get it if I've drunk a lot of booze too

- Happy St. Patrick's Day!

[jasedrummer]

Just for the record I'm not a complete alcoholic....it's been a while since I had cramp due to too drink.....well Christmas anyway!

[zebroo]

Ha ha, it's defintely not alcohol in my case, it's not often I drink much. Thanks for the replies. I'll keep drinking the electrolytes before I surf and probably be more careful to get out before I get too tired and cold. It was my first surf in a few weeks on Thursday. My leg is still really sore and I'm pretty lame, struggling to put my heel on the floor. Still hoping to surf tomorrow though

[surf doc]

I occasionally will get calf cramp after a bad fall. It seems to happen when I tense up the muscles in anticipation of getting pounded. Hydration is good advice and may help, and as silly as it sounds I think that working out your calves at the gym also helps.

[SoCalSurfing]

Stretch for a good 15 minutes before you get in your wetsuit.

[zebroo]

Stretch for a good 15 minutes before you get in your wetsuit.

I must admit I never stretch before getting in to my wetsuit, maybe I should! I always thinking of getting in to my wetsuit as part of the warm up