Cramp

I suffer from cramp. Both in my calves during afternoon races, and in my thighs at night after windy races at the start of the season. Plus less serious, but irritating, cramps in my hands and feet at times. 
The afternoon cramps in my calves I put down to a) dehydration and b) legs getting cold after sitting around in a wet wetsuit over lunch (beach launching means you always have wet legs whatever the weather). Drinking plenty at midday and wearing a polypro leggings under my long john (even when it's warm) definitely help.

The overnight cramps at the start of the season, or after a windy sail, I generally control these days by doing leg stretches after I've sailed and before I go to bed, and taking Crampex before I go to bed. 

Hand and foot cramps I just tend to live with, moving a bit normally gets rid of them, though when I'm hunched up in the bottom of a Contender in light winds it can be tricky!

Interesting, re Simvastatin, I've been on it for about 4 years. No real problems, though I do think my problems with foot cramps have got worse since then.

Edited by PeterG - 18 Sep 12 at 5:24pm

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PeterG Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 12 Jan 08 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 822	Post Options Post Reply Quote PeterG Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Cramp Posted: 18 Sep 12 at 5:24pm
	I suffer from cramp. Both in my calves during afternoon races, and in my thighs at night after windy races at the start of the season. Plus less serious, but irritating, cramps in my hands and feet at times. The afternoon cramps in my calves I put down to a) dehydration and b) legs getting cold after sitting around in a wet wetsuit over lunch (beach launching means you always have wet legs whatever the weather). Drinking plenty at midday and wearing a polypro leggings under my long john (even when it's warm) definitely help. The overnight cramps at the start of the season, or after a windy sail, I generally control these days by doing leg stretches after I've sailed and before I go to bed, and taking Crampex before I go to bed. Hand and foot cramps I just tend to live with, moving a bit normally gets rid of them, though when I'm hunched up in the bottom of a Contender in light winds it can be tricky! Interesting, re Simvastatin, I've been on it for about 4 years. No real problems, though I do think my problems with foot cramps have got worse since then. Edited by PeterG - 18 Sep 12 at 5:24pm
	Peter Ex Cont 707 Ex Laser 189635 DY 59

Steve411 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 09 Sep 08 Location: Cheddar, Somerset, England Online Status: Offline Posts: 705	Post Options Post Reply Quote Steve411 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 18 Sep 12 at 4:23pm
	I was always led to believe that if your sweat is salty then you are taking in too much salt to your body as any excess salt is leeched away in the sweat. Also, that cramp is not induced by insufficient salt but rather by a reduction in the amount of salt your body is used to. Therefore, you are more likely to get cramp if you have excess salt in your diet and then sweat a lot of it out. Someone with medical/dietary knowledge will no doubt put me right, but that's what I thought, (from someone who doesn't get cramp and who doesn't have salty sweat).
	Steve B RS300 411 RS300 page

NickM Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 27 May 09 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 328	Post Options Post Reply Quote NickM Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 18 Sep 12 at 10:28am
	Thanks for all the suggestions everybody. Will give some of them a try.

tickler Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 03 Jun 07 Location: Tunstead Milton Online Status: Offline Posts: 895	Post Options Post Reply Quote tickler Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 17 Sep 12 at 9:10pm
	I take simvastin....well I am supposed to but I forget. With them or without them I have no side effects that I have noticed. I do get cramp in my feet when crewing and screwed up in a corner but not when helming. I probably dont drink enough however, but I have taken to drinking a lot of tomato juce recently and it makes me feel better generally.

winging it Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 22 Mar 07 Online Status: Offline Posts: 3958	Post Options Post Reply Quote winging it Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 17 Sep 12 at 8:29pm
	Bananas are great - loads of potassium. That's why tennis players gooble down so many.
	the same, but different...

sargesail Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 14 Jan 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1459	Post Options Post Reply Quote sargesail Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 17 Sep 12 at 8:13pm
	Until I tore a calf muscle I had not realised quite how much the calfs had to do with regulating adrenalin in the body (according to my physio). The constant mental and physical requirements "stress" of sailing can be a factor in lower leg cramp while sailing.

r2d2 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 29 Sep 11 Online Status: Offline Posts: 350	Post Options Post Reply Quote r2d2 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 17 Sep 12 at 4:02pm
	rather than mixing up your own concoctions, you could try some of the isotonic hydration products available in the running and cycling worlds. They really have developed a lot since the days of athletes mixing up 'sugar water with a bit of salt' Edited by r2d2 - 17 Sep 12 at 4:02pm

Ruscoe Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 12 Jan 10 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1514	Post Options Post Reply Quote Ruscoe Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 17 Sep 12 at 3:50pm
	Well i have had similar problems in the past, i put it down to a couple of things. Mainly fitness, poor diet and smoking. The later being the biggest culprit. Since stopping with the cancer sticks and reducing my caffine in take it has all but gone.


djdhi Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Groupie Joined: 06 Oct 07 Online Status: Offline Posts: 44	Post Options Post Reply Quote djdhi Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 17 Sep 12 at 2:24pm
	Hi all, Cramp and hydration concern me as well. Did two races yesterday after light training all week, fairly breezy, but no cramp. I weighed myself before and after race and lost 3lbs 12-5 to 12-2. The day after I had bran for breakfast and then had a black-out and was hospitalised. Nothing major was found wrong with me. The most plausible reason seems to have been that after the dehydration of the race the bran soaked up the remaining liquid in my gut and my fluids became dangerously low. l am a senior like a lot more guys I race with. Obviously if I want to continue to race I must learn a lot more about rehydration,---just drinking water does not seem to be the answer. djdhi

ellistine Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 06 Mar 08 Online Status: Offline Posts: 762	Post Options Post Reply Quote ellistine Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 17 Sep 12 at 10:50am
	During a long sail on a hot day I often get cramp in my hands. Quite alarming when you can't actually let go of the mainsheet when a gust hits. The Quinine thing sounds interesting. Gin & Tonic before hitting the water anyone?