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

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.

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!

Sailhack said...

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!

Exercise.. was the worst 10 minutes of my life!!!

red said...

Sailhack said...

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!

Exercise.. was the worst 10 minutes of my life!!!

Related article from National Geo on how to live longer, better. Doesn't involve any strenuous exercise.

www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/

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.

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

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.