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What's the cause of muscle cramps? How do you solve them?

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  • #1

    What's the cause of muscle cramps? How do you solve them?

    OK, so I've been riding my bike regularly for the past couple of weeks -- about 15 or 20 miles a day -- and have been trying to get in shape probably for the first time in my life (even when I ran track in high school, I don't think I really was in shape).

    This morning, I woke up, moved my leg and had a huge muscle cramp. I have never had a muscle cramp before, so I have never learned about them.

    Can somebody explain this phenomenon and how it can be solved? If they can't be solved, do you just work through them? Is it a diet defficiency? I've seen college football players have them early on in the season and have come to understand that this means that they are out of shape. However, I thought that if I built my strength slowly, I would be fine, while slowly overcoming my natural tendency to be a slug.
    Last edited by DanS; April 16, 2006, 16:02.
    I came upon a barroom full of bad Salon pictures in which men with hats on the backs of their heads were wolfing food from a counter. It was the institution of the "free lunch" I had struck. You paid for a drink and got as much as you wanted to eat. For something less than a rupee a day a man can feed himself sumptuously in San Francisco, even though he be a bankrupt. Remember this if ever you are stranded in these parts. ~ Rudyard Kipling, 1891
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  • #2
    Drink lots of water. Eat bananas.

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    • #3
      What's the rationale behind those prescriptions with regard to muscle cramps?
      I came upon a barroom full of bad Salon pictures in which men with hats on the backs of their heads were wolfing food from a counter. It was the institution of the "free lunch" I had struck. You paid for a drink and got as much as you wanted to eat. For something less than a rupee a day a man can feed himself sumptuously in San Francisco, even though he be a bankrupt. Remember this if ever you are stranded in these parts. ~ Rudyard Kipling, 1891

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      • #4
        My crew coach told me to do so and it worked.

        EDIT: from wiki:

        There are two basic causes of cramping. One is inadequate oxygenation of muscle, and the other is lack of water or salt. Cramps from poor oxygenation can be improved by rapid deep breathing, as well as stretching the muscle. Cramps from lack of salt and water can be treated by stretching the muscle, and of course drinking water and increasing salt intake. Pounding on the muscle can increase soreness.

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        • #5
          From personal experience, you'll usually feel it when the muscle will cramp soon. Stop then and stretch the muscle a bit.

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          • #6
            There was no warning on this one. I've never had cramps. Always shin splints when I run, but never cramps. Btw, the shin splints is why I've always disliked running and part of the reason why I have overindulged my tendency to be a slug.
            I came upon a barroom full of bad Salon pictures in which men with hats on the backs of their heads were wolfing food from a counter. It was the institution of the "free lunch" I had struck. You paid for a drink and got as much as you wanted to eat. For something less than a rupee a day a man can feed himself sumptuously in San Francisco, even though he be a bankrupt. Remember this if ever you are stranded in these parts. ~ Rudyard Kipling, 1891

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            • #7
              I reread the OP, and realized you didn't get the cramp riding, you got it in bed in the morning. That's happened to me a couple times, and as far as I could tell it was just because I jerked my leg really hard waking up. Nothing I know of for those.

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              • #8
                No, this wasn't from jerking my leg while waking up. I have done that with my neck, for instance, but this feels different.

                Regarding salt and water intake, I eat way too much salt and drink lots of water. I'll think about the oxygenation.
                I came upon a barroom full of bad Salon pictures in which men with hats on the backs of their heads were wolfing food from a counter. It was the institution of the "free lunch" I had struck. You paid for a drink and got as much as you wanted to eat. For something less than a rupee a day a man can feed himself sumptuously in San Francisco, even though he be a bankrupt. Remember this if ever you are stranded in these parts. ~ Rudyard Kipling, 1891

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                • #9
                  its your muscle thats sore from not being used in a while in physical activity - it will go away in a few days. theres nothing to worry about. its normal
                  "Everything for the State, nothing against the State, nothing outside the State" - Benito Mussolini

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                  • #10
                    I normally get cramp from lack of salt in my diet.
                    One day Canada will rule the world, and then we'll all be sorry.

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                    • #11
                      muscle cramps, either you have drank too little, or you have just had so much activities that there are some damages to your muscles. When you rest, the muscles cramp, because they are healing. This usually happens when you sleep but not necessarily. This is normal though.

                      It means your muscles are healing.
                      In da butt.
                      "Do not worry if others do not understand you. Instead worry if you do not understand others." - Confucius
                      THE UNDEFEATED SUPERCITIZEN w:4 t:2 l:1 (DON'T ASK!)
                      "God is dead" - Nietzsche. "Nietzsche is dead" - God.

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                      • #12
                        Walk faster, that'll get you in shape.
                        DISCLAIMER: the author of the above written texts does not warrant or assume any legal liability or responsibility for any offence and insult; disrespect, arrogance and related forms of demeaning behaviour; discrimination based on race, gender, age, income class, body mass, living area, political voting-record, football fan-ship and musical preference; insensitivity towards material, emotional or spiritual distress; and attempted emotional or financial black-mailing, skirt-chasing or death-threats perceived by the reader of the said written texts.

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                        • #13
                          I used to get these bad at USNA. Try more water, more sodium, more potassium. And some may just need to be endured.

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                          • #14
                            a lot of people forget that you need potassium to transport water arround in your body as well as salt

                            it is real easy to get enough salt in your diet, many foods have loads of salt

                            potassium is another story, some foods (like bananas) have a lot of potassium

                            an imballance of potassium and sodium leads to high blood pressure

                            Jon Miller
                            Jon Miller-
                            I AM.CANADIAN
                            GENERATION 35: The first time you see this, copy it into your sig on any forum and add 1 to the generation. Social experiment.

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                            • #15
                              OK, so Pekka says no big deal, it's just the muscles healing. So translating the communication from body-speak to English, is my body saying "take a day off every once in a while" or is it saying "work through it and you'll be doubly rewarded"?

                              Regarding potassium, it seems like a potential culprit. However, I don't like bananas, so I'll have to find some other food rich in potassium.
                              I came upon a barroom full of bad Salon pictures in which men with hats on the backs of their heads were wolfing food from a counter. It was the institution of the "free lunch" I had struck. You paid for a drink and got as much as you wanted to eat. For something less than a rupee a day a man can feed himself sumptuously in San Francisco, even though he be a bankrupt. Remember this if ever you are stranded in these parts. ~ Rudyard Kipling, 1891

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