Brand New Diver - with mild leg cramps

[LadyMacEsq]

Hi all! Just started OW certification class last night.

No equalization problems with my ears. Some difficulty figuring out neutral buoyancy ~ I am on the heavy side so I was loaded down with 10 pounds of weight in order to get down onto the bottom of the pool. The instructions were to kneel on the bottom and that's when I got my first leg cramp/knot on my right calf. I was able to release it by moving my leg, but it happened several more times over the next 2.5 hours. Does this mean I need to drink more water? Or do I need to get down to the local pool and get some exercise?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

LME

 

[DMDavid]

Legs cramps can happen for numerous reasons but lack of exercise is at the top of the list.

I try to get into a routine of walking around the neighborhood and stretching before and after to get those muscles tuned up.

I wouldn't worry, it happens to many of us that need a little tune up.

Water only helps if your dehydrated so in most cases it's more of a strain on muscles that haven't been used in a while.

Stretching before I dive does wonders for my aging muscles and it makes the younger kids wonder what I'm up to.

Hope this helps.


---
- FB-Florida Scuba Diver

 

[WaterV]

Misbreathing can also be a cause, try to breath like you would on land ;-)

 

[gypsyjim]

Regularly exercise, drink plenty of water, and an occasional banana for the potassium is said to help. I occasionally get leg cramps when I am over using leg muscles, but the bananas seem to help that. Staying fit, and working the legs regularly is key tho.

 

[TMHeimer]

If you don't like bananas take potassium pills. Worked wonders for me, as heredity has saddled me with cramps as well. Exercize, hydration, etc. didn't help. I still get them but not often.

 

[emoreira]

There is a web site that you can visit, which is related to diver fitness : Better fitness means better diving.
In fact, the web site relates to the book they are promoting, but there are several excerpts of some chapters and one related to calf cramps http://www.divefitness.com/html/articles/article_pdfs/foot_calf.pdf

 

[LadyMacEsq]

Misbreathing can also be a cause, try to breath like you would on land ;-)

The DM did mention (and I did notice) that I was breathing very heavy - whether it was out of excitement or nervousness, I don't know. Hopefully that will change with a little more experience (and hopefully I will become desensitized to how LOUD my breathing underwater sounds).

So it sounds like the RX for next week is a banana, bottle of water and a nice walk before class. Thanks all for your kind suggestions.

LME