Cramp question

[XPATMANX]

Hey I'm new to scuba so this might be a silly question but I'm gonna ask it anyways.

I'm taking classes with PADI recently and ive had to kneel down on the bottom of the pool several times. I find that i cant seem to bend my legs to kneel under water without a leg cramp starting. Its very painful. So i was wondering if anyone else has ever had this problem and how you fixed it?

 

[Papa_Bear]

Stretch your muscles and hydrate! Warm them up, get there early and do a few light laps to warm your legs up! Stretch before the class and you should be fine? Make sure your diet includes potassium as well! A banana works 20 minutes before the class or on a surface intervals! Good luck!

 

[Cajuncru Diver]

Stretch your muscles and hydrate! Warm them up, get there early and do a few light laps to warm your legs up! Stretch before the class and you should be fine? Make sure your diet includes potassium as well! A banana works 20 minutes before the class or on a surface intervals! Good luck!

This is super advice...follow it !!!!

 

[6gunsal]

You didn't say which muscule, but I had the same problem with my right calf. I either had to stand up or do the fin stretch (stick your leg out straight and grab the tip of you fin and pull). Its kinda hard to do that stretch from a kneeling position, but I didn't like having to stand up while doing our skills either.

mabey you should try stretching a bit before you get geared up and in the pool. that should help prevent any cramps to begin with.

ETA: eh, I type too slow...

 

[XPATMANX]

thanks allot that info really helps.

 

[spectrum]

What Papa_Bear said is a good start.

Fins load your leg muscles in ways they have never been conditioned for. If you can get into a pool or open water for skin-diving laps with your mask, snorkel and fins for a few nights a week you will do wonders for your legs and diving in general. Doing so can make you virtually cramp proof.

Open water in the spring is a great place to observe lots of life cycle stuff while skin-diving. Consider adding useful information like your location to your profile.

Pete

 

[divenutny]

I have not had this problem. I suspect you are too tense. How do you relax underwater? Not easy at first, over time it will be easier. This is new to you. With every class, things get easier.

Most new divers keep their lungs full of air. That will make you more bouyant. The more bouyant you are, the harder to sit on the bottom. Take a moment, relax, exhale. work with less air in your lungs. The regulator will supply air when you want it.

Enjoy. This is supposed to be fun

 

[Jeff Toorish]

I have to disagree with some of what is written here. I have had cramps on and off --and when I started diving I found I was getting cramps often. I prefer research and scientific answers, so I started looking into what causes cramps.

What I discovered: there are many myths, among them the dehydration and bananas myth (don't mean to step on toes here). I got a real kick out of hearing the banana myth repeated at the Super Bowl this year --when some athletes were getting cramps, the trainers sent out for Bananas.

I found that stretching is, indeed, the best way to prevent cramps. Streching the muscles prone to cramping before the cramping starts is the most critical step.

I also found that wearing certain types of footwear, such as crocks, actually increases the chance of cramping.

I've attached a .pdf file from Fitness Magazine with research data and conclusions that are helpful.

Jeff

 

[all4scuba05]

If all fails, then only kneel on one knee.

 

[tfsails]

Way back when I was young and skinny I was a competitive swimmer. I read all the horror stories about swimming cramps but never had one for the first fifty years of my life, and I spent a LOT of time in the water. Then I started scuba diving. Since then, I have had more cramps or near-cramps in my legs than you can shake a stick at. It doesn't seem to matter what the water temperature is either. I've gotten so that I can tell when one is coming on and can usually take steps to prevent it.

I wish I could tell you how to prevent cramps but I can't. It probably has to do with the larger water loads on your legs than you're used to, but I can't be sure. Good luck!!