Buoyant1
Contributor
Good article! and if you have questions, Cameron is on Scubaboard and answers PM's! (check out the Diving into Fitness forums to find him)
Cramp question
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Good article! and if you have questions, Cameron is on Scubaboard and answers PM's! (check out the Diving into Fitness forums to find him)
Cameron's article is excellent. There are many myths about cramps, and potassium intake is among them.
I have found that I tend to get leg cramps if I haven't been in the water for a awhile. Seems like my body just rebels about doing something out of the "norm". I think that you, like myself, will see a decrease in the amount of leg cramps you get the more often you go diving. It will still happen on occasion but the frequency becomes less. You will find that if you take a month or two off from diving that the cramps will return the first day you get back in the water.
Guba
Contributor
Just about everything everyone has inputed (well, with the exception of the banana thing) steers pretty much the same direction. Cramps, as applied to scuba diving, almost ALWAYS spring from the fact that (as one poster noted) fins and the motions that go along with diving load the muscles in ways for which they are rarely adequately prepared. Many divers find that the REAL cramping issues arise late in the dive or on the second or third dives. The muscles have had time to react to the unusual movement and load, and that's when they contract in response to being bent into the kneeling position.
This explains why one poster noted that while he was a young and ardent swimmer, he never had issues, but when he dived later in life--bingo, he got cramps.
Good advice came from those who said to stretch before diving and relax. However, even better advice would be to train for diving the same way you would any other outdoor activity. Certainly, swimming a few laps a couple of times a week with fins would most likely solve the problem. However, one could work exercises into their daily regimen that stretch and flex the calves and in that way prepare for diving. The problem is not being "out of shape"...it's simply one of the unique demands diving places on the body.
This explains why one poster noted that while he was a young and ardent swimmer, he never had issues, but when he dived later in life--bingo, he got cramps.
Good advice came from those who said to stretch before diving and relax. However, even better advice would be to train for diving the same way you would any other outdoor activity. Certainly, swimming a few laps a couple of times a week with fins would most likely solve the problem. However, one could work exercises into their daily regimen that stretch and flex the calves and in that way prepare for diving. The problem is not being "out of shape"...it's simply one of the unique demands diving places on the body.
Papa_Bear
Contributor
Not stepping on my toes, but it works for me, and the Doctors who wrote this:Muscle Cramps Causes, Cramping Prevention and Treatment Information on MedicineNet.com
What the heck to those over paid NFL types know? lol
What the heck to those over paid NFL types know? lol
Papa_Bear
Contributor
Sorry, but I have to go with the doctors on this one! Muscle Cramps Causes, Cramping Prevention and Treatment Information on MedicineNet.com
"Low potassium: Low potassium levels occasionally cause muscle cramps, although it is more common for low potassium to be associated with muscle weakness."
Good enough for me!
Dr. Daniel Gornel received his BA from Pomona College, and his Medical Degree from Harvard Medical School. He completed his internal medicine residency at the Harvard Medical Service of the Boston City Hospital and at the Boston Veteran's Administration Hospital. He subsequently had a fellowship in renal disease at the UCLA Medical Center.
Dr. Gornel's military service included two years as Assistant Naval Attaché at the United States Embassy, Djakarta, Indonesia. His extensive practice experience initially focused upon internal medicine and nephrology, including a position as medical director of a dialysis facility. More recently he has emphasized geriatrics, working at a non-profit clinic for seniors. He is certified in internal medicine and in geriatrics. He is a member of the American College of Physicians and the American Geriatrics Society. His writings have been published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, the Journal of the American Medical Association and the New England Journal of Medicine.
In 1997, Dr. Gornel received the degree of Master of Public Health from UCLA, with emphasis on health services management. He has since been active as a consultant in senior health services to the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services. His activities currently also include service as an outside member on the Medical Advisory Board of AltaMed Senior BuenaCare Program in Los Angeles, and as consultant geriatrician to the Center for Healthy Aging in Santa Monica, California.
"Low potassium: Low potassium levels occasionally cause muscle cramps, although it is more common for low potassium to be associated with muscle weakness."
Good enough for me!
Dr. Daniel Gornel received his BA from Pomona College, and his Medical Degree from Harvard Medical School. He completed his internal medicine residency at the Harvard Medical Service of the Boston City Hospital and at the Boston Veteran's Administration Hospital. He subsequently had a fellowship in renal disease at the UCLA Medical Center.
Dr. Gornel's military service included two years as Assistant Naval Attaché at the United States Embassy, Djakarta, Indonesia. His extensive practice experience initially focused upon internal medicine and nephrology, including a position as medical director of a dialysis facility. More recently he has emphasized geriatrics, working at a non-profit clinic for seniors. He is certified in internal medicine and in geriatrics. He is a member of the American College of Physicians and the American Geriatrics Society. His writings have been published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, the Journal of the American Medical Association and the New England Journal of Medicine.
In 1997, Dr. Gornel received the degree of Master of Public Health from UCLA, with emphasis on health services management. He has since been active as a consultant in senior health services to the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services. His activities currently also include service as an outside member on the Medical Advisory Board of AltaMed Senior BuenaCare Program in Los Angeles, and as consultant geriatrician to the Center for Healthy Aging in Santa Monica, California.
Potassium is almost ubiquitous in food. Kidneys conserve potassium well. Potassium deficiency is very rarely encountered in any person who does not have renal disease and who is not on some kind of diuretic, unless they have been experiencing fluid losses of some kind (vomiting or diarrhea). If you are taking normal nourishment and otherwise healthy, augmenting your potassium intake is EXTREMELY unlikely to make a difference in your muscle cramping.
PapaBear, your source has impeccable credentials, and even he says potassium deficiency is only occasionally associated with cramps and more likely to produce weakness. And BTW, I'm a physician, former University of Washington faculty member and instructor, and I think I understand basic electrolyte physiology pretty well
PapaBear, your source has impeccable credentials, and even he says potassium deficiency is only occasionally associated with cramps and more likely to produce weakness. And BTW, I'm a physician, former University of Washington faculty member and instructor, and I think I understand basic electrolyte physiology pretty well
Papa_Bear
Contributor
I understand, but medicine being an art, you can't dismiss as "A myth" the need to replace electrolytes including Potassium for some people! If you cover all bases chance are you might get a double play! In the OP's question I was in a simple way covering all the bases! Without a blood test on site over kill is better than under kill! I play doctor as often as she will let me! 
Guba
Contributor
Okay, since we have trained medical personnel present (along with other who have access to extensive medical information), I have a question that has long plagued me. First, there are some things that must be assumed in order to ask the question.
Assumption one: Let's assume (yes, I know it's arguable) that ingesting potassium from food (say, bananas) does indeed have an effect on someone who is low in potassium, thus "causing" cramps.
Assumption two: the person is already experiencing cramps.
Question: How LONG would it be before the victim would experience relief? In other words, what amount of time would it take for the person to ingest, then digest, the bananas and process the potassium into the useful form necessary to provide relief?
I've always wondered that.
Assumption one: Let's assume (yes, I know it's arguable) that ingesting potassium from food (say, bananas) does indeed have an effect on someone who is low in potassium, thus "causing" cramps.
Assumption two: the person is already experiencing cramps.
Question: How LONG would it be before the victim would experience relief? In other words, what amount of time would it take for the person to ingest, then digest, the bananas and process the potassium into the useful form necessary to provide relief?
I've always wondered that.
Papa_Bear
Contributor
In my experience it is more about habit and dietary trends than instant materialization of a Banana! Like the old Apple a day thing! Hydration is the most important in order to carry away the lactic acid build up in the muscle! For divers it is more about cold water slowing circulation to a muscle group helping the muscle to contract! Conditioning, hydration, & Diet are what I have found to be the best preventive actions to take to avoid the pain! 
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