Cramps

[johlar]

Anyone have problem with lower leg (calf) cramps? I'm assuming it's got to do with the way I kick or something but I'm in the water less than 5 minutes and the legs start to cramp.

I'm 55 diving for about a year and am looking for some advice. I'm in decent shape, not tremendous but ok.

thanks

 

[Wendy]

Ok, I'm not a doc, the closet medical thing i work with the people are already dead, so with that in mind i'd like to make some suggestions.

Stretch a little before diving.

Eat a banana, potassium is a good thing, just don't take the banana on a boat (bad luck).

Wear the proper exposure protection (are you cold?)

And to get rid of the cramp while diving, stretch out your leg in front of you and pull on the tip of your fin to stretch out your calf muscles or get your buddy to rub it for you.

 

[headhunter]

...or get your buddy to rub it for you.

So... where can I go to get my Underwater Massage Therapy cert.

Christian

 

[rab]

There's a great article on Preventing Foot and Calf Cramps on www.DiveFitness.com

The author, CameronMartz, is a ScubaBoard member, too.

-Rob

 

[rab]

So... where can I go to get my Underwater Massage Therapy cert.

Christian

Perhaps 1-800-729-7234?

 

[detroit diver]

Not meaning to hijack this, but what's with the "banana on the boat" thing?

Ok, I'm not a doc, the closet medical thing i work with the people are already dead, so with that in mind i'd like to make some suggestions.

Not meaning to hijack this, but what's with the "banana on the boat" thing?
Stretch a little before diving.

Eat a banana, potassium is a good thing, just don't take the banana on a boat (bad luck).

Wear the proper exposure protection (are you cold?)

And to get rid of the cramp while diving, stretch out your leg in front of you and pull on the tip of your fin to stretch out your calf muscles or get your buddy to rub it for you.

 

[SueMermaid]

We learned during my first OW class pool session how to relieve calf cramps. That's pretty common for a diver, be it your first or hundred thousanth dive--the way your legs work with all that extra resistance, it is easy to cramp up your calves. No worries on you.
Eating hi potassium foods like bananas and making sure you are well-hydrated before you dive are important. Pulling on the tip of your fin is a very good way to relieve those cramps should they happen.

DD, some boat captains have a superstition about having bananas on their boats--most I have been with have strictly forbidden them. I am not sure where it originates, perhaps one too many divers stepped on a banana peel on deck? :banana:

 

[Wendy]

Not meaning to hijack this, but what's with the "banana on the boat" thing?

http://www.azinet.com/captjim/bananas.htm

http://keywestcharterboats.com/nobananas.html

 

[divebomb]

Ok, I'm not a doc, the closet medical thing i work with the people are already dead, so with that in mind i'd like to make some suggestions.

Stretch a little before diving.

Eat a banana, potassium is a good thing, just don't take the banana on a boat (bad luck).

Wear the proper exposure protection (are you cold?)

And to get rid of the cramp while diving, stretch out your leg in front of you and pull on the tip of your fin to stretch out your calf muscles or get your buddy to rub it for you.

I ditto Wendy's banana suggestion. I paddle a whitewater kayak and I always keep bananas in my boat for cramps. Anyone ever hear the punk rock group called "The Cramps"?

Beck

 

[miketsp]

In addition to the above suggestions, I am practically the same age and I found that the type & weight of my fins have a big influence on the frequency I get cramps.
When I use a hinging fin like Mares Volo or Dacor Panther I very rarely get cramps.
If I use a rigid heavy fin then I get them frequently.