Fins and leg cramp relationship...

[blacknet]

Hello,

I have never had any form of cramps with my forcefins. Fin design is a critical issue when it comes to cramps. There have been some studies done on that topic.

Ed

 

[ssra30]

I agree with Blacknet about the fins here. I used Mares Quattro
in the past. Never actually has a problem with cramp (I only dive in warm water) but recently switched to Force Fins and they are much easier on the legs. A few problems that may give you cramps are: lactic acid build up, as your muscle works harder, it switches from aerobic to anaerobic metabolism and cause lactic acid build up. Cold water do cause constriction of your blood vessels therefore you get poorer circulation and less oxygen is delivered to your muscle, plus less bloodflow to take away lactic acid from your muscle. Make sure that your wetsuit is fitted well, stay warm, plenty of liquid does not hurt. I am not sure how effective eating banana will help, especially if you eat it within an hour before diving. Sure low potassium can cause cramp but generally cramp during exercise is more a problem of lactic acid, I think. I doubt you will lose a lot of potassium in sweat in cold water unless you use dry suit.
Aerobic exercise such as jogging, treadmill, stairmaster etc may help as it will condition you better and get your legs to exercise and get it more use to exertion during diving.
Stiff fins make your muscle works harder but not neccessarily more efficient. A quick fix would be to get more efficient and more flexible fins such as split fins, Mares Volo or Force Fins, whatever that you are more comfortable with and suited to your kicking style. In the long run though, getting your legs more conditionign through exercise would be beneficial. A side note, the foot pocket on Force Fins are quite unique and are really on the calf, in my opinion.

 

[sarahboo]

Tonic (as in gin and tonic with out the gin), always helpped me with cramps - although I've never had them while diving

 

[redacted]

My USD Blades (old style) used to cause some cramping, so I split them. That pretty much ended the cramping problems. And its been well over 2 years so my concerns about durability were unnecessary. Good buys on these things still available on e-bay in the $25.00 to $30.00 range. Almost $200.00 for a set of fins - I'll never understand how that can be!

 

[kelpdiver]

Cramps are poorly understood, even by experts in neuromuscular medicine, and I’ve talked to a few after having some bouts of terribly painful cramps (not from diving). Certainly mineral imbalances can cause them, but I’ve found you rarely find such in patients with cramps, even those on diuretics who are certainly more prone to cramps. On the other hand, we can only measure blood, not cellular, levels of sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium (the ones we know are involved in depolarization of cell membranes, which is what leads nerve cells to fire and cause muscle contraction) and it may be the various concentration gradients between cell and extracellular fluid which causes abnormal depolarization. Or there may be other factors causing changes in the channels within the cell membrane that allow or prevent these ions from moving down their concentration gradients. Lactic (not formic) acidosis from vigorous muscle use can be a factor. Or it may be more related to the tone of the motor nerves coming from the spine. See http://www.physsportsmed.com/issues/1999/11_99/schwellnus.htm
So what might you do? Bananas are a good source of potassium and magnesium, but my personal and reasonably successful program is to use magnesium pills, or (esp. for females) combination Calcium/magnesium (often available with zinc as well). Tonic water contains quinine, and old remedy people have used for nocturnal cramps for decades. It was the main ingredient in OTC anti-cramp drugs until the FDA made it prescription only about 10 or 15 years ago. And besides getting and staying in good condition, think about warming up and stretching those muscles before diving.
Suggestions re fins: I have used standard “paddle” fins, Force Fins, and split fins (I own both graphite and black Twin Jets). FFs are definitely easier kicking than standards, but split fins are incredibly easier. Although the blacks are slightly negative and stiffer, the graphite slightly positive and more flexible, I don’t find a great deal of difference between them, esp. when compared to other styles. I know they’re costly (and yeah, I get ‘em at a discount), but they’re wonderful. Anecdote: I was on a trip with a regular buddy, he in his Avanti Quattros, me in my Twin Jets, snorkeling a long distance back to shore, and he nearly exhausted himself trying to keep up with me. As soon as we got home, he went and bought split fins and has been quite happy with them.
Good luck.

 

[scubahubby]

When I started diving I used USDivers Blades and frequently had cramps if I had to do any surface swimming. When the Apollo BioFins came out (the were the first of the split fins) I eventually decided to risk the money. When I read about the BioFins the design made sense but it also set of my marketing BS meter and anyway I kept thinking "could they possibly be so much better they were worth $190?". But I did eventually decide to plunk down the cash. I have over 200 dives on the BioFins and have only had 3 or 4 cramps in all those dives.

It was worth it for me.

 

[Laser]

That's a hefty price for a pair of fins. Hmmmm.......check online prices?

 

[Laser]

Aardal once bubbled...
:idea:

WetDane,

I've heard alot of good things about them. Go back to the dive shop and see if they will let you try out the split fins.



I disagree. I think the splits are too hard to do the kicks necessary.

 

[CameronMartz]

Regardless of what fins you use, stretching and strengthening your calves can reduce cramps caused by finning. I have an article with illustrations that some might find helpful in this regard.

See "Preventing Foot and Calf Cramps" at
http://www.divefitness.com/html/articles.html.

Cameron

 

[scubahubby]

Laser once bubbled...
That's a hefty price for a pair of fins. Hmmmm.......check online prices?

Apollo had an exclusive license on the split fin technology for the first year, so they charged quite a premium, and there were no online deals. Everyone is licensing the technology now so prices are much better.