what causes cramps while diving?

[IndigoBlue]

Medical doctors,

Could you please explain to me what causes cramping while diving?

I have never experienced cramps while diving with my drysuit, but often experienced cramps while diving with my wetsuit. These cramps are most often hamstring cramps, but sometimes calf muscle or foot cramps as well. They normally occur during repetitive dives with the wetsuit.

I always stay well hydrated before and after dives, with Gatoraide my favorite drink, since it is popular in sports as well.

It is my guess that heat loss and blood supply to the extremities is somehow closely related to cramps in scuba.

What does the diving medical profession say about cramps?

Thank you in advance, for your help.

 

[Saturation]

IndigoBlue once bubbled...
Medical doctors,

Could you please explain to me what causes cramping while diving?

I have never experienced cramps while diving with my drysuit, but often experienced cramps while diving with my wetsuit. These cramps are most often hamstring cramps, but sometimes calf muscle or foot cramps as well. They normally occur during repetitive dives with the wetsuit.

I always stay well hydrated before and after dives, with Gatoraide my favorite drink, since it is popular in sports as well.

It is my guess that heat loss and blood supply to the extremities is somehow closely related to cramps in scuba.

What does the diving medical profession say about cramps?

Thank you in advance, for your help.

Yes, common causes are relative cold with minor electrolyte imbalance add to it the position of your legs while in the water.

I found eating bananas, loading on up potassium and Ca++ through TUMS reduced my cramping tremendously. Later, I adopted swimming with a hood in all but 84F water, and it just stopped for the most part.

 

[kelpdiver]

Cold clearly seems to be a factor--some warmup and stretching pre-dive may help.
Mineral imbalance is often blamed--not with much evidence to support it, but it doesn't hurt to supplement with electrolytes. I've been through some periods of disabling, painful cramping (not with diving), as well as some of the typical diver cramps, and consulted some neuromuscular specialists without much benefit. (Didn't see any point in a muscle biopsy to look for an inherited glycogen storage disease. Those are rare, and would have likely shown up younger and in different circumstances.)
I do agree with Saturation that supplements may help. In addition to the sodium, potassium, and calcium, consider magnesium, either in the common Ca/Mg/Zinc tabs, or by itself. Seems to help me, but don't know if it will help you.