Cramp

[johndoch]

I am sure most of us have had it.

But what cause's cramp?

[Cain]

What's cramp? :confused:

|Cain|

[johndoch]

hi cain

Its when you are exercising and your muscles spasm.

cheers

[Freeform]

I reckon its when you don't have enough salt intake.

[johndoch]

damn thats what my mate says and I said he was talking rubbish. I guess i will keep my mouth shut in future on matters I dont anything about.

[Freeform]

Hey, I could be talking rubbish! ;)

[johndoch]

nope your right freeform. I just checked an online medical dictionary.

Hmmph I hate losing office arguments.

[Freeform]

I ween! I ween! Gimme a biscuit! :D

[Cain]

What for? You got the stick, yoda has got the biscuit, you will have to exchange it :D

|Cain|

[YODA]

Cramp & salt = a common myth.

Some good links from the YODARCHIVES :D

Relief for Exercise Cramps (http://www.mbmc.org/HealthTopics/NewsLetter/Summer00/relief.htm)

Skeletal Muscle Cramps During Exercise (http://www.physsportsmed.com/issues/1999/11_99/schwellnus.htm)

Stiffness, Cramps and Twitching (http://www.mdausa.org/publications/Quest/q73ss.html)

[JediMasterChris]

Is it your period? :confused:

[YODA]

Originally posted by JediMasterChris
Is it your period? :confused:

No - that's next week :p

[JediMasterChris]

Oh I see.:love:

[THEGREAT1]

cramp is caused by lack of minerals in the system (e.g. if u take to much water it washes the minerals out) to much lactic acid and a no doubt a million other things aswell as the things liste on yodas website archive there:)

[YODA]

Originally posted by THEGREAT1
cramp is caused by lack of minerals in the system (e.g. if u take to much water it washes the minerals out)

Can you give us some source info for that info please?

[KickChick]

... (yet another reason for getting some Fitness Instructors Courses (http://www.martialartsplanet.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=2635) )

... anyway, with the warm weather coming soon (at least here...) beware of those dreaded "heat cramps" too!

Now in my "fitness training" this is how heat cramps are handled. Let me take a look at my source here....
"Heat Cramps are the least severe and first sign of an impending heat problem and is manifested by painful muscle spasms usually in the legs and abdomen.

Have the victim rest in a cool place. Give them cool water or a commercial sports drink.
Lightly stretch and gently massage the area. The victim should NOT take salt tablets or salt water which can make the situation worse."

[YODA]

Good stuff Deb.

Staying hydrated and warming up properly just about elimates most occurances of cramp.

[THEGREAT1]

Originally posted by YODA


Can you give us some source info for that info please?

dwain chambers medical team at the commonwealth games :-)

(if u remember he pulled up with cramp in the final after about 20 metres)

[YODA]

I meant documented sources rather than "this person on TV said"

[THEGREAT1]

the fact that someone was on tv doesn't make them wrong btw...being that they are in fact professional medical people i see no reason to doubt them.


http://www.doctorupdate.net/du_toolkit/s_sorters/s16.html

the possible investigations at the bottom refers to the potential causes of cramp (as in how to find them)...

and btw this is not evidence as there is very little proven evidence on causes of cramp apparently...

but low pottasium and salt is thought to be a cause of cramp(unproven) and this is one of the things that overhydration causes and is the reason they test for over hydration when attempting to determine why athletes get cramp.



http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cybertherapist/back/backlowerleg/calfcramp.htm <---lists low pottasium/salt as a cause

http://www.myodynamics.com/articles/cramps.html <----if you're willing to read a bit it's in there bout 1/5 of the way down stating to much fluid is a cause

(one of the main reasons for cramp that i have come across in todays research is electorlyte inbalance, which is caused by an inbalance of fluid which is caused by over and dehydration, this is also stated further down that last link:-))

and then again i n the conclusions

that link is the only one that seems to have a scientific base as evidence on cramp that i have seen

from anyone anywhere


http://www.dailypeloton.com/heatstress.asp <----it's in there somewhere also...

http://www.gssiweb.com/reflib/refs/247/SSE78.cfm <---and there

http://www.eload.net/ELoadInfo/Chap03-01.htm <---indirectly mentioned

[YODA]

Excellent info - thanks :D

I've subscribed to the potasium theory myself, which is why I recommend a banana before training for those prone to cramps - does seem to help.

[KickChick]

... for potassium also seeds(sunflower etc...), legumes and beans (but I wouldn't suggest ingesting just before training!!)

also... another culprit ... deficiencies of calcium and magnesium...for magnesium, include seafood, nuts, and molasses. Try fresh carrot juice, which contains calcium lactate.

... another tip ....To help prevent dehydration and cramps during a work out, drink pickle juice instead of sports drinks. There is no scientific proof that it works, but coaches and athletes swear it does work.

Other types of cramps.... cramps in the feet or toes, point your toes upward and backward toward the knees, them release. For cramps in the calves or thighs, massage is the area briskly.

Here is a trick may athletes say works. Pinch the philtrum, the fleshy protrusion under your nose, over the top lip. (you may look a little funny doing this though!!)

For a cramps (sometimes called a "stitch") in your side, regulate your breathing, striving for long, regular breaths of even intervals.

[THEGREAT1]

prunes any good for these things?

/me has a friend who swears u can live on them alone:P

[YODA]

Prunes are great for cardio!

All that running to the toilet LOL! :D

[Guitarboy1212]

a cramp is caused when your doing exercise, and your body isn't getting the stuff it needs quick enough, so you start to breath heavily, because your body needs the oxygen, and if it doesn't get down there fast enough (I'm sure everyone knows that oxygen travels through your blood stream to different parts of the body), so you get a cramp. The more you exercise, the quicker your body can move the air through your blood stream to the cells, and you will get less cramps, and you won't get exausted easier.

[YODA]

Originally posted by Guitarboy1212
a cramp is caused when your doing exercise, and your body isn't getting the stuff it needs quick enough, so you start to breath heavily, because your body needs the oxygen, and if it doesn't get down there fast enough (I'm sure everyone knows that oxygen travels through your blood stream to different parts of the body), so you get a cramp. The more you exercise, the quicker your body can move the air through your blood stream to the cells, and you will get less cramps, and you won't get exausted easier.


Thanks for that amazing insight. Maybe you should contact all the professionals in the links above and tell them they are making this waaay to complicated?