Leg Cramps!?!?!?!

[HIKARU]

Ok, I am not UNHEALTHY-OBESE or anything but I do not work out like I used to and I don't do much cardiovascular excercises. I have this big problem with paintball, LEG CRAMPS.

I can play for about 2 hours and everything will be peachy then suddenly before I know it I'll break down like a spanish dancer. My legs (calfs) feel like they are going to exploded yada yada yada.

Anyways, some guy told me that he heard that if you drink "Insure" or is it "Ensure" some drink you can buy at any local super market, that the effects of leg crampage will nevor come up in the course of the day.

TO me that sounds like its too good to be true. does anybody know about this drink? have they ever used it for this purpose?

-too tired to sound coherent, Hikaru

[Gotenks]

ensure? Isn't that like old peoples vitamin drink?

uh...... lol.

I have a problem like that, but its with my arm. If I throw a football a couple times (and most of the time im not even throwing it hard) my arm just starts to hurt badly, and it will shake, like your legs go crazy like a spanish dancer.

It kind of ruined my ability to be the quarter back, but I guess its back to the bench cause my school has the 2 best receivers in state.

[ghideon]

You mean like ow ow cramp? I tend to get those while taking cover (I'm a tall dude). Best thing for those is to stretch.

Or do you mean muscle spasms? Haven't gotten those for a while (since I was in basic training). Either way, get more exercise. It'll make your game better (most likely) and you won't even have to spend any money.

[Tron]

Ensure will do it because its packed with vitamins. Eat a banana or two before you go out and play the potasium should do good. And about throwing a football that doesn't sound right you should check yourself out sounds like a pinched nerve or something.

-Tron

[845]

I just stretch that seems to stop the cramps.

[shartley]

[K-villeplayer]

The reason you get cramps like that is due to build up of lactic acid in your muscles. When you exert a lot of energy, your body tries to make energy as fast as it can. There is the long way to make energy and the short way. The short way is what will cause you to get the build up of lactic acid. The best way to prevent this is to strech and do a little more exercise. That way, your muscles are used to producing the energy that you need and they will have some in storage for your cells to burn when the time comes. Hope that helps you in some way.

-Andrew

[Doobie]

Shartley :

Those are all good. But I find it funny that noone mentioned DRINK MORE WATER! LOL

As some of you may know, I am a Drill Sergeant. I see this all the time with people who don't do alot of strenuous activity. Early on in training, the trainees get cramps quite often. I will force water on them to a level that they do not like and then "Highly suggest" they eat a Banana in the mess hall and the cramps go away. Shartley hit it on the nose. Some of these trainees were athletes before I got them and they still don't drink enough water. It has been determined that almost 85% of the country is dehydrated at any one time. So:
1. DRINK MORE WATER! (You need a quart an hour during high activity. Drink over the course of an hour, don't guzzle all at once. When properly hydrated, your urine stream should be almost clear.)
2. Stretch those legs, before and after.
3. Increase your potassium intake. (Bananas, and other fresh fruits)

[paintbattler]

i always get cramps in my hammys..but one time..i got it in both calves while i was pitching..i like to point my toes when i pitch and whenever i pointed my toes...it hurt...when i got them in my hammy..i always bent down and touched the ground and it helped it out a lot

[personman]

Yes, Water will do the trick!
Try water before you try anything else.
Strech alot, like everyone else said.

[Miscue]

I had the same problem wrestling in high school and playing tennis. Would get so bad I'd get teary eyed... (I didn't even do this when I snapped my femur in half)

Water + Stretching + Exercise cleared it up. STRETCH OUT THEM CALVES! - Before and after excercise. Do warm ups, get your blood flowing. If you do things cold, easier to hurt yourself.

Drink water before you are thirsty. Thirsty means you're already dehydrated.

When you start going to the bathroom more frequently, and it becomes clear... this is good! Keep this up. Lots of water is really good for you, cleans you out, prevents kidney stones, etc.

I'd recommend jogging. I hated jogging at first, but now I enjoy it especially since my endurance/stamina has increased exponentially.

[TRIAD]

Do not drink carbonated beverages, ie pop. They will dehydrate you. Simple as that.

[bornl33t]

pop should become obsolete on your diet... I've got what you have in the legs in my whole body. Anything remotely strenuouse will cause that part of my body to spasm and become uncontrolable. I do take medicin for it but I've found that the less pop, caffeine and sugar I drink the better I do. Then of course streching to get my body ready for a psysical activity and like shartly said.. alot of water!!

[magman007]

if you drink any thing, make sure it is warm. that way you can absorb it faster and your body doesnt have to bring it up to temp. you also wont puke like you would if you drank too much cold fluid too fast.

[boomerfoxtrot]

I'm sure I'm going to get some flak on this one...

but it's just my best idea yet...

the BIG OLD guys, why don't you just take the Stand Up bunkers!?!?!??!

I had knee surgery a wee' bit back, and for a year, I had to play standing up.. (I physically couldn't squat for 5 months) .. so I just took the tall bunkers in the back of the feild and shot more paint.

Just an idea...

and as a Basketball Coach (which I am) I can't stress enough the FACT that anyone needs to DRINK WATER, Strech, and don't forget ! WATER, poweraid isn't bad either. But just drink!!

That's my 2 Cents on the subject