LEG (CALF) CRAMPS

rooster · Post by **rooster** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 10:02 pm

Potasium powder works well you can get it at GNC or any health food store. Bitter as hell but....

Smokin Rock · Post by **Smokin Rock** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 11:02 pm

how about Midol?

GRAYMAN · Post by **GRAYMAN** » Tue Dec 16, 2008 12:05 am

Drink some tonic water before you go in. Has Quinine in it which is used in hospitals to treat cramp. I've not had cramp since starting this and you don't have to have all the other crap in Sports Drinks. The strestching advice is good. I also do 30 mins stretching a day regardless of whether I'm surfing.

G

rooster · Post by **rooster** » Tue Dec 16, 2008 11:56 am

The tonic water idea is excellant

with its secret ingrediant of quinine it should also help with malaria

I tend to mix mine with gin, but that is only after5:00 pm

in the winter its dark by then so no one can see how bad I surf

I also use 2 olives for their nutritional value

GRAYMAN · Post by **GRAYMAN** » Tue Dec 16, 2008 12:41 pm

rooster wrote:The tonic water idea is excellant with its secret ingrediant of quinine it should also help with malaria I tend to mix mine with gin, but that is only after5:00 pm in the winter its dark by then so no one can see how bad I surf I also use 2 olives for their nutritional value

Mmmmmmm... I do love a G 'n' T!

The tonic water works in the UK in the winter when it's F*CKIN cold! That's when I get my worst cramps.

G

Scott · Post by **Scott** » Tue Dec 16, 2008 10:45 pm

If you want quinine in a greater dose than in a bottle of quinine water (plus downin' a whole bottle makes you have to pee during your session) you can get a prescription for quinine tablets (at least in the U.S. it can no longer be sold over the counter. Seems about 5% of those who take it have an adverse reaction, such as falling asleep at the wheel). I have had my doctor write out a prescription with no problem. I just told her it was vital to my staying physically active--she was always in favor of that and wrote me a refill whenever I asked. Two tablets would do well before a surf. And I never got malaria, either!

I use the past tense "asked" because I have gotten away from using quinine at all, just going with bananas/potassium instead. Has about the same advantageous effect of warding off cramps for about 2 hours in cold water. Beyond that, I have to be stretching all the time in the water to keep the cramps away.

GRAYMAN · Post by **GRAYMAN** » Tue Dec 16, 2008 10:57 pm

Scott wrote:makes you pee.

Are you saying you don't wee in the water? That's a vital part of staying wam over here mate!

G

rooster · Post by **rooster** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 8:58 am

Grayman

It's very warm in San Jose, so maybe its not a strategy up there. personaly, I down a large cup of coffee before a morning sesh for the express purpose of a mid session warm up

GRAYMAN · Post by **GRAYMAN** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 9:02 am

rooster wrote:Grayman

It's very warm in San Jose, so maybe its not a strategy up there. personaly, I down a large cup of coffee before a morning sesh for the express purpose of a mid session warm up

Ahhh... A man after my own heart. The best thing about weeing in your wetsuit is you can guarantee a set will come mid-flow. I actually use it as a way to charm waves these days.

G

rooster · Post by **rooster** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 9:14 am

ROFLMAO

Never thought of of it from that angle

Not sure how much beer its going to take to get THAT picture out of my mind

KLHK · Post by **KLHK** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 11:05 am

eat seeweed and drink lots of water.....

GRAYMAN · Post by **GRAYMAN** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 2:03 pm

KLHK wrote:eat seeweed and drink lots of water.....

Does that charm waves too?

alfredo zavala · Post by **alfredo zavala** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 2:53 pm

Nice to see another idea for avoiding the dreaded calf cramp.
I seem to always have a problem with these and nothing has seemed to work all the time.
In fact last time I surfed I got a really bad cramp and I thought to myself that there has got to be another solution.
So, tonic water it is.
Thanks all

rooster · Post by **rooster** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 3:16 pm

Capt.

That DOES work

I talked to a guy that does tow-ins at 2' Tourmaline on a long board and he says he NEVER gets cramps

rooster · Post by **rooster** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 8:21 pm

dont pee

Ever had your hand dunked in warm water when your passed out

gotta change your shorts