How to avoid arm and leg cramping toward the end of the day? Is there anyway?

[600xc4me]

I always have my arms, hands and legs cramp up after a long day of sledding, or snowboarding. Is there anyway to avoid this? It can be very painful, and is very annoying when your muscles just do what they want. Anyone else have this happening to them? Is it just an out of shape thing? Or is my body lacking something causing my muscles to cramp? I find it hard to imagine that it's an out of shape thing, because I BMX during the summer, and that keeps me in pretty good shape. Any thoughts about this?

 

[wasatchrider]

yep hit the gym or ride more

 

[Racer220]

Fluid intake most likely. It is way easier to forget in the winter since it's colder. Even though you probably feel fine while riding, think about how hard you are actually working all your muscles. I always pack a few gatorades to help replenish, especially on deep pow days. Give it a shot, probably be the thing you need.

07

 

[bdubs]

drink more water. you will be surprised what keeping hydrated helps with.

 

[togwotee9]

Change your tampon more frequently.

Sorry had to.

I take asprin. Thats me though, for Gods sake don't take it if you have some medical condition.

 

[cookiecutter]

​

Are you staying hydrated as you ride?

Its very common during the winter time to feel like you don't need as much water, which in some cases it true because you aren't sweating so much. But if you are an active rider your body is sweating quite a bit and you are loosing fluids. Fluids help your muscle contract and relax, they also keep your muscle cells hydrated. Just like a dehydrated basketball player can get charlie horses, an active sledder can get arm and leg cramps.

You could also eat some bananas a while before your ride, potassium aids in muscle contraction as well.

 

[cookiecutter]

whoops looks like i just restated things

 

[Reese]

Potassium and H2O are the key..

drink plenty of fluids and like cookiecutter said eat some bananas. When I played football I would craMp bad in my calves toward the end of games. Bananas weren't enough so I got an over the counter potassium supplement at the drug store and no more cramping. That should fix your problem.

Good luck!

 

[Ex-Member]

water, ibuprofen... And of course, getting out more

 

[diggerdown]

Gatoraid and tums. Need the potassium and electrolites.

 

[Sidehiller]

drink plenty of fluids and like cookiecutter said eat some bananas. When I played football I would crap bad in my calves toward the end of games.

Good luck!

You crapped in your calves? Nasty!

 

[A CAT]

do you have enough salt in you're diet.

 

[sledchick]

drink plenty of fluids and like cookiecutter said eat some bananas. When I played football I would crap bad in my calves toward the end of games. Bananas weren't enough so I got an over the counter potassium supplement at the drug store and no more cramping. That should fix your problem.

Good luck!

ditto on the bananas...work wonders for cramping...I dunno about crapping though..

 

[KrazyKen]

Battled this same issue for years, here's your solution!

I raced stock cars for 15 years (still dabble in it) and i fought hand, arm and occasional leg cramps terribly. After much research I found the solution.
As stated in some posts above, Potasium supliments are a must with ample hydration (sports drinks will do more than just water due to the electrolites). Here's the kicker.......Magnesium supliments. Magnesium helps the muscles to relax after flexing, which in turn helps with circulation. The potasium helps hydrate/feed them.
Days before a race I would start downing Pot. and Mag. supliments. I believe it was like 400 mg each per day or something like that. I still keep a bottle of each in the med cabinet and I also take them to fight cramps for sledding. My biggest issue is the triceps.
Also, lay off the booze the night before a big ride. It takes your body a good day and then some to re-hydrate after a good bender. I know this is hard to do especially when your on those over-nighters with the boys, trust me I know.

 

[Reese]

Cramp..

Hahahaha..CRAMP! I MENT CRAMP! I better start double checking what I write when I post. I better fix that.

 

[pullhardr]

Bananas=Potassium+Water=No Cramps

 

[KFD070]

I raced stock cars for 15 years (still dabble in it) and i fought hand, arm and occasional leg cramps terribly. After much research I found the solution.
As stated in some posts above, Potasium supliments are a must with ample hydration (sports drinks will do more than just water due to the electrolites). Here's the kicker.......Magnesium supliments. Magnesium helps the muscles to relax after flexing, which in turn helps with circulation. The potasium helps hydrate/feed them.
Days before a race I would start downing Pot. and Mag. supliments. I believe it was like 400 mg each per day or something like that. I still keep a bottle of each in the med cabinet and I also take them to fight cramps for sledding. My biggest issue is the triceps.
Also, lay off the booze the night before a big ride. It takes your body a good day and then some to re-hydrate after a good bender. I know this is hard to do especially when your on those over-nighters with the boys, trust me I know.

Thanks Krazy for that tid-bit on Magnesium.
My 17 year old son really struggles with horribly painful leg cramps after a big game. Dr. of course stated the obvious about hydration and to increase his Potassium but never mentioned anything about Magnesium supplements. I'm gonna give that a try.
One other thing my son was told that hasn't been mentioned on here yet is the importance of stretching after an exhausting activity. This has seemed to help him somewhat.

 

[2XM3]

I raced stock cars for 15 years (still dabble in it) and i fought hand, arm and occasional leg cramps terribly. After much research I found the solution.
As stated in some posts above, Potasium supliments are a must with ample hydration (sports drinks will do more than just water due to the electrolites). Here's the kicker.......Magnesium supliments. Magnesium helps the muscles to relax after flexing, which in turn helps with circulation. The potasium helps hydrate/feed them.
Days before a race I would start downing Pot. and Mag. supliments. I believe it was like 400 mg each per day or something like that. I still keep a bottle of each in the med cabinet and I also take them to fight cramps for sledding. My biggest issue is the triceps.
Also, lay off the booze the night before a big ride. It takes your body a good day and then some to re-hydrate after a good bender. I know this is hard to do especially when your on those over-nighters with the boys, trust me I know.

Correct, that should do it, also if you have a cramp quinine tabs work wonders, but very hard to find anymore. Tonic water has a bit in it.

 

[Abominable]

Add calcium to the above recommendations, works well for me anyways.

 

[KrazyKen]

Calcium, yes

Add calcium to the above recommendations, works well for me anyways.

That is correct.