Foot Cramp during Swimming
I sometimes experience a foot cramp during a swim when I swim right after a run. Does anybody know what causes this and what a remedy might be? Thx. Nancy
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I sometimes experience a foot cramp during a swim when I swim right after a run. Does anybody know what causes this and what a remedy might be? Thx. Nancy
Comments
Stop running.
The running is causing fatigue to your calfs, when your point your toes for extended period (like swimming) you'll get cramps in the arch of your foot and calfs. Very common. You can run in the morning and swim at night, which helps or swim first.
Pushing off the wall easier will help as well.
What Hayes said. It's a common misconception that cramping in the pool is due to dehydration and electrolyte deficiency. Those probably can play a role but that has not been my personal experience.
I often have major cramps when I am extremely fatigued.
If you get cramps in the bottom of your feet, then one of the easiest things to do is just mellow out on the push-off - especially if you really go hard with the toes at the end.
The idea that it is tensing/shortening of the muscles of the foot and calf contributes to the cramping also suggests a couple of other solutions. The less attractive one that will work on a one-day basis is to let your toes/feet flex more and therefore relax for the rest of your swim. THIS IS BAD FOR YOUR SWIMMING and only really even practical for pulling sets. (Ever try to kick with your feet flexed?) But it will let you get through the day.
A better long-term solution to get through this may be to learn to point your toes with less effort. Classically, swimmers say that runners have "inflexible ankles", by which they mean that they can't point their toes very well and their feet stay flexed (i.e., same form as when you run...). The classic response to this is to learn to stretch them a bit more by sitting/kneeling on your shins with your butt on your heels and the front/top of your feet on the floor (up to your knees). If this adds to your "flexibility" and lets you keep your toes pointed with less effort, it should help with cramps. And, of course, more pointy toes are more efficient swimming anyway!