Night cramps.

[thomashouseman]

Hi,

Ever since I re-started commuting, I've been waking up in the middle of the night with foot / calf cramps.

Anyone got a fix for this? When I took a week off commuting, they disappeared.

T.

[elantra]

Visit your local grocery store.

Try some fizzy Tonic water and salty potato chips before you go to bed.

If that does not solve the problem, you might need to see GP etc.

Steve.

[hannos]

Drink something to replace the electrolytes you lose when exercising?

[familyguy]

Magnesium tablets helped me when I had a few lower leg muscle issues during nights.

Jim

[death valley 69]

+1 Magnesium Tablets.

[Aussiebullet]

+2
yep magnesium sorted mine out and they were bad, after a block of heavy training/racing l was cramping for weeks just walking around during the day and when in bed at night,
200-500mg is recommended as safe and effective, just ask your chemist for some advice l chose not to take a calcium/mag tab as my calcium intake is extremely high through my diet,
so started with 200mg mag in capsule form (natures own brand) worked in less than 20min.

As l adjusted to the higher exercise/training regime l didn't need them all that much except during really long races.
But l train hard and really punish myself alot so always have them handy.

Some people never need supplements ever! some need them just to survive (like iron or B12).

[gmack]

Magnesium comes in many forms and prices
I was recommended by my GP magnesium glycinate 400mg tablet, after shopping around I found http://www.iherb.com (american site but prices are good even including postage)

magnesium is good alternative for high blood pressure as well ( cheaper than beta blockers)

[foo on patrol]

I heard on a programe that you need to have equal amounts of each, as they both need each other to balance things.

Foo

[death valley 69]

I think the ratio is 2:1 for cal/mag but if cal intake is high and mag low then mag supplement alone is ok.cheers.

[Aussiebullet]

I think the ratio is 2:1 for cal/mag but if cal intake is high and mag low then mag supplement alone is ok.cheers.

Yup!

And calcium supps can bring their own troubles for some (me) like costapation where as mag will have the oppisite effect if the dose is too high, as always do some research and better still talk to a doc or pharmacist before embarking on any supplement program.

[hannos]

If you think you need supplements then it's better to see a doctor to get a referral for blood work.

They will be able to tell you exactly what you are (or aren't) lacking.

[ValleyForge]

If you think you need supplements then it's better to see a doctor to get a referral for blood work.

They will be able to tell you exactly what you are (or aren't) lacking.

Almost certainly the blood tests will be normal. Simplest solution is combined Ca/Mg/VitD tabs. What your body doesn't need finds it way to the porcelain.

[paragonman]

Night cramps is something my old Dad suffered with for many years, somewhere he heard walking barefoot on damp grass first thing in the morning could help, so every morning for the rest of his life , winter and summer he could be seen walking barefoot on his 3 square metres of grass, no more night cramps and as a bonus he could tune in his radio without getting static crackling..

paragonman

[jules21]

hydrate. if i don't hydrate, i'll cramp at night after rides.

[casual_cyclist]

hydrate. if i don't hydrate, i'll cramp at night after rides.

+1 to this. If I don't hydrate I get night cramps even if I have done no exercise even for a couple of days. I never cramp when well hydrated.