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[bgreen]

Anyone have suggestions regarding preventing calf cramps. I'm familiar with the need for plenty of water, and potassium high foods but am interested in other suggestions.

No doubt conditioning helps, but my efforts prior to a recent surf just contributed to a massive cramp in both legs.

Any advice is appreciated,

Bob

[PaipoJim]

I started paipo boarding a lot about 3 years ago and I initially got cramps all the time, especially in cold water, which is pretty much all year round where I live. I had been bodyboarding (not as often) prior to that and hadn't really been experiencing much cramping. I initially did not change swim fin design or brand when I switched over to the paipo but I have noticed that when I do switch fins, especially if they are stiffer, I will get cramps. I also can get cramps if the fins are too tight.

I used to eat bananas, drink plenty of water, started taking potassium pills even, but it really didn't seem to have much effect. They usually happened to me after a period of inactivity while waiting for a wave on the outside and then blasting into ultimate sprint mode from a dead stop in order to catch it. A cramp in both your legs can be a real bitch especially in heavy surf when you are bouncing around in the impact zone.

Short term strategies:

A) Properly sized fins.

B) When waiting for a wave:

1) slowly tread water making sure that you really move your ankles a lot when you do.

2) alternately massage the back of each calf with the front instep of the opposite foot.

If you get a bad cramp:

Dig your fingers into your calf and just knead the hell out of it to loosen it up. This doesn't hurt any more than trying to straighten out your leg which one tends to do involuntarily anyway, especially in rough surf.

Nevertheless, my leg cramps pretty much went away after about six months. I'm sure this was due almost entirely to conditioning.

In addition to paipo boarding at least a couple times a week (on average) I started to go to the gym two or three times a week and included lots of leg work. Warm up with treadmill and light leg lifts. Do alternate day heavy/light leg extensions, same with leg lifts and leg curls. Sessions on the rowing machine don't hurt either.

I also always mix in lots (10 per set) of deep one leg calf stretches where you put the ball of your foot on the edge of a stair step, hook the front of the other foot around the back of the Achilles tendon and slowly lower yor heel to the ground.

So paipo boarding and leg work is my prescription if you are a geezer like me.

OTOH, people always comment on how flexible my swim fins are so maybe it's all just a matter of having the right equipment.

[Nels]

Might I add to Paipo Jim that sometimes your actual kick can contribute. The idea is/was you should use your whole leg pretty much from the hip on down to the tip of your fins. If you are concentrating movement on your ankles or below the knee you may be over stressing those areas.

[PaipoJim]

[bgreen]

Thanks,

The fins aren't too tight, so I suspect the areas I need to concentrate on are the condiitoning and technique. My background is stand-up. Given the suggestion about kicking from the hips, how much leg-bend should be going on. I take it that hinging from the knee is out.

thanks again

Bob

[Poobah]

Bob,
were you riding a long board, like a 5 footer? Were your upper legs hitting the tail of the board?

[Nels]

[bgreen]

Thanks for the further thoughts - the board is 56''. I gather that is long.

I'll pay attention to the contact issue and above/below surface issues.

Bob