Cramps

[kisscid]

Does anyone else have this problem? I can skate for hours with no problems, but the minute I start to jump (bunny hops, waltz are all I can do right now) I get a cramp in my left toes. I was told it was because I wasn't drinking enough water. So I increased my water intake to where I was practically pee-ing every 15 minutes and I still got cramps. It was also really hard to skate with a belly full of water. Does anyone else have this problem?
Cid

[EdemamePirate]

I used to get cramps in my feet and I learned that it was from tightening that foot when I got anxious/tense. I found that pointing the toes in my boots up towards the ceiling released the cramp and helped.

[Chico]

It sounds like you might toe crunch and this will make your feet and toes ache. If your a beginner you may be scrunching your toes in an attempt to hold onto the ice. Pretty common for newbies. =-)Heck, I do this when learning a new skill and I've been skating years now.

Chico

[kisscid]

Whew, I'm glad I'm not the only one. I'm not a newbie in the strictest scense. I skated in my youth. I was learning doubles. I always got these darn toe cramps. How can I learn to not tense my toes? It seems to be a bad habit I formed years ago. I am just now getting back in skating after being away for 16 years.

[Raine]

I used to get them with my ill-fitting Reidells, which squished my toes. When I got my SP-Teris, the toe cramps stopped for five years. But they've resumed recently, specifically when I do a salchow or press down for a scratch spin. I think it's due to my broken-down boots, though. It's very scary to vault into the air with a cramped foot. 8O

I used to get leg cramps in my sleep, but this hasn't been happening since I started taking a proper amount of calcium every day. I don't know if the calcium helps feet, though. In my case, I'm pretty sure the boots are the problem.

Happy skating!
Raine

[celtic]

I hate to say "Oh, I'm glad you have toe cramps, too!", but now I am not alone! I have had these for the last several years, as I age, when my feet get cold or my shoes are too tight. Before that, I used to get them while I slept. It wasn't until a few years ago a cousin told me she has them and they "run in the family". I finally read that these aren't really "cramps" but the tendons in the toes are too tight and there is a surgery (minor) to correct it. Darned if I can remember the name of this condition, and it may be different from your problem, but thought I'd throw my two cents in.

[skateflo]

For all of us with 'toe cramps' could I ask you to be more specific?

From childhood (so that's over 50 years now.....) there are times I would awaken in the middle of the night and a toe (usually the 2nd toe) would be in such bad spasm that it actually bent upward - 'u' shaped with the toenail pointing up and the joint locked downward. It was as painful as a severe 'charlie horse' in your calf.

Any way, I have had increasing trouble with it, now involving 2-3 toes on each foot - it comes and goes. After 3+ visits to various specialists, who never heard of such a spasm, and looked at me like I was nuts, I just gave up.

Finally my chiropractor told me since it was on both feet, it may be systemic and probably low calcium. The other reason, perhaps adding to the problem, is the clenching of my toes downward, like I am trying to grip a towel on the floor, when I am skating something new and uncomfortable. So I upped my calcium and tried to think when I might be clenching my toes - and yes, I do do that at times.

But now it doesn't take too much stress to have the trigger point be between the ball of my foot and the base of the toes....So I think it is just overuse of the toes in a certain position.

It happens much less now is the best I can hope for I guess.

Just curious about other people's experience and what they mean when they say 'cramp.'

[Mrs Redboots]

Goodness - I'm not alone! My feet get the most appalling cramp sometimes - mostly in my toes, but occasionally involving the entire feet - usually when I stretch them out, like in bed on a cold night, or occasionally in the car, especially on the way home from skating (doesn't usually happen on the bus, I'm relieved to find!). They've been very bad just lately.

Does anybody know what form of calcium is the most effective? My parents have always sworn by tonic water (Indian tonic) as an anti-cramp, because, they say, it contains traces of quinine. And they also used a homeopathic remedy called cuprum met, but have stopped doing that lately.

[jenlyon60]

Don't know what's the best, but have always heard that plain old antacid tablets (US Brand names = Rolaids and Tums) are the best for their price (cheap compared to buying calcium horsepills).

There's some sort of calcium chews out over here now... Haven't tried them so don't know how they go down (the early ones were pretty disgusting, as I recall).

[Raine]

Hi, Skateflo:

My toe cramps are like the toe spasms you were talking about. Very scary to have a toe spasm while you're doing a jump. 8O

In the past, I've had excruciating leg cramps as well. I take calcium citrate, and I think it's helped cut down on leg cramps but I really think that my six-year-old boots are contributing to the toe spasms.

Happy Skating!
Raine

[celtic]

I agree that Tums are a good source of calcium. Now that I am "middle aged", I take a calcium supplement when I remember it. My doctor recommended the chews called Viactiv (spelling?) and they are like a caramel candy. Take one or two morning and evening. The pill variety she also recommended is Caltrate, which is supposed to be good for preventing polyps as well, but we won't go there! :)

Good luck -- nothing's more painful (or embarrassing) than grabbing your foot, throwing your shoe off, and massaging your toes in public! :oops:

[Mrs Redboots]

Good luck -- nothing's more painful (or embarrassing) than grabbing your foot, throwing your shoe off, and massaging your toes in public! :oops:Tell me about it! It once happened to me in church, which wouldn't have mattered, but for the minor fact that I was preaching at the time.... and at the time, the lectern we were using didn't cover one's lower body.....

[skateflo]

I'm not nuts afterall!!!!! Well perhaps a bit neurotic, but we won't go there either. As for the calcium, everyone seems to recommend something different - I just buy the local pharmacy (CVS) calcium carbonate 600 mg. I really should look into a more proper type of calcium.

When it happens inside my boot, my coach knows immediately that it has happened and we just wait it out. I can only just stand there and wait for the toe/s to relax back into place. I do find the number of hours a week of skating enters into the picture too. But it really just runs in spells - I can go many months without a problem and then suddenly I have them on every skating session.

I have had it happen in public places and concerned people have asked if I need an ambulance as my face and shriek causes great concern. It is embarassing to say I just have a toe cramp!

[melanieuk]

Ooh, we give quinine to patients with night cramps, particularly in legs/calves, which seems to be quite effective.

There's a small but informative webpage here:
http://www.fromemedicalpractice.co.uk/patientinfo/n/night_cramps.htm

[kisscid]

I asked some skaters at my rink about this problem and they all swore that it was potassium that was needed not calcium. Has anyone here ever heard that?
Cid

[Roseline]

I asked some skaters at my rink about this problem and they all swore that it was potassium that was needed not calcium. Has anyone here ever heard that?
Cid

Absolutely! That was my understanding, and I was a little confused by all the mentions of calcium in this thread.

My daughter has occasional fits of leg cramps; her trainer suggests banannas as a potassium source.

[jazzpants]

Ooh, we give quinine to patients with night cramps, particularly in legs/calves, which seems to be quite effective.

There's a small but informative webpage here:
http://www.fromemedicalpractice.co.uk/patientinfo/n/night_cramps.htm AUGH!?!?! Why didn't I see this thread a few days ago!!! I had a very nasty nighttime leg/calf cramp and the effect lasted at least a couple of days. No skating. No gym... :(

[sk8pics]

I only have cramp problems if I am not eating 1-2 bananas a day. Besides a lack of potassium, being dehydrated can also cause cramping. So drink lots of water, too!

Pat