You're in the middle of your fourth lap when you experience a severe pain in your calf and you're unable to finish your swim until the pain is gone. Although rarely serious, calf cramps are still an annoying burden. Everyone has experienced a calf cramp from time to time, but this type of cramp is fairly common while swimming.
Identification
A cramp is an involuntary and painful contraction of your muscle. You may feel a hard knot in the calf muscle at the time of the cramp, and you may be able to visibly see a bulge in your leg. The pain has a quick onset that is usually severe enough to force you to stop swimming because of the tenderness you experience in your leg. A calf cramp will typically disappear on its own, but tenderness can remain even after the cramp vanishes.
Cause
The exact cause of a calf cramp is unknown; however, an article in "Extreme Tri" magazine states that a calf cramp from swimming is primarily caused by your ankles being tense while you're kicking. The tension causes a lack of flexibility in the ankle joint, leading to problematic muscle contractions. The inability to allow your ankle to relax causes the cramp in your calf. Dehydration may also lead to cramping. If you exercise your legs prior to swimming, you run the risk of overusing the calf. Low potassium, salt or carbohydrate levels may also contribute to cramping. Having tight muscles causes limited range of movement, which can lead to a muscle cramp or strain while swimming.
Treatment
Massaging the calf during a cramp encourages blood flow, relieves symptoms and helps stretch the muscle. You will want to gently stretch the calf muscle during the cramp. Place your hands on the side wall of the pool and place your feet in a lunge position. Slightly bend the knee closest to the pool wall and keep the leg behind you straight. Keep both feet flat on the pool floor and push your hands against the side of the pool. You should feel the stretch in your calf and hold this stretch until the cramp subsides. If you have tenderness after the cramp disappears, ice can relieve muscle tension and a heating pad can relieve the pain.
Considerations
If you're learning how to swim, you may be told to point your toes, but this will increase your risk of a cramp. Your toes will naturally point as you kick during swimming, so you should never use extra energy to point your toes, according to "Extreme Tri." If you're regularly experiencing cramps in your calf, seek medical attention. An underlying medical condition could be causing your calf to cramp while swimming, such as inadequate blood supply, nerve compression or mineral depletion.
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