Calf Cramps & Swimming

A calf cramp while swimming can range in severity from a minor annoyance to a life-threatening situation. If the cramp occurs in the shallow end of the pool, you can quickly get to the side. However, if it happens in the deep end, the pain could prevent you from swimming at all. Keep yourself from experiencing either of these situations by learning the facts about what causes muscle cramps.

Causes

While the exact cause of each calf cramps is unknown, several reasons for developing muscle cramps include low carbohydrate levels, electrolyte imbalances, dehydration and nerve irritation. Dehydration or poor technique are usually to blame for a calf cramp, but conditions such as thyroid disease, diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis can contribute to cramping as well. Anyone who suffers a calf cramp that does not go away within 30 minutes or is accompanied by tenderness and swelling should contact a medical professional. A calf cramp could also indicate the presence of a blood clot, although this is rare.

Misconception

People often believe that swimming within an hour of eating increases your chance of muscle cramps. Contrary to this belief, a light- to moderate- intensity swim after a small meal should not require your body to divert enough blood flow away from your extremities to cause cramping. However, swimming laps after eating could lead to nausea or vomiting.

Prevention

The best treatment for any condition is prevention. Prevent calf cramps while swimming by drinking water before swimming and frequently throughout your swim to keep your body hydrated, stretching before entering the pool and adapting the intensity of your swim to your fitness level. If you begin to feel tired or sense a twitching sensation in your calf muscle while you swim, take a break and stretch. Decrease the intensity of your swim when you re-enter the pool.

Treatment

Treatment for calf cramps during swimming varies based on the severity and frequency of the cramping. Start to relieve the cramp by massaging your calf muscle as soon as possible. A massage helps increase the blood flow to your calf to carry nutrient to the muscle and relieve the cramp. When you can move your food enough to stretch your calf muscle, gently pull your toes toward your head. Walking can also start to stretch your calf. These stretches help your calf muscle relax, but may not take all the pain away. If you continue to have tenderness after the camp subsides, apply heat and take a mild, over-the-counter pain reliever. If you cannot relieve the cramp, you experience frequent calf cramps or the pain after the cramp fails to go away after two or three days, contact a medical professional.