Please Help, People Who Know what they are talking about. FOOT CRAMP ADVICE?

Okay, So I am on the Waterpolo Team in highschool and I am about to have practice shortly. The thing that realy Pisses me off is it hurts to swim. Every now and then, In the water I would get a Foot cramp on one of my feet. What is it? I know for sure its not some disease or whatever, Just a simple foot cramp that pains me and slows me down. PReventions? Tips as why this is happening? Anything? :D I thank you.Please Help, People Who Know what they are talking about. FOOT CRAMP ADVICE?
If you warm up before, and work up a sweat you may be losing potassium. That is a common cause of cramps. Try eating a banana before hitting the pool, and be sure to keep your electrolytes up to proper levels by drinking Gator Ade.Please Help, People Who Know what they are talking about. FOOT CRAMP ADVICE?
I used to get terrible foot cramps at night and the only thing that would help would be to get out of bed and stand on my feet. Then I read that taking magnesium supplement would help, so I started doing that and it worked. My advice is take it before bed because it relaxes muscles and makes you sleepy. But if your problem with the cramps is a mineral deficiency (magnesium) then perhaps the effect will carry over into the next day when you swim, without being sleepy. One word of caution, pay attention to your body, because after a few weeks of taking it every night I started feeling kind of blah, and I think I had loaded up on magnesium and didn't need anymore. When I quit taking it, the cramps also stayed away. I have also heard of athletes taking sports drinks or eating bananas to get the minerals they need.
The most common metabolic deficiency that causes foot and leg cramping is low potassium. Hypokalemia (low potassium) can result from over exercise, use of diuretics (water pills) and a host of other reasons. Potassium is one of the two primary molecules that controls how our muscles work. In addition to potassium, sodium works to initiate muscle contraction and an imbalance or lack of these two salts will result in cramping.





Biomechanics is the science of how the body moves. The biomechanics of walking and running is quite complex. The act of walking is a finely tuned symphony of brain messages and muscle contraction. If an imbalance is found in muscle groups and one group is forced to work too much, muscle cramping can occur. Muscle cramping happens often in the foot as evidenced by a cramp of the big toe or calf. As with ischemic cramping, we will be forced to walk off the cramp and in this case affecting the biomechanics. Biomechanical cramping can be helped with supportive shoes and arch supports.





Cramping can often be a sign of a more serious health problems and usually means that a trip to your family doctor may be in order. We recommend you visit your physician should you have any questions regarding cramping.





Personally I'd talk to my coach and trainer concerning the re-occurance of the foot cramping and let them see if it has to do with how you are using your foot since it is only in the one foot. Also, you need to see if the foot is cramping or going into spasm, which is different and more painful. You may need to wear different shoes on land and do specific stretching exercises for the arch or whatever part of the foot is cramping. Have your trainer check your gait on land and your coach the way you swim.





Good luck! If neither can help you find yourself a good sports doctor.