How Do I Stop My Feet from Cramping

My mom, daughter and I get cramps too, and I know how miserable they can be. Cramps are usually a sign of dehydration and low potassium. Try increasing both and I am betting you will see results fairly quickly. If you don't, see a doctor, because there may be something else going on.

I agree with Kristy G. That's exactly what I do (eat a banana) if I have any kind of cramp and it has always worked for me. Good luck.

It sounds like charlie horses in your feet. Make sure you're drinking lots of water. Pay attention to the way that you're using your foot muscles while you're biking or swimming. Try to keep your feet flat and don't curl your toes. Lack of potassium can also cause cramps.

I used to get foot cramps while swimming too! Especially if I used flippers:( All I know is that a diet high in potassium helps with cramps. Yogurt, bananas, supplements, whatever you can find.
Sorry I'm not more help:(

Hi H.,

Feet cramping is either a mineral deficiency of calcium/magnesium or of potassium or both. Most is because of an electrolyte imbalance so staying hydrated is important. It's easy to get dehydrated in the pool because you're not hot and aware that you are losing fluids.

Avoid Gatorade/Powerade as it is high sugar and has been linked to seizures with regular use, but a good electrolyte solution should help around the pool. An absorbable multivitamin/mineral complex will help all the time and probably prevent it from happening at all. I can recommend one if you like.

Regards,

M.

I'm not sure if it's true or not, but I heard that cramping could be from a lack of certain vitamins. If this persists, you may want to contact your doctor.

You might need more potassium in your diet.. When I would get a cramp, I would go eat a banana and within a couple minutes it would go away.. I know sounds weird but it worked~

I agree w/ potassium (sp?) recommendation - also, stretching your calves actually helps stretch feet as well.

H., you can also massage the bottoms of your feet with tennis balls. They are great to help with reflex/trigger points. Actually, they can be used anywhere on the body. If you are able to and can afford a massage therapy session from time to time, that can really help to release the tension in your ligaments and tendons. There is fascia underneath your skin that is a protective layer over your muscles. If you are constantly working your muscles, the job of the fascia is to protect your muscles. The fascia will tighten up automatically. It eventually needs to be released. Just a suggestion from a massage therapist who deals with these issues on a daily basis! ;-)

potassium is also easy to carry with you - just bring a ziplock bags of almonds

I too have heard of the low potassium causing it and eating bananas. Hope you get relief!

Hi, H.:
Sounds like you may need some Calcium!
D.

Updated

Hi, H.:
Sounds like you may need some Calcium!
D.

Make sure to stretch your feet before you bike or go swimming. Sounds like the tendons are tightening up. Are you getting enough potassium? Eat a banana a day.

I agree-- stretching, and adding calcium and potassium would be a place to start. Remember, however, that bananas are an ok a source of potassium, but there are a lot better ones. A cup of banana only has about 500 mg.... a cup of beet greens, a baked potato, cup of white beans or a cup of raisins all have over 1000 mg.

this used to happen to me all the time. stand on a step on the ball of your foot and stretch your heel gently downward. let your weight do the stretching for you. do it for at least a minute on each foot, bouncing gently once you've got the stretch established. it stretches your calves and your feet and will help prevent the cramping.
khairete
S.

Take 500mg with at least 8 oz of water about 20 minutes before exercising. Your feet are the furthers away from your digestive system, so when you absorbe calcium, and your blood distributes it, if there's none left when it gets to you feet, they get short changed. If your muscles do not have enough calcium, (and water) they cramp. I recommend a miminum of 500mg twice a day to all my patient. If you're not getting at least this amount (teens, pregnant and nursing women need more) you are increasing your risk of osteoporsis.

hello

although it is your feet that are cramping.. what might the cause of the cramping in part.. is that your legs need to be properly stretched out........ especially AFTER a big ride... as you can well imagine how tight one's calves quads and hamstrings can become as well as tendons which run down the leg...
I highly recommend doing a FULL body and thorough leg stretch. My feet used to cramp up all the time too UNTIL I began to do thorough stretching.... which included not just my feet but all of my body.. including ones hips... when you hips are tight, they cause the entire leg and foot to become misaligned.. and as one ages, the less you do about this, the more prominent it gets.. ever notice people whom when they walk , they usually walk with their feet pointed either to the right or left , generally it's not straight forward which is how your feet are meant to walk.. take notice today when walking, do you favor a specific foot or even both .... the more your hips turn outward ,(you see this a lot in pregnant women) the more the feet point to right and left. try and begin to notice and correct it if you can because this will definitely help your posture AND the cramping...
imagine if walking or sitting or even riding a bike but doing so out of alignment, well of course one's body begins to contort and cramp...
by becoming aware, you might begin to notice a big difference.. also, yoga really can help with the cramping problem..

best of luck to you

Just call me the vitamin lady. That's what I do for a living and I totally believe in what I do.

You probably need calcium and a good one. One that will absorb. Here is a link to an excellent one. Be sure to get 1500 mg per day, but not more than 500 mg at a time at least 2 hours apart. The body cannot absorb more than 500 mg at a time.
http://healinghappens.myshaklee.com/us/en/products.php?sk...

My husband is an endurance athlete (triathlons... From sprint distances to ironman distances). He too started cramping when he turned 30. He has worked with coaches, etc and does a lot of research on working out. He swears by "e-caps" to deal with the cramping. You can email him directly if you want to, he loves to talk working out. His website is scoogie.com and he has a link to the e-caps website on there. Good luck! M.