Recently got back into swimming around a month ago and in the past two weeks I seem to get really bad cramps in my calf right around the 1:10 mark always when I push off the wall. Like foot is locked into a pointed position, calf is flexed, I cant swim, I drag myself out of water and struggle to stand and get the heel down. And then I stretch it out and there is some lingering soreness. There are some days I also feel my quad tense when pushing off
I don’t have any issues outside of swimming. Running and cycling its perfectly fine but not sure if I am not properly recovering after these or if there is something specific with swimming that is messing me up. Or maybe its just that because I am going longer in the swim than I am ready for doing
I’m no expert but at times get the same. I think it is to do with fatigue from the other disciplines and if you are like me I kick hard of the wall so quite explosive on the calves over a long session and they tend to object some times. Outside that I’d up your or examine your electrolyte levels that may help. I have to as I work in a hot environment.
I tend to get those late in a swim session if I did a cycle or run session less than 12 hours beforehand (I.e. evening run followed by a lunch swim). I started bringing a bottle of Skratch to my pool workouts and it seems to be helping.
Maybe it’s just as simple as lack of electrolytes so I’ll try that next time I’m in the pool
I’ve been drinking a water bottle and these cramps still happen if the swim is 24 hours after last bike or run
I don’t try and push off super hard but I think its partially ingrained in muscle memory from my more competitive swimming days and my body isnt as used to that kind of stress now
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And general follow up to anyone who has experienced these cramps but how sore were you in the following days? The first time it happened I took like 2 or 3 days off and until it felt completely better but maybe it’s fine to reintegrate into easy biking or running off the bat? Maybe that will help stretch it out a little
And general follow up to anyone who has experienced these cramps but how sore were you in the following days? The first time it happened I took like 2 or 3 days off and until it felt completely better but maybe it’s fine to reintegrate into easy biking or running off the bat? Maybe that will help stretch it out a little
It depends on how intense the cramp was and how long it lasted until it subsided. Sometimes it’s minor and I can go right back to swimming. Other times it’ll be sore for a few days because there was some small tearing of the muscle fibers.
My calf cramps (right calf) started after a minor injury to my right ankle/ Achilles. I believe that injury has slightly reduced the flexibility and mobility in my foot/ankle. Therefore it stays in a more pointed position while kicking, putting more strain on the calf. I find that every few hundred meters or so that I need to shake it out or stretch it to help mitigate the onset of any cramps… but when they occur, it’s always during that first kick after pushing off the wall.
It’s almost never an electrolyte issue. It’s the sudden and powerful pushing off the wall and tension created with the flexion and new position of the feet and associated muscles leading to the calf that were previously in a more relaxed state. Often in combination with overuse and lack of conditioning.
EXACTLY the same here and I’m a very good swimmer for a triathlete (at least I was before they closed the pools down for almost a year now :(…). In my experience it has nothing to do with electrolytes, my physio seconds me on that. It is a neuromuscular reaction stemming from the difference of complete tension (while touching the pool wall) and explosive relaxation when you push off. It adds to that that I have a history of training my foot flexion very well (former dancer) so I stretch the foot out to the max -can’t help it, happens completely unconcious/ naturally. Cramps occur more often and harder after sprint/ oxygen reduction training such as “dive and sprint” and the like, which is completely obvious if it’s a neuromuscular thing. Also happens more often after months of not swimming, likewise obvious.
Soreness is one day for a “normal” cramp and up to three days for one as hard as the one you described - very happy that I had that only once the last years. Soft Massage helps.
The only thing that helped so far is special stretching like standing on a step and stretching out the calves, strenghtening the ankles by pushin up to your toes (a ballet classique) and working with the fascia of the lower legs. Sorry, as always no real shortcuts here. Would be very happy if I just had to throw in some Mg or Salt and it would dissolve magically
I’ve struggled with this on and off for years. I’m not qualified to advise on this but can say what helped me n=1 in case any of this is useful to you. For me it’s usually my left calf muscle, always towards the end of the swim set and when pushing from the wall. I can’t tumble turn and kick off the wall using mainly my ankles/lower leg muscles. Foam rolling my calves regularly helps and if I’m having issues I avoid swim fins in the short term. When I had physio for a shoulder issue the physio pointed out I had a slightly uneven gait which is why one calf muscle suffered more than the other.
Running seems to be a major factor for my swim cramps. It’s mainly an issue if I have poor run fitness and my slow runs are more like a jog. My jog has poor form and is harder on my calves. When I get back to fitness and am faster with better run form the swim cramp issue is less common. When I up the run volume for an occasional IM/HIM I know the pool cramps are on the way again. When the volume goes up and the cramps start I got for more pull buoy work as a precaution and to give my legs a chance.
Sports massages are brutal when the calves get worked during a big training block!
EXACTLY the same here and I’m a very good swimmer for a triathlete (at least I was before they closed the pools down for almost a year now :(…). In my experience it has nothing to do with electrolytes, my physio seconds me on that. It is a neuromuscular reaction stemming from the difference of complete tension (while touching the pool wall) and explosive relaxation when you push off. It adds to that that I have a history of training my foot flexion very well (former dancer) so I stretch the foot out to the max -can’t help it, happens completely unconcious/ naturally. Cramps occur more often and harder after sprint/ oxygen reduction training such as “dive and sprint” and the like, which is completely obvious if it’s a neuromuscular thing. Also happens more often after months of not swimming, likewise obvious.
Soreness is one day for a “normal” cramp and up to three days for one as hard as the one you described - very happy that I had that only once the last years. Soft Massage helps.
The only thing that helped so far is special stretching like standing on a step and stretching out the calves, strenghtening the ankles by pushin up to your toes (a ballet classique) and working with the fascia of the lower legs. Sorry, as always no real shortcuts here. Would be very happy if I just had to throw in some Mg or Salt and it would dissolve magically
all the best, Form
Yeah this makes a lot of sense. Glad you were able to chime in on your experience. Did you find yourself able to run or bike in the sore days after the cramp? I feel it a bit sore and had a longish easy bike scheduled for today but dont want to make things worse
There is definitley a contributor to not having swum for awhile. And even then I am swimming more than I have in years/ever. Pre covid i would only be doing 30-45 minutes a session and some of my recent days i have done 1.5 hour sessions with the masters swim team I joined
I’m defintiley going to be adding in those calf stretch/strength routine after my runs or bikes a few times a week so thanks for those suggestions
Not a physiotherapist or coach, it must be said. My suppositions are…
I agree that the explosive push off walls contributes to very uneven calf stress. I’d add: so does the position of your feet when you kick, which is pointed. 45 -120 mins of toe pointing is a lot of toe pointing.
