Cold Water Swim Cramps?

Triathlon Forum
1

I did an OWS in a lake yesterday and got terrible calf cramps.

I’ve never had cramps like this before - but neither have I ever before swam in water as cold as yesterday - it was 51 degrees. Yes, I was wearing a full wetsuit (5mm) but it was still mighty chilly!

Was the cold water the cause of the cramps, or is that coincidental?

Two questions:

a) how can I avoid getting cramps like this?

b) if I do get them in a middle of my swim, what (if anything) can I do about it?

Thanks!

2

did you do a hard or long run in the 24 hrs previous? i find i can get cramps after a hard run session. solution, lots of salts is only thing i’ve heard that can help.

3

Probably not coincidental unless you can say that your calf muscles were as normally-relaxed as in the pool. If you were unconsciously pointing your toes more because of feeling cold… voila!

4

I swim in pretty cold water, but more like 53-56 in the winter and don’t suffer from cramps, so I don’t think it is the temperature specifically, however not to say that I never have gotten a cramp while swimming in open water. I think there a few reasons for the cramps.

  1. You are tense from the cold water and subsequently your calves begin to cramp. This also happens in the inner thigh, really painful.
  2. You are tight from previous workouts. Even though you are swimming, I think it is still wise to stretch the legs before hopping in. Especially, if you are duplicating an instance where you cramped before.
  3. You were dehydrated. A lot of times people do their swim workouts in the morning and are slightly dehydrated. The magic trick here is drink some water with 2 salt tabs about 15 to 20 minutes prior. Once you start to get comfortable with the cold water and OWS I don’t think you will need to do these things anymore, but they should help out.
5

You were dehydrated. A lot of times people do their swim workouts in the morning and are slightly dehydrated. The magic trick here is drink some water with 2 salt tabs about 15 to 20 minutes prior.

Tridiego makes a good point here. Plus, cold water has a greater diuretic effect. Low blood sodium could have caused the cramps if you started slightly dehydrated and urinated a lot.

A precautionary note: Over-hydration (more than “some” fluid) just before OWS may contribute to shortness of breath.