cramping

[clawman1]

Whats the deal? There were at least three players suffering from cramps yesterday. VA did not appear to be one of them, fortunately. Why so many players affected on a cold day?
When it is multiple players does it start pointing toward the training staff not getting players preped?

 

[Screamin_Eagle174]

Seriously... it's been an issue all season... you'd think they'd know how to stay hydrated and loose by now.

 

[DefendtheRed]

A common misconception about cramping is that it only happens in heat, when it is actually fairly common when playing in cold weather. When it's not hot out, players are less likely to drink water, which leads to dehydration issues.

 

[LDopaPDX]

A common misconception about cramping is that it only happens in heat, when it is actually fairly common when playing in cold weather. When it's not hot out, players are less likely to drink water, which leads to dehydration issues.

I'd get these guys some creatine... adding fluid to the muscle tissue should help prevent chronic cramping. I know I get far less muscle cramping during heavy lifting days when I'm taking cyclical creatine versus when I don't. There is a lot of scientific study to back up the fact that saturated muscles cramp less (obviously, more hydration = less cramping).

 

[tomq04]

"pre-hydrate"
i did it the day before drinking days...shouldn't they do it the day before football days?!?!

Seriously though, in the RL, i'm drinking 1 gallon of water/day and I am not particularly active (bike to work). In terms of general health, i've felt better than ever since i've started doing it. I can only imagine these players NEED that much, if not more in prep (24 hours leading into the game) and post game (24 hours after).

Trainers can only say so much, the players have to remember to go refill that water bottle.

 

[HannahO]

A common misconception about cramping is that it only happens in heat, when it is actually fairly common when playing in cold weather. When it's not hot out, players are less likely to drink water, which leads to dehydration issues.

I'd get these guys some creatine... adding fluid to the muscle tissue should help prevent chronic cramping. I know I get far less muscle cramping during heavy lifting days when I'm taking cyclical creatine versus when I don't. There is a lot of scientific study to back up the fact that saturated muscles cramp less (obviously, more hydration = less cramping).

Some studies show creatine can actually lead to muscle cramping and individuals respond differently to it. I'm sure the trainers are working on solutions but sometimes there's either genetic predispositions for people to develop cramps or they need to hydrate and eat a better diet (that second component is often overlooked).

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/263269.php

The other aspect is that the trainers can't give it to the athletes:

Although creatine is not banned by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) or the International Olympic Committee, using it for athletic performance is controversial. The NCAA prohibits member schools from giving creatine and other muscle building supplements to athletes, although it doesn't ban athletes from using it.

Source: Creatine | University of Maryland Medical Center http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement/creatine#ixzz2ltx0VMVX" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
University of Maryland Medical Center

Lastly, it can react with some common medications (like NASIDS) and caffeine to cause other problems such as kidney damage, dehydration and high blood pressure.

 

[tomq04]

keys to the playoffs:

No cramping, no missed PATs!

 

[JPhillips71]

And for this subject we go back to Biochem 480 with Dr. McRae and your friendly neighborhood EWU Chemistry faculty. Sodium, Potassium, Calcium and Water. Calcium is the minor player, generally we have plenty in our system and not likely to be the culprit. The other three are the major players, however, as our doctors all like to remind us, we all get more than our fair share of sodium from the salt rich american diet. So not a likely culprit. Water is a huge issue, athletes almost always need more of it but may not know how and when to do it. Talk to your marathon runners and your triathletes, they almost always have a measured intake to make sure that they are hydrated well in the days leading to competition as well as how much and when to take more in during competition. Team sport athletes often don't have this well mapped out as some of us have already mentioned. Potassium, is the under the radar element, just as important a sodium but not nearly as prevalent in our diet. Easily remedied at breakfast time the morning of the game. Those are my picks for likely culprits, pregame hydration and potassium intake.

And since jobs are scarce, that is the most ive made use of my Chem Degree since I graduated, outside of helping my sister with her chemistry and math homework now that she is at EWU.