Cramp Whilst Playing Football....

[fordy_08]

heres one for you...seems as I imagine theres a few football players..

im 22 years old/young
rarely drink, once a month max.

play football, train once/twice a week, gym twice a week.

when it comes to playing a match on a Saturday, I can only last 60 minutes without getting cramp.

anyone else had this or resolved this as its doing my head in now.

[ThrushMotorsport]

Yup, was due to not doing proper stretches

Do them before and after your doing it, so even at halftime do all your stretches, actually good for your body..

[fordy_08]

started doing them every day now
I got told lack of salt intake too...

[matt_vtr_15a]

I used to get a lot of cramps in my legs and back everynight when i lay in bed or after walking home from the gym.

Taurine helped cure mine, you can buy it as a supplement online or even holland and barrett... personally wouldn't drink shit like red bull.

I personally now supplement pottasium and taurine in my pre & post workout shakes.

Worked for me

[fordy_08]

getting that down me straight away!
cheers pal!

[matt_vtr_15a]

getting that down me straight away!
cheers pal!

if you can do till half time with no cramp, on matchday i'd take them after you warm up and then just have a banana or something at half time!

Should see you through!!

[GTuff]

Cramp = build up of lactic acid which is due to over worked muscles the muscles cannot get more oxygen so LA is produced to give short aerobic use

As above have a proper warm up do some dynamic stretching youtube had loads of drills etc keep hydrated isotonic drinks are best ( lucozade etc) and warm down after recovery

Also shakes will help rebuild your muscles after exercise

Hope that helps a bit cramp is a bugger! When your playing!

[Bedford126]

Hydration you need more fluids.

This is why most football/rugby players take taurine, It helps store liquids in the muscle aiding in hydration.

[JoshSmith]

You need more fluids on you for one. Constant stretching thoughout the day will help alot, not only before and after a match. Finally a good warm up has a huge part of how long you will 'last' during a physical activity, a good example of this is a 'tactical' :y:

[Jay_T87]

Best things that have worked for me;

Increase salt intake in your diet.
Drink tonic water (tastes like shit I know but it works).
And get yourself into a strict and regular stretching/restrength plan for your legs.

I had the same problem (instead i was cramping after 10 minutes) a few years ago and I did all this religiously after a conversation with an ex pro and now I play 90 minutes without any issues.

[fordy_08]

cheers for all the advice!
cup game tomorrow and short on players so will get stretches done throughout today, and some potassium and taurine tablets too!

[wadoryu]

Try dialorite any pharmacy should sort you out, add it to lucozade and make a proper isotonic drink.

[craig180]

Cramp is a lack of oxygen getting to your muscles.

[Lacey_106]

cheers for all the advice!
cup game tomorrow and short on players so will get stretches done throughout today, and some potassium and taurine tablets too!

I'd check with your GP before taking potassium tablets. It still scares me when I give my patients potassium there's a fine line between not enough and too much. You don't want to be on either side of it.

[matt_vtr_15a]

I'd check with your GP before taking potassium tablets. It still scares me when I give my patients potassium there's a fine line between not enough and too much. You don't want to be on either side of it.

i just eat them till i feel full...

[Lacey_106]

i just eat them till i feel full...

Yeah well you know what I think about your supplements! :panic:

[stevo67]

A mate of mine is a pharmacist & he recommend I take magnesium for cramp(don`t if its the same as taurine?)

[matt_vtr_15a]

A mate of mine is a pharmacist & he recommend I take magnesium for cramp(don`t if its the same as taurine?)

taurine regulates the levels of magnesium & pottasium etc. basically balances them out to help the body function properly...

[McGuire86]

Omega 3, Taurine, Zinc and Magnesium (ZMA), L-leucine. That will sort you out

[camble]

I'm taking Omega 3 and CLO tablets at the mo. I injured my hip about 6 weeks ago and at every training session or match I aggravate it, so I'm taking a few weeks out to let it recover and hopefully it'll be OK again.

[fordy_08]

taurine and potassium tablets seemed to help.
no cramp just an awkward fall on my neck!