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Group: Injuries & Rehabilitation

Charlie Horses

CristalBelle Posts: 1,389 Joined: 2003/06/27	2004/08/05, 05:29 PM This may have been asked before, but I was wondering why we get Charlie horses?? Since I started walking on the tredmill, I have gotten 1 a week in my calf. They are excrutiating. I drink plenty of water...I am just at a loss as to why this happens.
	2004/08/05, 05:33 PM My horses are securely locked in the barn.:big_smile: -------------- Waterskis with buffalos Charlie
porphyria Posts: 106 Joined: 2004/04/24	2004/08/05, 05:59 PM What are Charlie Horses?
CristalBelle Posts: 1,389 Joined: 2003/06/27	2004/08/05, 06:54 PM Charlie...I knew I should have specified that they weren't your horses! :laugh: Porphyria, charlie horses are when the muscle in your leg cramps up really really bad. I stretch out my leg when it happens to make it stop. Why do these happen???
porphyria Posts: 106 Joined: 2004/04/24	2004/08/05, 10:16 PM My guess would be from over exherting your calf muscles.. thats just my guess though.
ravage Posts: 12 Joined: 2004/07/27	2004/08/06, 12:30 AM I read they are usually caused by muscle fatigue/overuse or mineral/electrolyte imbalance. Check your calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and potassium balance in your nutrition tracker. Usually adding more calcium helps and I know long distance bike riders who drank more gatorade to get more K+ and that ended their leg cramp problem. Hope this helps because I know they hurt like hell.
Anni313 Posts: 1,790 Joined: 2004/03/04	2004/08/06, 08:59 AM I used to get those in the middle of the night when I was pregnant. Doctor told me to increase potassium and vitamin B (I think) and that stopped them. They were so bad that I could not put my foot flat on the floor for 5-10 minutes. -------------- Anni ******* Hard work must have killed somebody
DanielJLove Posts: 320 Joined: 2004/03/30	2004/08/06, 04:38 PM Bannanas are a source of potassium that I know many runners in high school would use to rid them of this problem. Daniel
mistysue Posts: 6 Joined: 2004/08/19	2004/09/30, 07:33 PM my Dr told me they were from lack of calicum and and take cal tablets every morning so you dont have trouble at night i do now and they went away:cool:
Pritchard Posts: 1,212 Joined: 2004/03/02	2004/10/02, 01:59 PM a ladyfriend of mine that does long distance running got this, and she was told to stretch out her legs in the morning and at night. and i think it worked. -------------- stay dumb, you know it makes no sense. This site is best viewed on a monitor connected to a computer. A.D.F.
ursusarktos Posts: 346 Joined: 2004/01/18	2004/10/03, 11:43 PM Meant to say 'I think what you are referring to in your calves are simple.... -------------- A wise mans speaks because he has something to say, a fool because he has to say something - Plato
ursusarktos Posts: 346 Joined: 2004/01/18	2004/10/03, 11:41 PM I think you are in your calves are simple muscle cramps, not a 'charlie horse'. A 'charlie Horse' is the popular term for a contusion (bruising from a direct impact) to one or more of the quadricep muscles.
DX14AG Posts: 1,055 Joined: 2004/07/22	2004/10/05, 02:54 PM I've heard that eating Bananas and drinking pickle juice will help the muscles to stop cramping. Another suggestion would be that you stretch before and after each workout or cardio session with your legs.
Naztakuan Posts: 3 Joined: 2004/12/09	2004/12/09, 10:53 PM I'm not sure it's a charlie horse that I have but the muscles in the instep from my big toe leading to the to the soleus and my gastrocnemius have periods of really sharp pain that I can't even move my feet. stretching and massaging only seems to make it worse. I walk to school everyday. But I wear shock absorbent running shoes. Do I have a charlie or something else? What can I do about it? I walk everywhere and I carry I heavy book bag. Is this a sign of overstrain or inactive muscles.:dumbbell:
XxgolemxX Posts: 52 Joined: 2004/04/07	2005/02/25, 01:31 AM if i may say-- i get "charlie horses" quite often and have since 7th grade. i am a junior in college now and its not so bad. i used to get them in my sleep. i have fairly large calve muscles and it is much worse than a regular cramp so i know where you are coming from. i used to take cal/mag/zinc pills. from what i have heard over the years, the three nutrients work as a synergy and not one alone is always enough to prevent charlie horses. you can get the pills at costco, they are the size of small vw's though :surprised: i grew 6 inches in one year at one point so not all the calcium in the world helped my calves. what i found works best when they lock up is taking all the pressure off of that leg and extend your leg...dont flex and just sit in the most comfortable position possible. it will subside in a minute or so. if it really locks bad, rub it a little too as it eases the pain. good luck
lemonyj Posts: 1 Joined: 2005/01/18	2005/03/29, 02:15 PM if u mean charlie horse as in dead leg they are caused by the mucle in the leg being crushed against the bone. this makes the muscle bleed, 1. if the muscle sheath dosen't tear the bleeding will stop quickly because the fluid has nowhere to drain to and dosen't leave a bruise. if the muscle sheath dose tear the bleeding can go on for a long time and dose leave a bruise it will usually go in 3-4 days a week at most
dvelswk Posts: 192 Joined: 2005/05/07	2005/05/08, 04:31 PM I agree with anni, everytime I have asked a doctor what to do when I get charlie horses (I get them in the arch of my foot), they always told me to eat more potassium. I started eating 2 bannanas and taking 4 250mg capsules of potassium a day (2 in the morning 2 at night) and I havn't had 1 since. Eating bannanas probably is sufficient though, I'm just kind of OCD :) I like to make sure so I take the supps.
Bogo Posts: 1 Joined: 2006/05/26	2006/05/26, 11:17 AM http://www.seankelly.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=306