Comments on Joe Friel's Blog: Muscle Cramps

Hey are you a professional journalist? This articl...

2009-12-05T11:13:45.006-07:00

Hey are you a professional journalist? This article is very well written, as compared to most other blogs i saw today….
anyhow thanks for the good read!

Slipping rib is quite different from Tietze's synd...

2009-07-05T11:43:31.993-07:00

Slipping rib is quite different from Tietze's syndrome. In slipping rib, the rib moves. In Tietze's, the rib cartilage swells, but does not move. Source: http://www.tietzessyndrome.com

I was getting BAD cramps in intense swim sessions ...

2008-06-12T23:23:00.000-07:00

I was getting BAD cramps in intense swim sessions - calves, foot arch, hamstrings and quads. Usually just after a turn in the deep end of the pool. (Glug glug glug . . .)

This was scary enough for a visit to see my doctor, who prescribed a one-month course of quinine. This seemed to fix the problem - for a while. Two months down the line, I got a couple of slight cramps on a 51/2 hour bike workout. Maybe it's time for me to go & see the doc' again.

Nate (and Joe)"Stitches" or side cramps are a catc...

2008-06-04T10:06:00.000-07:00

Nate (and Joe)

"Stitches" or side cramps are a catch-all term that gets used too often. I've seen a lot of different causes, and admittedly, some athletes we haven't been able to figure out a cause for their "side-stitch".

I've found that there typically a number of muscle trigger points in the back (iliocostalis thoracis and multifidus) and abdominal muscles (external and internal obliques) that refer pain into the abdomen, so working with a medical professional that is adapt at finding these trigger points is helpful.

Sometimes we'll see a nerve entrapment as one of the cutaneous nerves exits through the abdominal wall. Another cause in rare cases is a "slipping rib" or Tietze's Syndrome.

Finally, I had one case that presented as a "side stitch" and hiccuping during exercise that was apparently caused by a H. pylori bacterial infection of the stomach (associated with stomach ulcers). A two week treatment of antibiotics and stomach acid pills and the symptoms resolved. Go figure... ;-)

Hope this helps,

John

My experience would seem to add credibility to the...

2008-06-04T09:03:00.000-07:00

My experience would seem to add credibility to the Golgi tendon organ theory.

In both ski marathons and long hill-climb cycling races, I consistently cramp several hours into the project. The severe and essentially sudden cramp is always on the hamstrings or leg adductors ... the opposite muscle of what is really doing the work.

Being familiar with the dehydration, protein, and salt theories, I've taken rigorous counter measures in the past without resolving the problem.

Biomechanics is the most likely culprit, from the sound of it.

I've been getting stiches. Before it was on my ri...

2008-06-03T08:43:00.000-07:00

I've been getting stiches. Before it was on my right side.

I just ran a 10k on Sunday and I had a stitch on my left side the entire race.

I can still feel it when I walk around at the office or get out of bed in the morning.

nate--You're getting cramps while swimming, not st...

2008-05-30T14:37:06.279-07:00

nate--You're getting cramps while swimming, not stitches, right? More than likely cramps in the feet or calves? That seems to be common in triathletes when swimming. I'm not aware of a cause or a preventive measure other than perhaps lots of race-intense swim training.

I've been getting them during intense swim session...

2008-05-30T13:53:00.000-07:00

I've been getting them during intense swim sessions. Any ideas or cures? It's not so scary when I'm in the pool but I'm doing alcatraz next week and I don't want to get a stitch in the bay.

FP--Tell you what, I'll post something I wrote a l...

2008-05-28T20:37:48.061-07:00

FP--Tell you what, I'll post something I wrote a long time ago on this. Check my next posting on this blog.

Does anyone have thoughts on what causes stitches,...

2008-05-28T19:38:00.000-07:00

Does anyone have thoughts on what causes stitches, in addition to cramps? In every race I've done, as soon as I come off the bike, I'm doubled over, going at 1/3 my race pace, and retching. I've tried everything from more to less fluid, more to less electrolyte, controlling my breathing on the last stages of the bike, to going easy on the swim. Are the reasons for stitching similar to those for cramping?