Leg Cramp

[TheBeeZ]

I realize that I have not been able to ski as much as I usually do this year (avg. 1 per week) but I have been active (bicycling, hiking, swimming, helping kids with soccer). My problem is this, about two weeks ago maybe 30 seconds after I got up I got this cramp in the top of my thigh on my back leg. I never got any relief from it while on the ski. Once back in the boat it took 45 minutes for the muscle to relax. It stayed sore for a couple of days. This weekend the same thing. As soon as I felt it I got directly behind the boat and put all of my weight on my front foot. This relieved the pain. When I put pressure on my back leg the cramping would begin. I have never had ths problem before. I have not changed skis, bindings, speed, boat, body weight. What do you think is going on?

[Inliner]

I get a cramp in my back leg when show skiing on one ski with no binding for too long a time. Two weekends ago I was with a friend and we were doing synchronized shore drops on one ski. This required me to spend a great deal of time on the Classic. By the time we got done, I had a nasty cramp in the back leg at the hip/butt area. Mine don't last though. I ski a minimum of 3 times a week and bicycle and inline skate in between. No other sport emphasizes the muscles used in slalom skiing. You may have to keep working at it or review binding placement to relieve it. Although you skied in that position before, something may have changed in your body that may force you to take a different look at your setup.

[Ed G]

Don't overlook the possibility you may have been a little dehydrated.

If the body is not properly hydrated, you can even get leg cramps from strenuous sleeping.

Clear urine indicates proper hydration.

[waterboy]

How's your flexibility? Do you stretch on a regular basis?