Cramp in feet when toes are pointed

[DonGray]

Hi Kit

Whenever I perform an exercise requiring me to point my toes I will get cramp in both feet, first it will occur in one foot & then the other. I'm currently working on my planche leans & I get cramp as they require pointed toes & it frequently occurs in handstands. I also got it when I was in holiday swimming in the Mediterranean!

To relieve it slightly I stand on my toes & also stretch my calves. Is there anything I can do to help this further & even cure it?

Best wishes.

Don

[Kit_L]

Hi Don,

I remember talking to Coach about this one time when I was in Arizona and the conversation went something like this: "after about 10,000 repetitions, the cramping will get less". I do not recall him saying that it would go away completely! And the same thing happens in my feet to if I'm working particularly hard. I find that I do not need to stretch the whole calf muscle, only soleus (the underlying one; and stretching soleus always stretched the cramping foot muscles, too) and that can be done with a very quick and simple kneeling stretch while still on the floor.

Watch

; at 11:44, cramping and the kneeling stretch to stop it is demoed.

Overall, the cramping in the feet and calf muscles does improve, but I have to say, not fast enough for me! And like you report, common in HS, too.