Whether it's water or a sports drink with a heavy dose of electrolytes, some feel they're immunizing their body to cramps by hydrating. However, many cramps still occur in athletes with more than adequate hydration levels.
Staying hydrated has benefits when it comes to strenuous exercise, and it's a good idea to make a conscious effort to do so. Still, it can't be relied on to avoid or fight off cramps.
More: Are Energy Bars, Gels and Electrolyte Replacers Essential for Athletes?
Bananas and Potassium
Potassium-rich bananas are one of the most commonly consumed fruits among athletes. For some, just one isn't enough—they try to eat at least two before competition, whether the night before or the day of. Despite the popularity of the fruit, consuming bananas before a workout or as soon as a cramp appears hasn't been scientifically proven to make an impact.
Alternative Methods
While the aforementioned remedies are popular attempts to reduce the likelihood of cramps or ease discomfort when they occur, recent research shows they target the wrong culprit. When it comes to avoiding cramps, it's not actually about treating the muscles. It's about treating the nerves.
No matter what conditions trigger the issue—heat, dehydration, fatigue, electrolyte deficiency, reduced blood flow—it's an excessive firing of the motor neurons in the spinal cord that causes muscles to cramp. To get to the source of the problem, specialized supplements have been developed to directly target the affected nerves.
These supplements are still being developed and tested in labs, but much progress has been made in creating easily accessible products for athletes. Over the years, it has become increasingly apparent there's no surefire way to prevent cramps completely. Thanks to recent studies, however, more effective treatment methods appear to be on the way.
More: 10 Superfoods for Endurance Athletes
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