Why are we cramping so much?
It seems to me -- and correct me if I'm wrong -- that our guys are cramping up at a far greater rate than in past years, and certainly more frequently than the opponents over the first three games. Why is this happening?
Is it possibly the result of our new S&C coach's program and methods? Having viewed the before and after photos of some our players, it's pretty clear that Herbert is focusing on the "strength" part of his responsibilities. But, what about "conditioning"? Is it possible that because our players are bulking up more they are more susceptible to cramping (as well as muscle strains)? Are they being fully hydrated before and during the game?
I have no evidence for any of this, but if one is looking for an explanation for this phenomenon, the S&C program is a logical place to start. Hopefully, once the weather cools down, this will cease to be a problem.
September 18th, 2018 at 8:22 AM ^
Sorry. Didn't we talk about this last week? Some complained about the S&C coach. Most said it was too hot.
September 18th, 2018 at 11:09 AM ^
An alternative explanation to the S&C program: the weather.
September 18th, 2018 at 11:34 AM ^
not enough Midol?
September 18th, 2018 at 12:29 PM ^
Players were cramping up all over the field in half the games I watched Saturday. FSU played Syracuse in the Carrier Dome--I know someone who was there and talked during the game on social media about how brutally hot and humid it was. FSU, which trains in freakin' Florida (fer cryin' out loud!), had dudes cramping up on damn near every play. It's the weather. Heat, humidity--AND THEY'RE WEARING THICK PLASTIC HELMETS AND OTHER SAFETY EQUIPMENT. Love the dude later on bragging about not cramping during workouts in heat. Try that with football gear on, and you're constantly stopping and starting and not moving at a constant pace.
September 18th, 2018 at 8:23 AM ^
Because it's hot.
September 18th, 2018 at 8:58 AM ^
This is actually not true. The real reason is because the OP touches himself at night.
September 18th, 2018 at 9:12 AM ^
If touching yourself at night caused bad things to happen, then the human race would have died out a long time ago
September 18th, 2018 at 9:15 AM ^
No way--we'd totally adapt... and simply touch ourselves during the day.
Boom. Evolution'd.
September 18th, 2018 at 9:42 AM ^
But you have to like "recover" and carry on with your day afterword. Not the same.
September 18th, 2018 at 1:54 PM ^
It''s called global warming, and it's been happening for the last 100 years or so.
September 18th, 2018 at 8:23 AM ^
this has been discussed ad nauseum.
against nd both teams had lots of cramps. against smu we definitely had more cramps, but they went through fall camp in dallas, so it’s safe to say they’re more acclimated to the heat. i don’t remember many cramps against western
September 18th, 2018 at 12:21 PM ^
In addition to your point about SMU, they rotate players like crazy. So for the most part they were fresh and rested, which reduces the cramping issue a bit.
September 18th, 2018 at 8:27 AM ^
On the DPJ back shoulder touchdown it looks like the SMU cb cramps up. Unless he was just faking it since he got exposed...
So it’s not just us
September 18th, 2018 at 8:29 AM ^
Watch the replay again. The CB rolled his right ankle when landing. It had nothing to do with cramps.
September 18th, 2018 at 8:29 AM ^
The CB twisted his ankle badly on that play. It wasn't cramps.
September 18th, 2018 at 10:13 AM ^
Mea culpa
September 18th, 2018 at 12:10 PM ^
Both teams were cramping during the ND game
September 18th, 2018 at 8:29 AM ^
If you're referring to Evans, that did not look like a cramp.
September 18th, 2018 at 8:33 AM ^
It looked like a cramp to me. It could have been a Hamstring, but he looked OK on the sidelines a little after that. Kids were cramping up in the Auburn, LSU game also.
September 18th, 2018 at 8:39 AM ^
The funny thing about a pulled hamstring is that you can typically walk comfortably. Its only when you over extend it that it feels like a red hot ice pick being jammed into the back of your leg.
September 18th, 2018 at 8:59 AM ^
555555
September 18th, 2018 at 10:25 AM ^
Can confirm. When I pulled my hamstring I was walking one or two days later. Took me months to be running at full speed again, though.
September 18th, 2018 at 9:02 AM ^
any official words or leaks on his status?
September 18th, 2018 at 8:32 AM ^
Considering it is supposed to be perhaps not even 70 degrees at kick on Saturday, I would bet money we don't see nearly as many cramps. It has been pretty warm and rather humid a bit longer than typical this season.
September 18th, 2018 at 9:18 AM ^
Also doesn't help when the refs slow the game down. Combine the 85 degree heat Saturday with a media timeout, review, or other stoppage and there will be lots of cramping.
September 18th, 2018 at 9:45 AM ^
85 degree heat. Ever been to an SEC game in September? UM players would drop like flies.
September 18th, 2018 at 10:15 AM ^
I cannot say I have been to an SEC game in September. I also cannot say I've seen an SEC team play in Michigan or in B1G country in November.
September 18th, 2018 at 11:38 AM ^
I am curious if the team had a lot of cramping during fall camp. August was fairly hot and humid and the team was practicing more time than a game.
September 18th, 2018 at 8:34 AM ^
They're not drinking enough pickle juice.
September 18th, 2018 at 9:27 AM ^
"Kind of the way the pickle squirted..."
-Jim Harbaugh
September 18th, 2018 at 12:40 PM ^
Hannibal Buress took it all
September 18th, 2018 at 8:36 AM ^
Just that time of the month.
September 18th, 2018 at 9:38 AM ^
It's like when women live together there's that evolutionary witchcraft that causes their periods to sync up. I'm assuming the same thing is happening with the team.
September 18th, 2018 at 9:47 AM ^
I just came to this thread to say, "Because your monthly visitor is here?"
Glad you are here to beat me to the punch, Hatter...
September 18th, 2018 at 8:44 AM ^
Too bad it’s been so long since M has been to Pasadena. Remember all the cramps out there? Remember Wheatley setting the rushing record while getting treated multiple times for back spasms?
My wife, a physician, thinks more pregame prep of potassium and electrolytes would help. FWIW I have a buddy who is a long time MLB veteran and he told me that dehydration is the biggest risk every day and most of the players take significant steps to remain hydrated.
I suppose it’s just a thing in sports and not something that is a result of the M lifting program but maybe attributable to improper pregame prep.
September 18th, 2018 at 11:31 AM ^
It's what plants crave.
September 18th, 2018 at 8:47 AM ^
There's an acronym for it -- EAMC (Exercise Associated Muscle Cramps). That according to the National Institutes of Health (link).
Interesting start to a paragraph a bit down in the article: "The clinical presentation of EAMC is easily recognized, but its cause continues to be unresolved."
This is offered: "The dehydration–electrolyte imbalance theory is the most common among health care professionals." But then: "Overall, the dehydration–electrolyte imbalance theory has limitations" (it goes on to list some of the limitations).
In the summary: "It is likely that the cause of EAMC is multifactorial."
Conclusion: nobody knows for certain.
PS -- a hat-tip to Hotel Putingrad above ... pickle juice is referenced in that article.
September 18th, 2018 at 10:39 AM ^
Pickle juice is confirmed in the literature as a treatment and is thought to be an inhibitory reflex effect in the mouth, as digestion of the liquid volume or absorption of electrolytes takes too long to account for the effects. Further discounting the dehydration, electrolyte depletion hypotheses
September 18th, 2018 at 8:51 AM ^
There's a video out there of Ben Herbert when he was at Arkansas talking about his focus on nutrition, hydration, and proper fuel for workouts. It's a really interesting watch if you've got 45 minutes to kill. I do not think he's the sort of guy who fails to take hydration seriously. This is a product of it being quite a bit warmer this year than in years previous.
September 18th, 2018 at 8:51 AM ^
It's early in the season; playing a full game at full speed is different than practice/workouts. It'll take time to adjust.
I was thinking I was noticing a lot of cramping this year, but it's a problem in just about every game I've watched. I noticed a bunch during TCU/OSU, MSU/ASU, NE/CO... Not just us.
September 18th, 2018 at 9:30 AM ^
I noticed the same thing as well. All of the OSU players were cramping against TCU and the TCU players seemed to be fine as they were used to the heat. (Not sure why it was so hot in a dome. All of those personal TVs in JerryWorld have to generate a lot of heat.) Couple of the pro games I watched had people cramping as well.
Told my father-in-law that it was going to be funny that we all die from climate change, not because of the flooding, but because we're all cramped up and can't do anything.
September 18th, 2018 at 8:53 AM ^
You do bring up an interesting point.
In a day and age where speed and flexibility are coveted on the OL, we still seem to be more interested in road graders. I think Frey was trying to change this mentality, and rightfully so. Look at our best OL and co-captain Ben Bredeson. He put on 30lbs of muscle, but you can't convince me he wouldn't be a better player at a lighter weight with better mobility.
September 18th, 2018 at 9:15 AM ^
After the emphasis on lighter O-linemen in RR years: Ugh, no.
September 18th, 2018 at 9:24 AM ^
Yeah, those Alabama Olineman look like ballet dancers, they are so flexible and nimble.
September 18th, 2018 at 11:23 AM ^
Did you see FSU's O-Line get absolutely destroyed this year? Frey is not who i would be modeling my O-Line schemes after.
September 18th, 2018 at 8:58 AM ^
With a predicted high in the mid-60s for Saturday, I don't think heat cramps will be much of an issue.
September 18th, 2018 at 9:00 AM ^
Climate change.
September 18th, 2018 at 9:05 AM ^
Hmm, good question...it must just be that time of the month.
September 18th, 2018 at 9:07 AM ^
Isn't it the high humidity? The ND game it was very humid as well as the SMU game. I was at the WMU game and it was cool, dry and comfortable. I don't remember seeing many, if any, players cramping.