Seated Calf Raises... and gastroc cramps...

[PTAaron]

I just can't seem to get these to work for my DC style... no matter what weight I use by rep 6 I am getting muscle spasms/cramps in my gastroc (most likely due to the fact that the knee is bent so the gastroc is being shortened and is in a position of active insufficiency while the soleus takes over)... Prior to starting DC I was using 4 45s for full range sets of 15-20 reps... now using half that weight I am just cramping up and can't go on...
I'm not talking about the normal burns and 'makes you want to cry' pain that comes from other calf exercises... this is 'charley horse, muscle completely contracted and balled up in a spasm' type pain...
Any of you guys run into this and find a way to work around it? I even tried dropping down to just 1 45 on the machine, and I still got the cramps...

Any thoughts?

[USMuscle9403]

You know I had this same problem but I started taking in more potassium and don't seem to have the problem anymore.

[jimpaul]

and water, green tea and multi's. All this may help too!

jim

[PTAaron]

Thanks for suggestions guys.

I'm not sure that it is a nutritional issue, as I can get through it on leg press and donkey machine ok...

For the record though I am trying to get down a gallon of water and 2 qts of green tea a day... and I am taking Animal Paks as my 'multi'.

[In-Human]

I don't do Seated Raises, I cannot get the full stretch at the bottom...

[jimpaul]

I also wondered if your knees were too far forward. If that could be the cause?

jim

[PTAaron]

jp - that could be it... I'll have to play around with that. Makes sense though - the more flexed the knees are the more the gastroc will be on slack, and the more prone to cramping... good call.

IH - haven't really run into that problem - these machines have pretty good clearance for the heel to drop without hitting the ground.

[Doggcrapp]

PT aaron with the suggestions above--take taurine one hour before lifting and let me know if its still happening

[PTAaron]

Thanks for the tip DC... any specific amount that you would suggest?

Also on the potassium suggestion - how much were you taking and when where you taking it USMuscle?

Thanks guys.

[PTAaron]

Just an update guys... the seated calf raises came up in the rotation today... I was in a rush, so I didn't have the proper time window to take potassium or taurine before hand (woke up at 7:15, had to leave for the gym at 7:30) ... well anyway, I tried to sit further back on the seat so my knees were not as flexed - and I managed to squeeze out 10 extremely painful reps with the same weight that had been giving me cramps at 6 the past couple of attempts!
Thanks again for the suggestions, my calves still feel like they are going to pop and I did the exercise over an hour ago!