For decades, we’ve been told that cramping is caused by an electrolyte imbalance or poor hydration status. But new science suggests that this probably isn’t why you cramp during exercise.
So why do you cramp? It all comes down to something called “altered neuromuscular control.” And how do you stop it? Well, that’s where things get even trickier. We called up the world’s leading athletic cramping expert, Dr. Martin Schwellnus, to find out.