Pickle Juice

This one is for all the crampers out there! Picture the scene - you're right at the end of a game,

or within a few hundred metres of finishing that big run. Then out of nowhere, the sniper shoots

you! You're on the ground, desperately calling out for someone to stretch your hammy/calf.

So, why do we cramp?

Truth is, no one actually knows exactly.

The common explanation you would've heard is that it's due to a loss of electrolytes, or

dehydration. However, experimental research supporting this theory is lacking.

In a study conducted by Braulick et al (2013), mild dehydration (3% body mass loss) did not

alter the threshold frequency (a measure of cramp susceptibility) when fatigue and exercise

intensity were controlled.

Furthermore, another study from Miller et al (2010), demonstrated that when most individuals

are cramping, blood levels of electrolytes and hydration levels are normal. There was no

significant difference between those who cramped and those who didn't in controlled conditions.

The recent research in the last two decades is that neuromuscular control may be more

important than electrolyte balance when it comes to cramps. This research suggests that the

nervous system is the likely cause. Alpha motor neurons are nerves located in the brainstem

and spinal cord. These nerves communicate with the muscles, telling them when to contract and

relax. Muscle fatigue increases the activity of alpha motor neurons, stimulating the muscle to

maintain a sustained contraction, producing muscle cramps (Miller et al, 2010).

So, is there anything you can do to stop them?

Well, the best research we have is on pickle juice. Pickle juice can work on average after just

1.5 minutes, but not because of its high electrolyte concentration. In fact, it takes about 30

minutes for even small volumes of pickle juice to leave the stomach. So the blood electrolyte

levels would not increase quickly enough to explain cramp relief (Sulzer, 2005).

Scientists theorise that the acetic acid in pickle juice is ‘noxious tasting’ and proposed to

chemically stimulate a reflex in the back of the throat. This reflex has been shown to decrease

activity in the alpha motor neurons which causes muscle relaxation - ie. shut down the

'misfiring'. You don’t even have to swallow the pickle juice to trigger the reflex! (Georgiva et al,

2021).

So If you're someone who struggles with cramps, give this a try and see if it works! They are

now also conveniently stocked in our vending machine at SOF HQ!