Why are my abs locking up?

stevo78 · Nov 6, 2009

It started a couple of months ago, whenever I do any kind of crunch. I cannot contract the abs again without this cramping sensation. It almost feels like my abs want to role over on each other. I could do leg raises, but no kind of crunch. About a month ago, I started eating bannanas, trying to get more potasium. I also just bought some potasium tabs, but they dont seem to be working.

Thebigone · Nov 6, 2009

I get the same thing. Sometimes after some weighted crunches when i get off the machine and bend down I can feel em roll and its scary. Feels like they are gonna disatach or something. Now I just always go easy on them and its never a prob. Only when I would do heavy weighed crunches.

Fears · Nov 6, 2009

I used to have that happen all the time. Tried everything, water, potassium, taurine, etc. Finally took magnesium supplement and it completely went away. Give it a try.

stevo78 · Nov 6, 2009

Thebigone said:
I get the same thing. Sometimes after some weighted crunches when i get off the machine and bend down I can feel em roll and its scary. Feels like they are gonna disatach or something. Now I just always go easy on them and its never a prob. Only when I would do heavy weighed crunches.

Yeah it is scary, its not a good feeling. When another muscle cramps up, you usually could straighten it out and fight through the pain. Not with this.

stallone1 · Nov 6, 2009

I get the same thing everytime, they cramp so tight that I cannot stand u and I start sweating and panicking, it hurts really bad!! I dont do any ab work at all anymore, but I am lucky as I have naturally round abs so they are not lacking.

Pumped1 · Nov 7, 2009

same here, it sucks
however after many weeks of light abs workouts it has gotten better ..

massnup · Nov 7, 2009

When they do that immediately start stretching them by leaning back and it will go away. I find that when I work them more than 2 times per week they don't cramp up.

penance · Nov 7, 2009

http://www.professionalmuscle.com/forums/professional-muscle-forum/49247-intense-ab-cramps.html

maldorf · Nov 7, 2009

Could be other electrolytes like sodium too.Might want to look at salt intake. I had that problem and never really did figure out what caused it. Sometimes I wonder about being dehydrated. My problem just worked itself out on its own. I never had the problem when I was natural though, only when on.

tweb123 · Nov 7, 2009

stevo78 said:
It started a couple of months ago, whenever I do any kind of crunch. I cannot contract the abs again without this cramping sensation. It almost feels like my abs want to role over on each other. I could do leg raises, but no kind of crunch. About a month ago, I started eating bannanas, trying to get more potasium. I also just bought some potasium tabs, but they dont seem to be working.

I had the exact same problem I thought potasium would take care of the problem but i was wrong so i switch to taurine 1000 mg 30mins. before workout and now more cramping .

TJB · Nov 7, 2009

Had this as well....

What is your creatine supplementation like? How much? When?

Double up your water consumption 2 hours pre workout & up your consumption during as well. Solved my issues...

Newman · Nov 7, 2009

Fears said:
I used to have that happen all the time. Tried everything, water, potassium, taurine, etc. Finally took magnesium supplement and it completely went away. Give it a try.

Hi Fears.

I know you already said that you've tried "everything", but did you try picklejuice?

As odd as that sounds, I first read of it here in a cramping thread & a Google search confirmed that there has been considerable interest & usage of it.

I think they felt the sodium in the pickle juice was the operative factor in preventing/treating cramps.

The magnesium tip sounds interesting.

Isn't magnesium the "M" in ZMA? (as in Zinc, Magnesium & ???)

Thanks.

Newman · Nov 7, 2009

penance said:
http://www.professionalmuscle.com/forums/professional-muscle-forum/49247-intense-ab-cramps.html

I should have followed that link B4 posting here.

Fears · Nov 7, 2009

Newman said:
Hi Fears.

I know you already said that you've tried "everything", but did you try picklejuice?

As odd as that sounds, I first read of it here in a cramping thread & a Google search confirmed that there has been considerable interest & usage of it.

I think they felt the sodium in the pickle juice was the operative factor in preventing/treating cramps.

The magnesium tip sounds interesting.

Isn't magnesium the "M" in ZMA? (as in Zinc, Magnesium & ???)

Thanks.

Didn't try pickle juice but once I started taking magnesium the problem went away so there was no need to do anything else. Yes in ZMA the M is magnesium. I just take straight magnesium 400mg with dinner and I never had any ab or hamstring or whatever cramps at all after dealing with them constantly. Also, magnesium also helps your sleep. I really think this is a supplement which is overlooked especially when "on". Everyone is different but this is a cheap sup and well worth a try.

weltweite · Nov 8, 2009

I have this exact same problem.

My abs feel like they "roll in" its horrible. Only happens after or towards the end of my ab sets.

I actually panick everytime it happens and sometimes I get odd looks at the gym if it happens, cause I jolt forward lol

Ill try this pickle juice method out

Thebigone · Nov 8, 2009

I dont think picklejuice or anything like that is gonna work b/c no way just one area will cramp. If its due to cramping I would think you would have it in multiple area's, not just the abbs.

weltweite · Nov 8, 2009

Thebigone said:
I dont think picklejuice or anything like that is gonna work b/c no way just one area will cramp. If its due to cramping I would think you would have it in multiple area's, not just the abbs.

Thats the odd thing, for me, I don't cramp anywhere. I never have an issue with that.

Just the weird "abs rolling in" on themselves

It seriously feels like their caving in, and it hurts pretty bad. And I can feel when it builds up to the feeling, after each rep on my situps

Thebigone · Nov 9, 2009

weltweite said:
Thats the odd thing, for me, I don't cramp anywhere. I never have an issue with that.

Just the weird "abs rolling in" on themselves

It seriously feels like their caving in, and it hurts pretty bad. And I can feel when it builds up to the feeling, after each rep on my situps

I just had it tonight. was only doing 20lbs on the seated abb machine very light high reps. I got up for a sec and bent down to get my water and I felt it roll and it freaked me out. Almost feels like my whole stomach could tear or something. So I streched it out a bit and called it quits. Only happens when doing abbs or going really low on deads and coming up.

Truepeptides · Nov 9, 2009

Man I am glad I saw this thread. I have posted this on other forums and got nothing but crap replies. It is the worst feeling in the world I have freaked out pretty bad it took me like 5minutes to get rid of the cramp one time. I am going to pop some zma tonight since I have it on hand but I will grab some magnesium for sure. It always felt like my abs were being put together like a puzzle like everything locking up into one huge ab plate.

Kranked · Nov 9, 2009

Ab cramping

I get these. They're a bitch. Leaning way back gets rid of it, but once I get one, the ab workout is over. One more rep and i'll get another immediately.

Magnesium sounds interesting. Water, taurine and potassium haven't helped at all. The more I work abs, the less I get them, though. I have the same problem with hamstrings, too