Cramp in rider left leg

[DD265]

I know it's likely that nobody will really be able to help me but I wondered if anybody had experienced similar and what you ended up doing about it.

Noticed when riding (Friday 20 minutes, Sunday 25 minutes, Tuesday 15 minutes) that:
1) I am constantly shifting my weight to the right in the saddle, even if I correct it, within a few strides I'm back over
2) My left leg is coming close to cramping. The majority of the discomfort is at the front of the ankle/top of the foot. Also noticed a bit at the top of my thigh, probably the hip flexor. Had I carried on riding, my calf will get tense and eventually cramp.

I have been having regular physio since December for really bad and long term tension particularly in my legs but also in my back/shoulders. I was pretty much sorted but I've only just gotten back into the saddle this month so physio hasn't seen my "riding" body just my "gym & swim" body. My left side has been tighter all the way through the process. I went the week before last and could barely feel him working my calves (i.e. they've freed right off) although I felt the outside of my thighs a bit and the hip flexors a little when we stretched those. I can't find any knots myself; either they aren't there or they are too deep for me to feel.

I feel like my left leg can't relax when I'm in the saddle, like I'm trying to force the weight down through my leg. My right leg drapes nicely. I have a FlexEE saddle so it's not a problem with the placement of the stirrup bars being too far forward or an issue with a twisted tree. Could be the horse pushing me over (his chiro appointment is Monday) as his left hip gives him grief sometimes.

My next physio appointment isn't until October and I can't be there for the chiropractor on Monday to get a ridden assessment.

Thinking I should try without stirrups in the school and see what happens there?

 

[Dry Rot]

See your doctor and get referred to a neurologist. Or you could do what I did and put up with it until I had to go into hospital for six weeks and have an operation.

 

[SmallSteps]

With the usual "haven't seen you in person" disclaimers, sounds like a tight left iliopsoas (iliacus and psoas, often just called psoas). Common in right-handed riders, particularly if you work at a desk & sleep with left leg bent. The calf/ankle issue would then be an attempt to compensate/cope. Basically you're blowing your calf trying to straighten your posture, when you can't physically sit straight because the muscles joining inner thigh to back-of-pelvis & lumbar spine are too tight. Similarly whilst the muscles are too short, they are effectively weak as you can't use full range of motion.

I suspect that if I gave you a link to tests and exercises it'd be advertising (as I'm an academic biomechanist so people might assume I make money from this!) but if you Google some exercises they certainly won't do you any harm, even if I'm wrong. Lengthening stretches are never a bad idea, even if contraction turns out not to be the root cause. Should see a difference in a couple of weeks.

 

[JGC]

With the usual "haven't seen you in person" disclaimers, sounds like a tight left iliopsoas (iliacus and psoas, often just called psoas). Common in right-handed riders, particularly if you work at a desk & sleep with left leg bent. The calf/ankle issue would then be an attempt to compensate/cope. Basically you're blowing your calf trying to straighten your posture, when you can't physically sit straight because the muscles joining inner thigh to back-of-pelvis & lumbar spine are too tight. Similarly whilst the muscles are too short, they are effectively weak as you can't use full range of motion.

I suspect that if I gave you a link to tests and exercises it'd be advertising (as I'm an academic biomechanist so people might assume I make money from this!) but if you Google some exercises they certainly won't do you any harm, even if I'm wrong. Lengthening stretches are never a bad idea, even if contraction turns out not to be the root cause. Should see a difference in a couple of weeks.

I am following this, as I have serious asymmetry problems and I just wanted to say that your job sounds amazing! I wish I could find someone like you in France.

 

[atlantis]

I have just this issue, but inthunknige moved on to say that o have developed achiles tendinitis too. I'm s Physio and should know better lol. I'm now getting a colleague to treat me I fed have ridiculous shortening of my left hip flexors!! I'm doing stretches (Google will bring up loads) and Pilates to strengthen my core. Equipilates gives good release exercises too.