Originally Posted by
MoAlpha
As pointed out above, it’s not electrolytes, nor is it water. The leading theory is overactivity of the 1a afferent system, which mediates the muscle stretch reflex, and concomitant down-regulation of the 1b, tendon organ, system, which opposes it, leading to unopposed reflex activity in response to activation of the stretch receptors. The origin of the problem is probably in the spinal cord and the only consistently identified associated conditions are fatigue and relative lack of conditioning. The reason passive stretching relieves cramps is that it stimulates the tendon organs.
Pickle juice-mustard thing may indeed be real and mediated by activation of a brain stem reflex, which momentarily inhibits spinal motor output.
We now resume the steady stream of wrong info.
This folks, is real advice from a real doctor, so take note. Muscle fatigue and conditioning. At some performance point, genetics will play a part also. Busting your a$$ training to be the best you can be will help some, but it's not going to turn you from chump to champ. It's not going to happen unless you have the right genetics for that particular athletic endeavor.