Common cramp still mystifies some athletes

Ever been rendered immobile during an exercise because of a burning, stinging pain? If you're an endurance athlete or have practiced it in the past, you're probably no stranger to at least one of these throbbing sensations. What's interesting though is that everyone seems to have an opinion about how to fix the common cramp.

We've all heard the solutions: it's water, or bananas with potassium, or perhaps stretching. How about massaging the muscle? Maybe vitamins? Who knows... scientists don't pretend to! In fact, a muscle researcher out of Columbia University freely admits that muscle cramping is still open for investigation.

He concedes that there are no definitive explanations about why cramps suddenly bite at the worst moments during athletic performance. The most popular theories point to dehydration and lack of electrolytes as being common causes. But different methods work better for different people. One medical professional says rubbing down the calf works best for his own treatment. Everyone seems to have an answer: How do you deal with a cramp?