Does this happen to anyone else?

I don't even know if this should go here or health & support but I'm putting it here...

Every so often, maybe like once or twice a week, my calves get soooooo tight when I sit or am inactive for any length of time more than a few minutes.  The muscles actually become tense to the touch and they feel sore.  If i walk around or shake them out for about 30 minutes they loosen up, but then go right back to being tight and sore as soon as I'm stil again.  Does anyone know what can be causing this?   I usually drink tons of water, but the past few days I haven't had as much as i usually do.  couldit be from that?  Help!

 Magnesium or postassium deficiency, possibly - if you're deficient in either your muscles tend to cramp. My guess would be magnesium - potassium deficiency tends to manifest itself in more painful and violent cramps when exercising.

How do I get more magnesium through foods?  I already take a multivitamin but have no clue how much magnesium it has.

Edit: I looked up magnesium rich foods and found that I already eat most of the foods regularly - green veggies, almonds, oatmeal,  & whole grains - which I eat TONS of.  That's actually pretty much most of my diet  Maybe I need an additional supplement since I run so much (about 35- 40 miles a week) and sweat alot.  What do  you think?

Well, the standard supplement is ZMA - zinc, magnesium and vitamin B6; though it's only really been shown to be beneficial for people who train heavily with weights in a couple sports science studies. You can get either of those as stand-alone supplements at your nearest pharmacy or health food store as well, but I dunno if there's a point to taking them separately rather than together.

 The standard potassium supplement is a banana - I assume you've been having a few what with your running, which is why I suggested investigating magnesium instead. But if you already get your RDA of both, I dunno if extra supplementation will serve a purpose.

 Now, I do take ZMA and it does make for a bit of a difference for me, but I lift weights. It's very hard to OD on minerals though, so trying some probably couldn't hurt.

Eat a banana a day and drink lots of water.   It keeps me from getting those nasty charlie horses in my calves when I sleep.  Once I my eyelid was twitching and driving me nuts and a lady recommended that I eat a banana.  I thought she was nuts but I tried it and about and hour later the twitching had stopped.  My stupid eyelid had be spazzing out for a couple of days and all I needed was some potassium!!

I hate bananas more than any food on earth, but I eat lots of other foods that are actually higher in potassium than bananas.

How are your running shoes?  Mine were old and not good arch supporters.  They were killing my legs, from ankle to hip.  Got new shoes and it has helped.

Make an appointment to see your doctor.  Your doctor can have blood tests run to see if you are missing any essential vitamins or minerals. 

My husband started getting leg cramps and tingling almost 2 years ago.  Just all of a sudden, out of the blue.  It wasn't all the time.  Maybe once or twice a week at first.  He was recently diagnosed with YoungOnset Parkinson's. 

I AM NOT SAYING THAT THIS IS WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU. 

All I'm saying is that making an assumption that it is a lack of a mineral in your diet when nothing else has really changed in your lifestyle isn't necessarily the best idea.   

This sounds like something very similar to what a friend of mine has. I'd never heard about it before this year.

He has acute compartment syndrome which I believe has something to do with the muscle expanding after exercise but the skin around the muscle not expanding enough and therefore the pressure builds up and becomes very uncomfortable.

He says its quite painful and has to be disagnosed by an expert. I'd go speak to someone about it before doing any more vigorous exercise and make sure you stretch out well.

I also found some links...

http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cybertherap ist/back/backlowerleg/tightcalfs.htm

http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/325/7364/ 557