# Why Is Cramping More Common In Cold Weather?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-cramping-more-common-in-cold-weather/121881>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 1, 2002, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-cramping-more-common-in-cold-weather/121881 "2002-08-01T15:11:28Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Surreal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@Surreal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surreal)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2002, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-cramping-more-common-in-cold-weather/121881/1 "2002-08-01T15:11:28Z")

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If I bend my big toe upward while bending the remainder of my toes downward when it’s warm, nothing happens. If I do this same procedure when it’s cold out, my foot cramps and it becomes locked into this position. Why? Why would a few degrees difference in ambient temperature- not body temperature- cause something like this to happen??

Thanks.

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**Author:** ![lothos2002](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/df788c/32.png) [@lothos2002](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lothos2002)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2002, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-cramping-more-common-in-cold-weather/121881/2 "2002-08-01T15:43:46Z")

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Did anyone else read: Why is camping more common in cold weather?  
I don’t go camping, ever, but I thought it was weird. Your OP makes mores sense this way.  
I do think ambient temperature is a factor, since I always cramp a lot more in cold water when swimming in warm water.

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**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2002, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-cramping-more-common-in-cold-weather/121881/3 "2002-08-01T17:15:26Z")

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Calcium ingestion also can be a factor in muscle cramps. Do you eat more ice cream, drink more milk in summer than in winter?  
~VOW

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**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2002, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-cramping-more-common-in-cold-weather/121881/4 "2002-08-01T17:19:49Z")

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For me, it’s hot _weather_. Depletion of salts, fluids, electrolytes or whatever. I’ve seen even pro atheletes have it a lot in warmer weather. (Esp. football in late summer.) Cold temps might mean that it takes longer to warm up and exercising with cold muscles Is Not A Good Thing.