Please help my DS: anyone know how to prevent cramp?

[thirtysomething]

Poor DS (10) keeps getting cramp in his thigh - usually when sitting down doing school work, tests etc. It seems excruciating for him and I don't know if there's anything he can eat etc to help prevent it? TIA for any help.

I am not sure about with children, but cramp is often a sign of insufficient salt - hence why athletes get it as they sweat a lot of salt out while exercising.

Do you impose very careful no salt rules? Some salt is needed though.

thanks for the info but he probably has too much salt if anything as he loves baked beans, tomato ketchup etc both of which contain quite a bit of salt...

I was advised to take a calcium and magnesium supplement, and it completely stopped my cramps which I was getting every night.

Bananas for the potassium to balance the sodium.

thanks I'll try the bananas - not sure if supplements allowed at his age for calcium etc so might check with GP

i heard somewhere that fizzy water stops it

tonic water - medinies for cramp are quinine based

www.bbc.co.uk/health/ask_the_doctor/crampleg.shtml

thanks kew that article is great!!