An Interesting Tip From a Sports Medicine Doctor

This bit of advice couldn’t have come at a better time, what with much of North America experiencing record setting temperatures. Yes, along comes an article from “Today” beginning with the following…

“When tennis player Carlos Alcaraz won Wimbledon in July 2023, commentators pointed out he was drinking pickle juice during breaks of the grueling almost five-hour final match.

Dr. Elliot Tapper, a liver specialist at the University of Michigan Hepatology Program, says his phone “blew up” as it was happening. He’s been studying the impact of pickle juice on muscle cramps and has found sips of it can make them less severe.”

Now, here’s some of what my quick research into pickle juice and exercise cramps uncovered:

A number of studies over the past decade have examined whether drinking pickle juice can help reduce painful muscle cramping during strenuous exercise. The hypothesis is that the vinegar and electrolytes in pickle juice may activate neural reflexes or replace lost salts to alleviate cramping.

In 2010, a small study found pickle juice relieved cramps faster than water in athletes. Another lab experiment in 2015 induced cramps in active adults and found pickle juice eliminated cramps in about 1.5 minutes while water did not. However, a 2019 study using electrical stimulation to cause cramps found pickle juice was no more beneficial than plain water or an electrolyte drink. Then, here’s an interesting interview…

All that said, the evidence overall seems mixed. While some studies have shown promise for quick relief from muscle cramps, others have not found pickle juice more effective than other fluids. More research appears needed to draw firm conclusions, as effectiveness may depend on factors like cause of cramp, athletic status, and pickle juice dose.

At this time, trying a small amount of pickle juice is likely safe for healthy people. But there is no conclusive evidence it will relieve cramps for all individuals in all exercise scenarios. The effects may vary based on the individual and cause of muscle cramping. More rigorous, large-scale studies are needed to determine if pickle juice can be recommended as an evidence-based cramp treatment.