cramping while walking

Question
Patt:
This may be better asked of a medical professional, but with your experience with the walking exercise, you may have come across this slightly embarrassing problem.

I used to walk maybe 2-3 miles 3 or 4 times a week, when in Calif.  About 3 years ago I moved back to Jersey, and didn't get hardly any exercise at all.  Recently, I decided to get back to walking.

What happened, tho, was that after only a block or so, my buttocks cramped, like a charlie horse.  I could still walk, but only with great discomfort. If I rested a few minutes, I could continue, but only to have it happen again within a block.

I don't have much flesh there to begin with. I could, and do, use a stationery bike with no problem, but I much prefer walking, espcially with a wooded nature preserve not too far away.  Any experience with this, or suggestions?

Answer
HELLO ROBERT
YES, YOU SHOULD BE EXAMINED BY YOUR DOCTER TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE NO HIP PROBLEMS, ETC.
I HAVE PERSONALLY NEVER EXPERIENCED SUCH AS THIS, MOSTLY CRAMPING IN THE CALF, ETC.
ARE YOU DOING A NICE TWENTY MINUTE WARM UP AND COOL DOWN.  THE WARM UP IS MOST IMPORTANT TO PREPARE THE BODY AND MUSCLES, LIGAMENTS, ETC. TO WORK.  IT WARMS THEM UP SO U DO NOT GET SO SORE OR INJURE ANYTHING.?
IF YOU HAVE NOT DONE THIS, START NOW.!
ALSO, ONLY WALK A SHORT BRIEF ONE SLOWLY, DO NOT GO FOR MILAGE OR SPEED.  SEE IF THIS HELPS UNTIL YOU FIND OUT IF IT IS MEDICAL OR JUST NOT BEING IN CONDITION.
YOU DO NOT MENTION YOUR AGE, SO AS WE AGE AND QUIT FOR A PERIOD AND RESTART A FEW YEARS LATER, THINGS HAVE CHANGED IN OUR BODIES.
MAYBE QUIT THE BIKE, IT MIGHT BE CAUSING THIS PROBLEM AND YOUR BETTER OFF FREE WALKING AND USING A TREATMILL OR JUST JOG OR WALK IN PLACE ON BAD DAYS INSIDE.  IT COULD BE THE STATIONERY BIKE IS CAUSING ALOT OF THIS, SO LETS STOP THAT AND GO OUT AND FREE WALK AS BEST YOU CAN, THE COME BACK AND SIT IN A HOT TUB OR BATH TUB OF TWENTY MINUTES TO KEEP THE MUSCLES WARM.  THIS HELPS MY ARTHRITIS AS DOES MY PORTABLE SPA I PUT IN THE TUB UNTIL I BUY A HOT TUB FOR OUTDOORS.  I RID OF MY SWIMMING POOL TO GET ONE, JUST HAVE NOT SHOPPED AROUND YET.  THEY ARE GREAT FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE INTO WALKING AS MY DAUGHTER AT 45 POWER WALKS EVERY EARLY MORNING 4 MILE AND SHE MOVES, SHE IS IN SUPER CONDITION.  WALKING IS SO GOOD FOR THE BODY, MIND AND SOUL, SO TRY AGAIN WITH A GOOD WARM UP, STAY OFF THE BIKE INSIDE, GO SLOW AND EASY, WEAR GOOD SHOES, SWING YOUR ARMS, AND THEN COME BACK AND SIT IN HOT WATER.  MAYBE THIS MIGHT BE YOUR ANSWER TO STOP THIS.

WARM REGARDS
PATT
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