Tennis players are using a surprising hack to fight cramps at the US Open

Players who find themselves in a pickle at this year’s US Open will have an unlikely remedy waiting courtside.For the first time, Mount Sinai’s medical team is bringing a unique beverage to the tournament that can help ease exercise-related muscle cramps within minutes.And no, it’s not the Honey Deuce.Typically, when a cramp strikes, the fix involves gentle stretching, targeted massage, hydration and electrolytes.But a briny swig of pickle juice may also do the trick.“While hydration and electrolyte replacement remain the most important, research suggest that pickle juice may relieve an acute cramp through a different mechanism than simply replacing sodium or fluids,” Dr.

Melissa Leber, a sports medicine physician at Mount Sinai and the director of player medical services at the US Open, told The Post.That distinction matters because studies show that some people get muscle cramps even when their electrolyte levels are normal.In those cases, downing Gatorade isn’t enough.“The theory is that the acetic acid or vinegar in pickle juice stimulates sensory cell receptors in the mouth and throat, triggering a neurologic reflex that helps reduce muscle cramping,” Leber explained.

It can happen within a couple of minutes — faster than just replacing electrolytes.But that doesn’t mean athletes will be ditching their water bottles for jars of Vlasic.Muscle cramps are common among elite athletes, particularly during intense exercise in the heat — making them a familiar foe at the US Open.Water helps replace fluids lost through sweat, and sports drinks replenish fluids, electrolytes and carbohydrates.

Pickle juice, meanwhile, may help stop an acute muscle cramp in its tracks.Together, the three can give players a well-rounded strategy for staying in the game — and could offer the same benefit to anyone who finds themselves sidelined by a cramp after exercising in the heat.“That said, pickle juice isn’t something I recommend drinking routinely befo...