Athletic trainers' perceptions of Pickle Juice's effects on exercise associated muscle cramps

Pickle juice is an unconventional treatment for EAMC; however, we believe that enough athletic trainers are using it to treat and prevent EAMC to justify future research to elucidate optimal treatment parameters and possible mechanisms by which it may be effective. The substantial ambiguity and variability about pickle juice use further suggests that experimental research is required on this treatment. If pickle juice is effective, carefully controlled research must be performed to determine the safest, most effective protocols for its use. If it is not effective or poses a risk to athletes as some health professionals claim,⁵ those who use pickle juice must be discouraged from using it.