Many
people associate sports-related injuries with ripped tendons and broken bones.
But in non-contact sports, the vast majority of injuries come on slowly. Stress
that builds over weeks or months can cause stress fractures, shin splints,
pulled muscles, strained hamstrings, aching kneecaps, tenderness in the
Achilles tendon or burning pain in the heel. These problems are very common
among individuals performing athletic activities.
And
for the most part, individuals know that they can avoid overuse injuries by
doing things like increasing their mileage gradually, wearing appropriate
footwear and not pushing through the pain. But in my experience, where the
education is lacking is regarding the appropriate strengthening exercises they
should be performing to AVOID overuse injuries.
It
doesn’t matter what your education or philosophy of exercise is. If you are not
doing injury prevention exercises, injury will eventually happen. Let’s face
it, injuries will always occur in sports; however, people can be more prepared
and decrease their chances of developing an overuse injury by strengthening the
small intrinsic muscles and the stabilizers that allow the larger muscle groups
to perform properly.
For
example, just like the rotator cuff of the shoulder, it takes small intrinsic
muscles, which act like stabilizers in the hip joint, to move so well and be so
flexible. I’m not suggesting that working the larger muscles groups isn’t
important. I just want you to be aware that there are muscles that are equally
important if not more and shouldn’t be forgotten for purposes of injury
prevention.
To
those of you that attend my fitness classes, you’re rolling your eyes right now
because you’ve heard me talk about this … A LOT! Try a CORE I class if you want
to learn more about this!
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