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We all get injured every so often. I've been very lucky in my running career and have very rarely lost time through injury. However, as documented earlier within January 2003 ACE "Track Training - A Cautionary Tale" - I pulled a calf muscle whilst training on the indoor track at UWIC on Tuesday 14th January.
After the initial "Why me, Why now?" type reaction, logic thankfully took over. Initially the calf became stiffer and more painful by the minute. Firstly, I had to drive home, and depressing the clutch pedal to change gear was agony. When I got out of the car (approx 30 minutes after the injury, I could barely put my foot on the floor.
Things to do urgently:
No: 1 ICE - I grabbed a pack of frozen sweetcorn from out of the freezer and applied it to the calf.
No: 2 Phone someone who knows what to do. Martin Haley, a close friend who used to run for the Croups is a qualified Massage Therapist. He lives less than 400 metres from me. I trust his judgement implicitly. Martins tell me there's nothing he can do for 48 hours and to keep icing it to prevent any internal bleeding etc. This is the damage limitation bit.
I visited Martin 4 times in the next week. After icing for 48 hours, I started a series of exercises to stretch the muscle, was naturally was knotted and sore.
Massage Therapy can be pretty intensive at times. By its very nature, it can be painful and I've heard one or two of Martin's clients make reference to this. Ever heard the expression "No Pain, NO Gain?" I went to Martin so that I'd be able to resume running, not to have my toes tickled. There's also no point in asking for expert advice if you don't heed it. I can assure you, I'm the world's worst patient and any spell off running drives me crazy. But there are times when you have to view the bigger picture.
I was able to run pain-free after missing seven days. I regard myself as very lucky to have been able to access this expertise so quickly and so often. The injury could have put me out for weeks.
Conclusions:
1. Act as soon after the injury as possible. If you don't know what to do, seek professional advice.
2. Martin is available on (01446) 722214 - he is usually accessible within a few days (but this isn't his full time job). I can't say he's better or worse than anyone else, but speed of referral is significant. And no, I'm not on commission - yet!
3. Where possible, ascertain what caused the injury, and take preventative measures (i.e. I won't be back at UWIC)
Anybody who has experienced the frustration of a calf or Achilles injury will understand Mick's sentiments in this article. I now suffer from permanently sore lower legs due to my running style (I'm sure Peter and Phil are also familiar with that one!). I find that after a race, as in the case of the handicap at the weekend, that I will be sore for up to 4/5 days and walk along a tightrope when I train during this period. I see a massage therapist (Bob Jones - Sports injury centre) every three weeks irrespective of injury, in an attempt to avoid further problems. I have no direct evidence that this works, except that in the last 5 months I have run more than in the previous 7.
I feel that perhaps waiting for injury is not pro-active enough. I would recommend regular stretching, some x-training and if you can, see a therapist for preventive maintenance. Hopefully that will keep you on the roads longer.
Posted by Simon -AT-REMOVE_THIS- 29/1/2003 9:57 am GMT
Don't do as I did and try eating some peas from a bag that you've been using for 10 years to ice your injuries!!!!! The peas looked like Bird's Eyes!!!!
Posted by Geran -AT-REMOVE_THIS- 29/1/2003 9:23 am GMT
Further sound advice - don't eat the frozen peas from the bag you've used to ice your achilles over the last year.
Posted by Peter -AT-REMOVE_THIS- 28/1/2003 8:22 pm GMT
Be careful when icing injuries, best to place a tea towel between you and the bag of peas. Don't leave it on too long either...advice varies but a good guide is 15 mins on/off.
Posted by Matt Townsend -AT-REMOVE_THIS- 28/1/2003 6:30 pm GMT
Is there data available on comparative healing times when using sweetcorn that is either organically grown or genetically modified. If not perhaps someone would like to investigate this possibility.
Posted by Alan T -AT-REMOVE_THIS- 28/1/2003 5:46 pm GMT
Last updated 26 December 2005
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A few years back I spent some time doing interval training up at the indoor track and yes I agree with Mick it is tough going up there.
Did you know that you can ask for the banking to be lowered to half way - which I found great in terms of doign some of the longer reps.
You have to keep asking them (even get the manager involved) but if no-one else is using the track they will try and accomodate your request.
Cheers.
Posted by Sean -AT-REMOVE_THIS- 29/1/2003 8:19 pm GMT