Is there such a thing as a good injury? In most opinions I think people would say no but as most of you will know by now, I don’t usually have opinions most could agree with. Am I a contrarian? I guess I am as discussing something with someone that shares the same opinion is boring, right? Let’s find a subject we can disagree on and chat about that.
Sadly the popular stand being taken on many fronts right now is a collective one. We’re all in this together, let’s all stay home, shut down businesses and social distance to “save the healthcare system”. Collectively done this will result in a success, right? What about the economy, other undetected and untreated illnesses, education, social interaction and family bonds? Nah, stuff all them, we’re collectively saving the healthcare system, you know that one that works so well in the US, UK, Europe etc. So collectively we’re ruining lives but collectively saving systems that didn’t work very well originally anyway – makes sense to this contrarian. Not.
I don’t want to always argue a different opinion it just seems the one that makes sense to me always puts me in the minority.
So you can imagine the surprise of my friends the other day when I pulled up due to a hamstring spasm during a sprint and that I now say this was a good injury. Ok so I didn’t suffer a major tear, in fact I would say it’s a very light sprain almost to the point where 72 hours later I am not feeling it while walking.
With several friends I do an interval fast run/sprint session on Saturday mornings. Gait is a human movement pattern and a basic human function so running is a prerequisite for normal function and something we must practice. You may also think walking is in this category and you are right but we walk all the time so usually there’s no need to practice it. But isn’t it remarkable how good you feel after doing a purposeful walk, especially if done with your dog, or a friend or your partner. There’s really something bond-like going on with us hormonally combining walking with spending time with your favourite animal or human!
Last Saturday we were doing a favourite routine, 3 sets of 5 by 1 minute sprints with 1 minute rest and a 5 minute break between the 3 sets. The first round of 5 we did there and back over 230 metres, the second round there and back over 270 metres and the last round of 5 sprints over 300 metres. The last round getting back in a minute was tough and personally I was right on the limit and the 4th run as we arrived back at the start my hammy spasmed and I stopped in my tracks.
I went home immediately and iced it and after 10 minutes I did a gentle stretch before icing again. Through the day I used a compression bandage that I also wore overnight. Sunday I had a busy day and no time to do anything except compression through the night again.
Why did I ice and stretch? Some time ago I met a very interesting physiotherapist that suggested I do this with minor strains. His argument was minor tears/strains bunched up a small area of fibres that if allowed to remain bunched up would result in scar tissue forming around it (in a knot). This knot would take a longer time to rehabilitate than if we were to straighten them out while they were still soft and pliable in the immediate period post-injury/trauma. This will be the third or fourth time I have treated a soft tissue injury like this myself and I have a 100% record in doing it this way.
Why then is this a good injury?
Well if I am training and I injure myself I can easily usually determine what went wrong and take learnings from it. Saturday I was simply running too hard and my body failed. I am 56 and am as fit as a butchers dog (true story) and I was pushing myself to the absolute max and my body said, “hold up dude!” Conversely if I was playing tennis, soccer, touch footy or golf and did the same thing I would regard it as a bad injury – my training is designed to keep me operating optimally in my sports and I know my limits there and have learned to not push these boundaries too much. I am no help to my game or my team mates if I get injured at sport.
Through all my training there is a point to it. I never do anything without good reason. I think we all should train this way whether for attaining your ideal weight, all-round health and fitness or simply maximising your quality of lifestyle.
If you want to take control of your health and fitness, get in touch!
