I tweaked my hamstring last thurs and by training on tue agai made it worse. Ive got county athletics champs and an important schools athletics competetions coming up on sunday/monday and need to recover so that i can high jump asap. Ive been doing the whole RICE thing but was wondering if stretching the muscle is good or bad? also, has anyone got any particular tips to speed up recovery?
cheers
helen
Injuries: pulled muscles
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Helen, if the acute pain has settled and it's beginning to feel better I think most people would say start stretching it, but be guided by how it feels and stop if it's painful.
There was a recent bit of research that showed that ibuprofen gel (or equivalent) did help reduce inflammation and speed recovery, But some people do get side-effects, because it is absorbed.
Can understand your frustration, but would imagine high jumping in high pressure competition needs quite an explosive effort from hamstrings, which could lead to damage that takes longer to repair.
Good luck!
There was a recent bit of research that showed that ibuprofen gel (or equivalent) did help reduce inflammation and speed recovery, But some people do get side-effects, because it is absorbed.
Can understand your frustration, but would imagine high jumping in high pressure competition needs quite an explosive effort from hamstrings, which could lead to damage that takes longer to repair.
Good luck!
- ifititches
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Two bits of advice that come with absolutely no guarantee:
1) At my old tennis club, if you'd injured a muscle (rather than a joint), they used to reckon that the 'ice' stage of RICE was best done by using refrigerated steak. The idea being that it was cold, but not so cold as it will damage the muscle tissue. It also fits the muscle quite well when applied with clingfilm! Have never tried this myself, as it just sounds wrong. But they swore by it. Wierd ... and old wives taleish, but there you go.
2) This one's from a gymnast ... If you are stretching out an injured leg muscle, get someone to relax it first. Appologies if this sounds kinky, but what you have to do is lie on your back, and put your leg on the shoulder of someone kneeling down in front of you (I guess how high your legs goes depends on how injured you are). Then you get them to 'wobble' said muscle until it is relaxed. Basically the same as you see physio's doing to footballers with cramp. This'll loosen the muscle before stretching it. Which I assume will make injury less likely(?)
So, there you go. Hope these are helpful rather than just wierd. Can't vouch for either on first hand experience though!
1) At my old tennis club, if you'd injured a muscle (rather than a joint), they used to reckon that the 'ice' stage of RICE was best done by using refrigerated steak. The idea being that it was cold, but not so cold as it will damage the muscle tissue. It also fits the muscle quite well when applied with clingfilm! Have never tried this myself, as it just sounds wrong. But they swore by it. Wierd ... and old wives taleish, but there you go.
2) This one's from a gymnast ... If you are stretching out an injured leg muscle, get someone to relax it first. Appologies if this sounds kinky, but what you have to do is lie on your back, and put your leg on the shoulder of someone kneeling down in front of you (I guess how high your legs goes depends on how injured you are). Then you get them to 'wobble' said muscle until it is relaxed. Basically the same as you see physio's doing to footballers with cramp. This'll loosen the muscle before stretching it. Which I assume will make injury less likely(?)
So, there you go. Hope these are helpful rather than just wierd. Can't vouch for either on first hand experience though!
"Don't try and fulfil your maximum potential, it's disappointing when you realise that all you are capable of doing is eating less cheese." Dylan Moran
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Migsy - white
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- Location: Birmingham
The most important thing to do is to visit a chartered Sports Physio within 3 days of the injury.
rest will not sort it.
Stretching and playing with it might or might not.
Well worth paying good money to sort the problem for once and for all.
The injury could be local to the muscle or related to the sheath/nerves of the muscle - in which case it might be aggravated by some problem elsewhere - eg tight piriformis/gluts or lower back.
GET CHECKED OUT!
Lard
rest will not sort it.
Stretching and playing with it might or might not.
Well worth paying good money to sort the problem for once and for all.
The injury could be local to the muscle or related to the sheath/nerves of the muscle - in which case it might be aggravated by some problem elsewhere - eg tight piriformis/gluts or lower back.
GET CHECKED OUT!
Lard
From small acorns great Oak trees grow.
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Lard - diehard
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