We all train hard (Or at least we like to think we do) and like it when we see progress, whether it be more muscle, increased strength, a bit of weight loss or less inches around the waist. But when we get a little niggle or injury and it stops us from doing certain things, not only in the gym, but in everyday life too, it can get quite demoralising and our progress is stalled and sometimes lost!
Looking after our bodies is something that we all know is important, but most of us rarely think about or do anything about it. Well take it from me, a guy who plays Australian Rules Football (For those of you who don’t know, it’s a tad rough) and lifts weights 5 days a week along with having an active job, looking after your body is something that we ALL need to think about more.
Going HAM vs Getting Injured
Quite a lot of the time when we’re really in the zone with our training and going HAM (Hard as a Motherf***er) all the time we don’t want to stop training because we’re making such good progress, even to the point that we’ll train through little (Or sometimes big) niggles.
While this mentality is admirable, it’s not the smartest. The reality is that while our bodies are very strong, they are also very frail too. Training through an injury can, but not always, lead to more pain and forced time off from training. This actually results in LESS progress as opposed to if we had taken a short break from that body part or training altogether when the injury first arose.
Talk to the Experts
Despite the cost, getting things looked at by an expert really is worth the money. Here is an brief example of people that you can see to get yourself sorted out:
- Physio – Goes without saying, a good physio with a strong knowledge on anatomy and works a lot with people like you can work wonders.
- Podiatrist – A Podiatrist is someone who looks at your feet and ankles. You’d be amazed how many people have some degree of tightness in their calves, or their ankles roll in when they walk/squat, or their flat footed. If you feel you struggle with things from the knee down then it’s work chatting to one of these folks.
- Sports Massage – Even for the casual gymgoer, a sports massage will make you realise just how tight your muscles really are! The first one is always the most painful, but it’s well worth it.
Summary
In summary, be smart about your training and listen to your body. If it hurts – something is probably wrong!
Adam C. Morris - Fitness Coach 