Q- Hey Coach, I'm a woman who's falling apart .....First, my left calf got sore last week after a long run on snowy roads. And then, a few days later, my right hamstring started bothering me, and I don't remember doing anything to bother it..... It is high up (by my butt) on the left leg. Every once in awhile it goes into a spasm for a second. Otherwise, it doesn't hurt. My knee buckles for a second, then it's fine. And this morning I woke up with a slightly puffy knee. What would you suggest ?
A - What do I suggest?!!! Lady, I suggest you STOP !!Time for a cleanup - for you are flirting with disaster anytime you run with any sort of discomfort. Why? Because the body is causing you biomechanical havoc in its noble effort to protect you from further damage.
For example: if you are walking barefoot and step on a sharp object (e.g., broken glass), without you even thinking about it, you will recoil, immediately pulling back your foot.
You see, our wonderfully designed bods do not like discomfort and our nervous system is "wired" to instruct our muscles to contract in ways to move our parts away from painful stimuli - and, did I say, without our even thinking about it.
As some pop singer says, you are "Born This Way"…for your own good and survival.
Anyway, here's the deal. If you are running along with a discomfort gotten from too much, too soon, or from an accident, muscles, in their protective pursuits, will start behaving (i.e., contracting) differently. And this can result in a novel use of the muscles, that over the course of many miles can result in muscle tightening and aches.
An important exercise physiology principle to have in mind:… Wait for it... If a muscle is asked to contract in a novel way, it often results in Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS), developing about 36 to 48 hours. So you can see how a vicious cycle can ensue. [good article here]
So I say if you’re experiencing a continuation of soreness and/or the subsequent development of new aches, then STOP the running…. and cross train at a moderate effort level for at least 2 full days (pool running and swimming is my recommendation) until the pains subside, possibly include cold water or contrast baths [review articles here and here ], and make the next run an easy one of 20 to 30 min. to probe.
A - What do I suggest?!!! Lady, I suggest you STOP !!Time for a cleanup - for you are flirting with disaster anytime you run with any sort of discomfort. Why? Because the body is causing you biomechanical havoc in its noble effort to protect you from further damage.
For example: if you are walking barefoot and step on a sharp object (e.g., broken glass), without you even thinking about it, you will recoil, immediately pulling back your foot.
You see, our wonderfully designed bods do not like discomfort and our nervous system is "wired" to instruct our muscles to contract in ways to move our parts away from painful stimuli - and, did I say, without our even thinking about it.
As some pop singer says, you are "Born This Way"…for your own good and survival.
Anyway, here's the deal. If you are running along with a discomfort gotten from too much, too soon, or from an accident, muscles, in their protective pursuits, will start behaving (i.e., contracting) differently. And this can result in a novel use of the muscles, that over the course of many miles can result in muscle tightening and aches.
An important exercise physiology principle to have in mind:… Wait for it... If a muscle is asked to contract in a novel way, it often results in Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS), developing about 36 to 48 hours. So you can see how a vicious cycle can ensue. [good article here]
So I say if you’re experiencing a continuation of soreness and/or the subsequent development of new aches, then STOP the running…. and cross train at a moderate effort level for at least 2 full days (pool running and swimming is my recommendation) until the pains subside, possibly include cold water or contrast baths [review articles here and here ], and make the next run an easy one of 20 to 30 min. to probe.
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