[Syrenz]

Preventing Injuries (scroll down for treatment)

(thanks PrivateX)


WARMING UP IS THE BEST PREVENTATIVE MEDICINE FOR INJURIES!

Source - http://www.parkourgenerations.com/ar...cat=3&idart=38


Warming Up

Why Bother?
By Dan Edwardes

Much has been made of the importance of warming-up before beginning a training session, and yet in general most people underdo or even skip entirely this vital aspect of the discipline of parkour. Some may not know why warming up is so important, others may not know how; some may perceive it to be a waste of time, while others might see it as boring, wanting to dive straight into the jumps and vaults with minimal or no preparation. If you fit into one of these categories, you need to read on.

The proficient know well enough that there are no shortcuts within serious training. Neglect any one aspect and you not only limit your potential but you also put yourself at risk, and this is especially true when it comes to preparing the body for exertion. A good, thorough warm-up is an essential part of any training routine. It prepares both your body and mind for the rigours and demands of dynamic movement, greatly reducing the chance of injury while also improving your overall efficiency and economy of motion.

Warming-up is so called because it is exactly that – a warming of the body. Its purpose, above all, is to raise the body temperature enough to create the ideal conditions for the smooth running of all the physical systems about to be employed.

Warming-up consists of two main components: Firstly, some sort of light exercise such as slow running or skipping to increase the heart rate slightly and raise one’s core temperature. This is known as a ‘global’ warm-up, and should result in a light sweat but should not tire you out. Secondly, an activity-specific warm-up that concentrates on preparing the body systems and muscle groups that are to be most called-upon during the training session. This will mainly involve stretching, joint manipulation, and breathing. Throughout both warm-up and training ensure that you drink enough water to stay hydrated – think of water as the oil in a motor engine; without it, there are going to be big problems!

To understand why you need to warm up, you need to understand how your body changes when preparing itself for intense exertion such as is commonplace in parkour.

Bodyheat

Warming-up is so called because it is exactly that – a warming of the body. Its purpose, above all, is to raise the body temperature enough to create the ideal conditions for the smooth running of all the physical systems about to be employed. At rest, the human body typically sits at between 36-37º Celsius and regulates this through neural feedback mechanisms using radiation, convection, conduction and evaporation of perspiration. It is a remarkable system, all governed by the part of the brain known as the hypothalamus, and is very finely tuned.

However, the optimal body temperature for physical activity is 39º Celsius, and those extra couple of degrees are extremely important. That slight rise in temperature has highly beneficial effects when it comes to the capability of the body to carry out extreme physical exertion.

* Muscles and Tendons: At 39ºC the necessary chemical reactions that go on inside the cells of muscle fibres occur much faster. This improves the overall efficiency of the tissues and increases the elasticity of the tendons and the flexibility of the muscles by around 80%. Also at this raised temperature blood cells become more dilated which increases the oxygen flow to the muscles, improving their work-rate and endurance.
* Central Nervous System: Made up of your brain, your spinal cord, and an enormous network of nerves that thread throughout every part of your physiology, this is the control centre for your entire body. Your brain uses information it receives from your nerves to coordinate all of your actions and reactions, and thus it is vital that the nervous system is operating perfectly during any exercise. The nervous system has been found to be most efficient at 39ºC, because at this temperature electrical impulses travel faster through muscle and nerve tissue and consequently coordination and the speed of muscle contraction are measurably increased.
* Joints: The joints are lubricated by a liquid called the synovial fluid, which bathes the movable structures between our bones. It nourishes and lubricates the cartilage at the end of each bone, and protects the joints as they go through all ranges of motion. At 39ºC the synovial liquid thins, becoming more fluid, which allows for a wider range of safe movement for the joints. During parkour practice it is quite usual for the joints to be put through a whole host of movements, many of them uncommon and complex, and so it is critical that the work of the synovial fluid is maximised.

So you can see how important it is to ‘warm’ the body correctly before training. Everything just works better when the internal temperature is that little bit higher. Beyond hitting the right temperature, however, there is a host of other benefits from engaging in a comprehensive warm-up routine…

Heart and Mind

Going straight into explosive exercise without a warm-up period means that your heart suddenly leaps from its resting beat-rate to double or triple what it is comfortable with. This puts great strain on the heart and over time can result in serious problems. During a graduated warm-up, however, the cardiac rhythm increases progressively and gradually, meaning the heart can produce the same efforts with the same intensity without running the risk of accumulated strain and damage.

And this preparation is important on more than just the physical level. A good warm-up period allows your mind to focus on the tasks ahead, moving you into the correct and appropriate mental state for an activity as demanding as parkour. It acts as a transitional stage from the fairly random thought-processes of everyday living to the highly focused and committed intensity best employed for training. It encourages concentration on your physical self and helps you to get ‘in sync’ and collect yourself for the demands you are about to place on your body.

Perhaps most importantly, warming-up greatly reduces the chance of incurring small, silly injuries from your training. These can be any number of things, from an over-extension of a joint to pulled muscles or torn ligaments, and usually result from a lack of flexibility in the relevant tissue or structure. Flexibility improves when one’s muscles and tendons are hot, so make sure you get warm and stay warm during your training period
Perhaps most importantly, warming-up greatly reduces the chance of incurring small, silly injuries from your training. These can be any number of things, from an over-extension of a joint to pulled muscles or torn ligaments, and usually result from a lack of flexibility in the relevant tissue or structure. Flexibility improves when one’s muscles and tendons are hot, so make sure you get warm and stay warm during your training period – remember that you can cool down very quickly if you are standing around doing nothing, so be particularly aware of this in group training sessions and jams when you may be inclined to stop to talk to others. If it is cold outside wear layers to keep the muscles warm, and keep a light sweat going at all times.

Warming-up is one of the most important parts of any training regime. You absolutely must not ignore it or engage in it half-heartedly. Develop a comprehensive routine that covers all the major muscle groups and joints and use it! A good standard time for a warm-up is 20 minutes minimum: this should get the internal temperature up to around the critical 39ºC mark. And if you need more time to get comfortably warm, just keep on warming up. Only you can know when you are fully ready to train.

Of course, if you find your routines becoming mundane and boring, change them! Be creative, and you will find that you can enjoy the warm-up as much as you enjoy the training itself.

Warming Down: The importance of easing off the gas.

Just as important as a warm-up, and even more neglected, is the warm-down period that should come immediately after any arduous training session. Warming down is like taking your foot off the accelerator gently, allowing the vehicle to come to a natural rest, rather than slamming on the brakes and being hurled through the windshield…

Firstly, a proper warm-down encourages the muscles, ligaments and even organs to return to their natural length and position within the body. When your heart has been pumping furiously and the muscles have been working overtime, much of your physiology actually becomes slightly displaced from its normal resting position. A gentle warm-down allows everything to return to normal gradually and safely.

Secondly, a sudden stop can interrupt the cardiac rhythm and reduce dramatically the blood circulation to and from the heart. This can result in you feeling faint, or having dizzy spells after training which, if allowed to accumulate, can have serious repercussions. Bring the heart rate down slowly and the cardiac rhythm will remain unbroken.

Your system has also created waste products and toxins that need to be broken down correctly in order to avoid the onset of severe muscle soreness. All muscular activity, especially anaerobic exercise, generates a toxin known as lactic acid. If this toxin is not broken down, it will cause great discomfort for some time after training and is the cause of muscle aches for days afterwards. To break it down the muscles have to be working, but at a much lower intensity than that which generated the toxin in the first place. Slow running, walking, and light skipping are all suitable methods for eliminating lactic acid in the muscles, so a warm-down should include one of these or a similarly relaxed activity.

Following this stage, stretching is an absolutely vital component that must not be overlooked. Work on all the major muscle-groups, easing the tension out of them, employing gentle massage if necessary. Relax the muscles, tendons and ligaments, and concentrate on slowing your breathing until it is deep and measured. Use the time to calm your mind and centre your awareness, letting go of all the stress, anxieties and fears that can accumulate during training. This is a time to re-integrate body and mind, so take as long as you need until you feel comfortable, relaxed and physically light.

As a general rule, a warm-down should take no less than twenty minutes. Drink lots of water to replenish lost fluids and help clean out toxins. Taking a shower also washes away the toxins from the body that result from sweating and helps your skin breathe again.

There is a hidden benefit to doing a proper warm-down: it establishes the ideal conditions for getting the most out of your rest. Remember, it is when the body is at rest after exercise that it gets stronger, not during the exercise itself. For instance, muscle fibres stretch and tear during weight-training, and it is actually during the healing of this damage that the muscles makes themselves stronger.

How long you should rest for is dependent upon the type of training you have been doing. Basic aerobic exercise, having only a low impact on the body’s systems, means that you should be fine to train again the following day. But after intense, anaerobic exercise you really should take a good 24-48 hours rest to fully eliminate all toxins from the body. Again, listen to what your body is telling you and don’t over-train all the time – parkour places large demands on your physiology, and it will only be able to meet those demands if you take the time to look after it before and after training.

So treat your warm-down and your rest as a serious part of your training, and allow your body to recover properly between sessions. A thorough warm-down will facilitate this, leaving you relaxed and at peace, your body already preparing for the next session.

Treating Injuries


Back Injuries

Because back pain stems from a variety of causes, treatment goals are pain relief and restored movement. The basic treatment for relieving back pain from strain or minor injury is rest. An ice pack can be helpful, as can aspirin or another nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) to reduce pain and inflammation. After the inflammation subsides, applying heat can soothe muscles and connective tissue. Long-term bed rest in not usually very helpful, in fact it can make it worse, making recovery slower and potentially causing new problems. http://www.cure-back-pain.org/heat-o...back-pain.html

Ankle and Other Sprains

(The RICE method)

Rest- you may need to rest your sprained ankle, either completely or partly, depending on how serious your sprain is. Use crutches for as long as it hurts you to stand on your foot.
Ice- Using ice packs, ice slush baths or ice massages can decrease the swelling, pain, bruising and muscle spasms. Keep using ice for up to three days after the injury. Don’t use heat for at least three days.
Compression- Wrapping your ankle may be the best way to avoid swelling and bruising. You’ll probably need to keep your ankle wrapped for the first day or two after the injury and perhaps for up to a week or more.
Elevation- Raising your ankle to or above the level of your heart will help prevent the swelling from getting worse and will help reduce bruising. Try to keep your ankle elevated for about two to three hours a day if possible.

Sprains may vary in their severity.

The most common treatment for almost any breakdancing injury is the RICE method (Rest.Ice.Compression.Elevation). I only wrote the ankles comprehensively to give you the basic idea of what it is. If this does not work for you or for any injury that is more severe or painful than a common sprain, consult a doctor.

[Syrenz]

nice, a sticky

[Peepants]

i smacked my head against a wall doing a baby mill the other day. and hurt my head and neck. i didnt black out or anything but i had a sore neck and ahead ache for atleast 12 hours afterwards (even after sleeping). i wasnt nauseas or dizzy or anything of the sort but i still think i may have a concussion. is it alright to break with a minor concussion if i rule out chances of me hitting another wall.

[PrivateX]

In my opinion, you probably should have gone to a doctor, and a visit might be still be a good idea. The brain is not something to mess around with, if you feel some disorientation or confusion that doesn't pass after a good amount of time it could possibly be serious.



So here is my PERSONAL advice.... Dont practice so close to walls. Listen to your body and if it feels messed up, Talk to someone such as a parent or a close friend and then see a doctor if they agree that it could possibly be necessary. If it was still bothering you after that long I probably would have went in, but I have also had so many concussions that I know what they feel like and have gone through a few without going in, but thats because I knew what the feeling was like and it had passed in a shorter amount of time. If you are going to sleep and having some feeling left from it I would DEFINITELY go in.

[Predaliendog]

Alright, i fell and rolled on my ankle, heard a loud snap and it hurt bad. My dad said I sprained it. so i iced it for 2 days. I could walk on it fine, and it didnt hurt much. So I tried bboying, since i have a competition in 2 weeks, and need practice.

When I started footwork, it hurt so much..xcept, now it dosent hurt on my ankle, it hurts on the bottom and top of my foot..idk how to explain it..It hurts on the outside of my right foot, close to my ankle but not my ankle..
Ugh, it hurts and its making me mad. What should i do?

[PrivateX]

Continue to Ice it at night and warm up your ankles and knees like you would your wrists.

Point your toe and make circles in both directions, also try to write out the alphabet with your toe as the point (just imagine it don't try and hold some marker in your toes or something)

Go easy on the footwork and work on some simple tops, this will help with getting more weight on it and help it along a little better instead of just jumping into some more ankle twisting and rolling prone movements.

[Syrenz]

privateX, you were a medic/doctor in the army or something right?

[PrivateX]

I did not go through Medic AIT (Advanced Individual Training, which is where you learn what ever specialty) but every person goes through Combat Life Saver training which is continually reinforced. We also learned other advanced skills during Pre-Deployment training. During my time overseas my roommate was a Medic and every Crew had a person that got extra training (so each truck has someone that is a little specialized).

After coming home I did a First Responder course and while I was half way through that course I had already started my Emergency Medical Technician - Basic training (EMT-B) which involves a good amount of Anatomy. During school I spent time volunteering in the ER at the local hospital as well as doing required ride alongs with the Paramedic Unit. I also have put a good amount of time into my own personal research into physical fitness and nutrition and will get my Personal Trainer Certification (just as soon as I can afford it, heh)


Also my Mother and her two sisters are Registered Nurses and my mother is on her way studying to becoming a Nurse Practitioner while teaching Nursing at the local community college. Following in her Mothers footsteps, who taught Nursing at the school for 30 years.

[PrivateX]

Here is a little better info on the use of Heat and Ice for back problems. This can be applied to essentially any joint or muscle. In my opinion you can ice for longer than 20 minutes. I have 3 big like 12 inch by 8 inch ice packs so that it takes up the whole lower back (I lay on all three as to ice my whole length of my back or legs) and I will usually do this until they are no longer cold so that can be near an hour or so. I will then usually follow it up not long after with a nice hot shower before bed.

Here is the link - http://www.cure-back-pain.org/heat-o...back-pain.html

[bboy-void]

For awhile i was feeling some tension in my right shoulder cap towards the front. My right arm being the dominate one and the one i tend to put more weight on. I was practicing transitioning from a shoulder stall to head stall. I bailed a few times and landed on my should and the side of my head. Nothing bad, just a few minor falls. But for the next few days i couldn't do any thing on that one arm without feeing an acut pain in my shoulder and wanting to collapse. So i gave it a break for about 2 weeks and it felt pretty good. I had one good session that day, but now it hurts again. any advice would be very appreciated. thnx

[CoopaTroopa]

i didnt get this while bboying but when i was benching lol...

my shoulder made a popping sound as i was putting the bar back up, but it didnt hurt. But when i woke up next day it hurt like a beeeeeyotch

i tried to bench again (bad idea) and now my shoulders feel like they are gonna pop out... should i give it a rest?

[PrivateX]

Originally Posted by CoopaTroopa i didnt get this while bboying but when i was benching lol... my shoulder made a popping sound as i was putting the bar back up, but it didnt hurt. But when i woke up next day it hurt like a beeeeeyotch i tried to bench again (bad idea) and now my shoulders feel like they are gonna pop out... should i give it a rest?

What do you think?......


Stretch it, rest, and ice it.... do some shoulder exercises with light weight or even a light resistance band to get them working again a bit. Doing light exercise should not put much stress on the muscles but should be just enough to get some blood flowing to them which will make it help it heal quicker.

[PrivateX]

I just wanted to post an article quick that I found on the importance of warming up.

WARMING UP IS THE BEST PREVENTATIVE MEDICINE FOR INJURIES!

Source - http://www.parkourgenerations.com/ar...cat=3&idart=38


Warming Up

Why Bother?
By Dan Edwardes

Much has been made of the importance of warming-up before beginning a training session, and yet in general most people underdo or even skip entirely this vital aspect of the discipline of parkour. Some may not know why warming up is so important, others may not know how; some may perceive it to be a waste of time, while others might see it as boring, wanting to dive straight into the jumps and vaults with minimal or no preparation. If you fit into one of these categories, you need to read on.

The proficient know well enough that there are no shortcuts within serious training. Neglect any one aspect and you not only limit your potential but you also put yourself at risk, and this is especially true when it comes to preparing the body for exertion. A good, thorough warm-up is an essential part of any training routine. It prepares both your body and mind for the rigours and demands of dynamic movement, greatly reducing the chance of injury while also improving your overall efficiency and economy of motion.

Warming-up is so called because it is exactly that – a warming of the body. Its purpose, above all, is to raise the body temperature enough to create the ideal conditions for the smooth running of all the physical systems about to be employed.

Warming-up consists of two main components: Firstly, some sort of light exercise such as slow running or skipping to increase the heart rate slightly and raise one’s core temperature. This is known as a ‘global’ warm-up, and should result in a light sweat but should not tire you out. Secondly, an activity-specific warm-up that concentrates on preparing the body systems and muscle groups that are to be most called-upon during the training session. This will mainly involve stretching, joint manipulation, and breathing. Throughout both warm-up and training ensure that you drink enough water to stay hydrated – think of water as the oil in a motor engine; without it, there are going to be big problems!

To understand why you need to warm up, you need to understand how your body changes when preparing itself for intense exertion such as is commonplace in parkour.

Bodyheat

Warming-up is so called because it is exactly that – a warming of the body. Its purpose, above all, is to raise the body temperature enough to create the ideal conditions for the smooth running of all the physical systems about to be employed. At rest, the human body typically sits at between 36-37º Celsius and regulates this through neural feedback mechanisms using radiation, convection, conduction and evaporation of perspiration. It is a remarkable system, all governed by the part of the brain known as the hypothalamus, and is very finely tuned.

However, the optimal body temperature for physical activity is 39º Celsius, and those extra couple of degrees are extremely important. That slight rise in temperature has highly beneficial effects when it comes to the capability of the body to carry out extreme physical exertion.

* Muscles and Tendons: At 39ºC the necessary chemical reactions that go on inside the cells of muscle fibres occur much faster. This improves the overall efficiency of the tissues and increases the elasticity of the tendons and the flexibility of the muscles by around 80%. Also at this raised temperature blood cells become more dilated which increases the oxygen flow to the muscles, improving their work-rate and endurance.
* Central Nervous System: Made up of your brain, your spinal cord, and an enormous network of nerves that thread throughout every part of your physiology, this is the control centre for your entire body. Your brain uses information it receives from your nerves to coordinate all of your actions and reactions, and thus it is vital that the nervous system is operating perfectly during any exercise. The nervous system has been found to be most efficient at 39ºC, because at this temperature electrical impulses travel faster through muscle and nerve tissue and consequently coordination and the speed of muscle contraction are measurably increased.
* Joints: The joints are lubricated by a liquid called the synovial fluid, which bathes the movable structures between our bones. It nourishes and lubricates the cartilage at the end of each bone, and protects the joints as they go through all ranges of motion. At 39ºC the synovial liquid thins, becoming more fluid, which allows for a wider range of safe movement for the joints. During parkour practice it is quite usual for the joints to be put through a whole host of movements, many of them uncommon and complex, and so it is critical that the work of the synovial fluid is maximised.

So you can see how important it is to ‘warm’ the body correctly before training. Everything just works better when the internal temperature is that little bit higher. Beyond hitting the right temperature, however, there is a host of other benefits from engaging in a comprehensive warm-up routine…

Heart and Mind

Going straight into explosive exercise without a warm-up period means that your heart suddenly leaps from its resting beat-rate to double or triple what it is comfortable with. This puts great strain on the heart and over time can result in serious problems. During a graduated warm-up, however, the cardiac rhythm increases progressively and gradually, meaning the heart can produce the same efforts with the same intensity without running the risk of accumulated strain and damage.

And this preparation is important on more than just the physical level. A good warm-up period allows your mind to focus on the tasks ahead, moving you into the correct and appropriate mental state for an activity as demanding as parkour. It acts as a transitional stage from the fairly random thought-processes of everyday living to the highly focused and committed intensity best employed for training. It encourages concentration on your physical self and helps you to get ‘in sync’ and collect yourself for the demands you are about to place on your body.

Perhaps most importantly, warming-up greatly reduces the chance of incurring small, silly injuries from your training. These can be any number of things, from an over-extension of a joint to pulled muscles or torn ligaments, and usually result from a lack of flexibility in the relevant tissue or structure. Flexibility improves when one’s muscles and tendons are hot, so make sure you get warm and stay warm during your training period
Perhaps most importantly, warming-up greatly reduces the chance of incurring small, silly injuries from your training. These can be any number of things, from an over-extension of a joint to pulled muscles or torn ligaments, and usually result from a lack of flexibility in the relevant tissue or structure. Flexibility improves when one’s muscles and tendons are hot, so make sure you get warm and stay warm during your training period – remember that you can cool down very quickly if you are standing around doing nothing, so be particularly aware of this in group training sessions and jams when you may be inclined to stop to talk to others. If it is cold outside wear layers to keep the muscles warm, and keep a light sweat going at all times.

Warming-up is one of the most important parts of any training regime. You absolutely must not ignore it or engage in it half-heartedly. Develop a comprehensive routine that covers all the major muscle groups and joints and use it! A good standard time for a warm-up is 20 minutes minimum: this should get the internal temperature up to around the critical 39ºC mark. And if you need more time to get comfortably warm, just keep on warming up. Only you can know when you are fully ready to train.

Of course, if you find your routines becoming mundane and boring, change them! Be creative, and you will find that you can enjoy the warm-up as much as you enjoy the training itself.

Warming Down: The importance of easing off the gas.

Just as important as a warm-up, and even more neglected, is the warm-down period that should come immediately after any arduous training session. Warming down is like taking your foot off the accelerator gently, allowing the vehicle to come to a natural rest, rather than slamming on the brakes and being hurled through the windshield…

Firstly, a proper warm-down encourages the muscles, ligaments and even organs to return to their natural length and position within the body. When your heart has been pumping furiously and the muscles have been working overtime, much of your physiology actually becomes slightly displaced from its normal resting position. A gentle warm-down allows everything to return to normal gradually and safely.

Secondly, a sudden stop can interrupt the cardiac rhythm and reduce dramatically the blood circulation to and from the heart. This can result in you feeling faint, or having dizzy spells after training which, if allowed to accumulate, can have serious repercussions. Bring the heart rate down slowly and the cardiac rhythm will remain unbroken.

Your system has also created waste products and toxins that need to be broken down correctly in order to avoid the onset of severe muscle soreness. All muscular activity, especially anaerobic exercise, generates a toxin known as lactic acid. If this toxin is not broken down, it will cause great discomfort for some time after training and is the cause of muscle aches for days afterwards. To break it down the muscles have to be working, but at a much lower intensity than that which generated the toxin in the first place. Slow running, walking, and light skipping are all suitable methods for eliminating lactic acid in the muscles, so a warm-down should include one of these or a similarly relaxed activity.

Following this stage, stretching is an absolutely vital component that must not be overlooked. Work on all the major muscle-groups, easing the tension out of them, employing gentle massage if necessary. Relax the muscles, tendons and ligaments, and concentrate on slowing your breathing until it is deep and measured. Use the time to calm your mind and centre your awareness, letting go of all the stress, anxieties and fears that can accumulate during training. This is a time to re-integrate body and mind, so take as long as you need until you feel comfortable, relaxed and physically light.

As a general rule, a warm-down should take no less than twenty minutes. Drink lots of water to replenish lost fluids and help clean out toxins. Taking a shower also washes away the toxins from the body that result from sweating and helps your skin breathe again.

There is a hidden benefit to doing a proper warm-down: it establishes the ideal conditions for getting the most out of your rest. Remember, it is when the body is at rest after exercise that it gets stronger, not during the exercise itself. For instance, muscle fibres stretch and tear during weight-training, and it is actually during the healing of this damage that the muscles makes themselves stronger.

How long you should rest for is dependent upon the type of training you have been doing. Basic aerobic exercise, having only a low impact on the body’s systems, means that you should be fine to train again the following day. But after intense, anaerobic exercise you really should take a good 24-48 hours rest to fully eliminate all toxins from the body. Again, listen to what your body is telling you and don’t over-train all the time – parkour places large demands on your physiology, and it will only be able to meet those demands if you take the time to look after it before and after training.

So treat your warm-down and your rest as a serious part of your training, and allow your body to recover properly between sessions. A thorough warm-down will facilitate this, leaving you relaxed and at peace, your body already preparing for the next session.

[Syrenz]

wow, very comprehensive. I just came across another article about warm-ups before, it's making me think that I have to do a longer warm-up.

[Mandos]

I've known about RICE and the importance of warming up, but warming gradually down is new to me. It makes alot of sense though.
If you have or when you come upon some similar article I'd be very glad indeed if you'd post it on the site or send me the link/file via PM.
I am constantly trying to expand my knowledge and understanding of psysiology/fitness and nutrition, since both work best when in harmony.
Thanks