Doing what you love instead of tending to your sports injuries
When the sun is shining in Vancouver, it truly is the best city in the world. The seawall teems with people from all over the world–hiking, biking, running or just sitting back, enjoying the spectacular views English bay has to offer. Hikers are getting their gear ready, climbers are hanging off every cliff and every outdoor enthusiast has found their happy place. This includes marathon season. Every weekend will see thousands of happy runners taking those running shoes out of the closet, preparing to challenge themselves at the next big adventure.
Unfortunately, especially early in the season, too many see themselves injured as enthusiasm overreaches physical preparedness. It is easy to forget that the body needs time and progressive effort to reach the level of physical fitness needed for such gruelling activities as long climbs and marathons. It is all too easy to get caught up in a wave of collective energy, thinking that minor sports injuries can be ignored at least until the next big event. This is when we see those minor injuries worsen to the point of becoming more serious ones, and requiring more time and attention before the healing process can reach its full cycle.
At this time of year, I see many incidents of plantar fasciitis, for example. This often starts as tingling or mild burning sensation in the feet. It is a condition common to runners, and is often ignored in its early stages, as many believe they can just run through the pain. As with many conditions, if dealt with early, it can be a quick healing process, but if ignored, it can progress to a condition that can be quite painful and take some time to heal. Just toughing it out for one more run might lead to not being able to do any more runs for the rest of the summer.
The same is true for many sports injuries. Sprains, tendinitis, and muscle strains can all be treated without too much difficulty, if not allowed to get progressively worse. Allowing injuries time to heal is the most important step to be taken. The body has amazing healing capabilities, if only we give it a chance. Sometimes getting help from a registered massage therapist, physiotherapist, osteopath or chiropractor can be of great advantage.
Acupuncture is widely recognized as being of great importance in helping with pain and sports injuries as well. With Traditional Chinese Medicine, the practitioner will not only seek to alleviate pain and discomfort, but strengthen the body, helping to go to the root of the problem so as to give the body that extra tool in the tool kit in order to promote long-term health and healing.
The best solution of all, is of course a preventative one. When it is cold and wet outside, it is difficult to be motivated to start training for summer activities, as the coming season seems so far away. Nevertheless, this is crucial to preventing injuries. Conditioning takes time, energy and patience. One has to walk before running. Remember the importance of building muscles, building endurance, cardio conditioning, and stretching before any major event. Doing a little bit every day, and slowly increasing the intensity and duration of exercise is the only way to ensure that when the time comes for the big hike, the big run or the big ride, your body will be ready to endure the challenge, and surpass your expectations without having you suffering the consequences of not being prepared.
Another key aspect to conditioning is making sure that you are properly hydrated, and that you pay attention to having a proper diet. Hydration as well as proper nutrition is as crucial to the conditioning of your body as stretching and exercise. The more active you are, the more fuel you burn. It is important that your diet reflect your lifestyle, and that you are getting all the vital nutrients your body needs to work at its full capacity. With potlucks and BBQs in season now, just remember to go to that fruit platter and array of fresh vegetables as well between hot dogs and deep fried samosas! Your body will thank you, and you will truly amaze yourself at what you are capable of achieving this year!
By Gabrielle Fox, R.Ac.
Gabrielle is one of our talented mobile acupuncturists. If you have injured yourself already or want to avoid that so you can enjoy all that summer has to offer, call us to book your appointment.