Overuse: what’s the big deal?

Did you know that about 50% of all figure skating injuries are due to overuse?  What is an overuse injury?  An overuse injury is generally an injury that develops over time.  This is in contrast to an injury that is due to a specific event such as a fall or a twisting injury.  Overuse injuries have several causes but boil down to the concept that:

The mechanical stress to a tissue is too strong or too repetitive for that tissue to handle. 

This results in inflammation, pain, tissue injury, decrease tissue tolerance to mechanical stress which leads to more inflammation, pain, etc., etc.  Overuse injuries can be seen as a process.  At first the symptoms are minor and may even be barely perceptible.  When the mechanical stress on the specific tissue continues, the symptoms will increase.  If the tissue continues to be stressed beyond its ability to handle that stress, significant injuries such as stress fractures or premature growth plate closure can occur. 

It is important to be able to identify signs, symptoms and risk factors of overuse injuries.  Stay tuned in for future posts!!

Congratulations

Congratulations to all Upper Great Lakes Figure Skaters for a great 2010 regional competition.  For those who have made it through, a double congratulations to you.  Keep up the hard work of your in season off – ice training.

For those of you who didn’t make it through you will begin your active rest season.  This is the four-week time period during which you take 1-3 weeks off from skating and you also significantly decrease the intensity of any off – ice activity.  The primary objective of this active rest period of time is rest and recovery.  This an excellent time to have any injuries, however mild they seem, evaluated and treated.  Any off – ice activity or exercising should be mild and very different from what you normally do.  A few examples of different activities might be swimming and rock climbing.

You also need to be planning the next year of off – ice training.  I recommend having an off – ice coach/trainer who will change and progress your programs based on the timing of the season and the results of your assessments.  Always discuss your plans with your on ice head coach!

Again, congratulations to all UGL competitors and good luck next season!!