The Pain Of Inactivity

[old] Bayko · Post by **[old] Bayko** » May 20th, 2004, 10:59 am

How many people does this happen to? And more importantly, does anyone know why? For the umpteenth time in my athletic life I've had to take a break to let an injury heal. Yet, as with other times I've done this, I begin getting pains seemingly unrelated to the injury and well into the rest period. This time it has been a back injury (probably a ligament), and after a couple of weeks off I got a knot in my right calf muscles. As that dissapated my right hamstrings got painful, sometimes up in the butt, sometimes down near the knee, sometimes in the middle. I also became stiffer in general as I became "well rested." With my six weeks of rest accomplished I began some easy erging last sunday, alternated with some easy treadmill jogging the next day, and the pains are beginning to get better. Past experience has shown that within a week or two of resuming normal activity the pains will vanish. I suppose they could be psychosomatic pains, but they feel real enough when they occur. Does anyone have insights as to what is happening? Rick

[old] Cran · Post by **[old] Cran** » May 20th, 2004, 11:55 am

<table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td class='genmed'>QUOTE </td></tr><tr><td class='quote'>Does anyone have insights as to what is happening?  </td></tr></table> It's your punishment for not training for 6 weeks I don't know but I had the same, I was off training for almost 6 months and I felt really bad and was getting worse and worse. Once I finally managed to start training again and stick to it I've gradually lost all the aches and pains (well most of them) and now feel a lot better again. All I need to do now is get faster and not get injured again...

[old] Gary Blackman · Post by **[old] Gary Blackman** » May 21st, 2004, 4:30 am

I can sympathise with you, there is hardly a year goes by, without an injury that stops me training for a few weeks, i am certainly going to get worse when i am older. I actually do a lot of sports and different things, and i always try to push myself in most things i do, so i take these injuries on the chin, as i know with the amount i do ,i am going to have to take an enforced rest at some time.... Its the lesser of 2 evils....do lots and have the odd injury, or not do so much and be more injury free... I tend to do the 1st, and hope that the injuries don't come

[old] Bayko · Post by **[old] Bayko** » May 21st, 2004, 10:25 am

Cran, I think that you're right about it being punishment, and I think I know who is responsible. Next time I'm near a mirror I plan to talk to him about it. Gary, I'm with you about option one. Subconciously I must figure that if I'm not injured that I must be able to train harder. Of course that leads to an injury, at which time I belatedly realize "whoops, I guess that much is too much." On the positive side, I think that I'm ready to begin the up cycle, and not continue decending into the down cycle. BIRC or bust. Rick

[old] Samroot · Post by **[old] Samroot** » May 21st, 2004, 10:55 am

Rick In one area it sounds like your piriformis muscle has a strangle hold on your sciatic nerve-a problem I'm very familiar with. I bought a tp massage ball in Boston at the expo-and rolling around on it one cheek at a time on the tender area seems to release the muscle. In a pinch a golf,racquet, or lacrosse ball would work. My fiance and I have had ongoing issues with this arae the past four years-problably aggravated by too much sitting. At 53,I realize that rest equals rigidity.gone are the days are taking a week of from running and returning feeling like I was shot out of a cannon. It take me at least 2 or 3 miles to get past the stiffness. I guess reduced blood flow to connective tissues is the culprit and it takes all that much longer to get warmed up. The past 5 weeks I've been trying to negotiate that grey area between recovery and maintenance. I go to my sisters in Green Bay tommow, as we both try to reprise the marathon we wanted to do in the Boston inferno, on Sunday. I can't help but feeling a little stale after a little running and a little rowing the past month,and not quite the edge I had before Boston.

[old] Gary Blackman · Post by **[old] Gary Blackman** » May 21st, 2004, 10:57 am

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td class='genmed'>QUOTE (Bayko @ May 21 2004, 02:25 PM)</td></tr><tr><td class='quote'> Gary, I'm with you about option one. Subconciously I must figure that if I'm not injured that I must be able to train harder. Of course that leads to an injury, at which time I belatedly realize "whoops, I guess that much is too much."  </td></tr></table> Rick, I think too many off us do not realise when enough is enough, it would be far simpler if an alarm went off if you were getting near an injury, but like you said, we only know that we have gone to far when we actually get injured.. i think this is what we call a fine line, between success and faliure.... No matter how much, i think i should change, the less i am likely to actually follow it!

[old] Rogus · Post by **[old] Rogus** » May 21st, 2004, 11:12 am

I know, I know...a lot will disagree with me, but I believe training with a HR monitor is a great way to keep you from overtraining. If you use it correctly not only will it keep you from going too hard every workout, but it will give you indications of when you are overtraining in volume. Both of which cause the stress that leads to injury. If you pay attention AND have the discipline to stay within your zones, most people will find themselves less likely to suffer an injury, particularly those us who are driven and continually reinjure themselves.

[old] John Rupp · Post by **[old] John Rupp** » May 21st, 2004, 11:18 am

Rogus, I agree about monitoring the heart rate. When I wore one and kept faster workouts to 85% by the end of them, I feel my training was more productive overall. It would often feel I wasn't rowing hard enough, and could have gone quite a bit faster, but on the other hand I was able to recover more quickly and repeat the faster sessions more often. It's not necessary to have a HR monitor, as long as one knows to keep to this range, but otherwise it's excellent to have as reminder.

[old] Ash · Post by **[old] Ash** » May 21st, 2004, 2:33 pm

Exercise addiction, withdrawal symptoms; nuff said, you're an addict, just like myself.

[old] Jim Barry · Post by **[old] Jim Barry** » May 21st, 2004, 5:13 pm

I've taken layoffs from training mostly because there was no more racing and I figured it was time to let the fields lay fallow before another training build up. I usually feel fine ( 8 out of 8 times I've come off a serious training load). My complaint is that for the first week or so I will definately get moody and can only say it is a chemical thing. Perhaps for you it is a more physical disruption to get off the chemical makeup of a trained state. Ash is probably right.

[old] Bayko · Post by **[old] Bayko** » May 22nd, 2004, 3:27 pm

I'm addicted, yes. I totally agree. A certified member of the "must train harder" club. That's not a bad thing is it? After a year of doing without it I've dusted off the old heart rate monitor and have begun using it again as I begin to ramp up. While I've never enjoyed any long periods without injury I think that when using the hrm the frequency of injury is cut down a bit. Jim, you probably are keeping things in their proper perspective. .........How will you ever break 7:00 that way???? Rick

[old] Jim Barry · Post by **[old] Jim Barry** » May 24th, 2004, 9:03 am

Rick, you are right ! The best work is done on a base of regular indulgence in the irrational. My fastest days of years gone by were done with bloody blistered hands and much more pain. I'm only happy be nearly as fast AND enjoying the rowing. I can say though that this past month is the first time in 4 years I've seen a blister. Progress! (or it could just be my new D handle)

[old] MarcusLL · Post by **[old] MarcusLL** » May 27th, 2004, 10:49 am

One of the main reasons I've been learning to swim recently is because I want to have some sort of exercise to fall back on if my knees ever decide they don't like rowing any more - not being able to do any exercise on a given day always makes me feel so depressed and frustrated that I figure I need some sort of insurance! Its amazing how much calmer you feel after 40 minutes physical work, can't understand how the inactive get through the day.

[old] brianric · Post by **[old] brianric** » May 27th, 2004, 7:04 pm

I had a Model C (and a Model

, got rid of it one year in 1999 after I shattered my left shoulder in four places and had a prosthesis put in, replacing the ball of the shoulder. <img src='http://brianric.com/images/shoulder.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />. Since 2001 I've been going 6.2 miles every day on my treadmill. Getting frustrated over the lack of strength on my left side I just purchased a Model D. Time will tell if I made a wise decision.

[old] brianric · Post by **[old] brianric** » May 27th, 2004, 7:13 pm

BTW, I'm a recovering alcoholic. Started a serious exercise program in April 2001. Have not had a cigarette or alcohol since December 30, 2000. Former carton of cigarettes and five cases of beer a week.

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