The recurring theme on injuries

[Hogg]

I think i've finally identified a trend that nearly guarantees injury each time the circumstances line up.

Each time that I've developed a niggle, or a good strain, or even a rupture, it is always on my 1st exercise and usuallly, it occurs around my 3rd or 4th set. This has held true on a number of occassions with altogether different bodyparts. I've never injured myself after my first exercise.

The other condition is what I deem a lack of failing to properly warm up and feeling compelled to pack on more weight......usually, it occurs when the gym is crowded and the pace is frantic - watching your piece of equipment, having to walk 2 trees away to find another pair of plates, too many people around....and thus I move faster with the herd of lemmings.

As I was pondering these conditions, I talked to a guy at the gym who takes about a half hour getting good and ready to squat. He stretches, does some leg extensions, stretches, does some really light deep squats, stretches some more....and about 5 sets in, he starts thinking about adding weight.

Now JS mentioned this to me a long time ago. He said that he knew of people who would re-take a lift at a lower weight until they felt good enough to go forward.

Expanding on this, perhaps some day it doesnt come at all.....and that is the day when one should simply back off.

Its funny, this is my 4th year since I resumed training and I still forget that I should listen to the physiological feedback that I experience when I walk in the gym. I'm a bit upset at myself for making that mistake last week but I'm almost fully healed already so it wasnt that bad...however, I should have avoided it altogether so that I could have had a productive week of training last week instead of throwing away 3 sessions.

I'm sharing this with you guys....especially you older guys....because I think it is something that we overlook. I use to read Dave Tate's training journals and he was always beat to hell and workign around injuries practically every session. Thats not a productive way to train and I'd venture that perhaps a guy like Tate is too motivated. If its not for money, its not worth taking a risk of doing downtime.

Hogg

[Bob Smith]

You old guys are just asking for injury if you don't prepare yourself correctly for the impending workout. Us bullet-proof young guys don't need to worry about all that stretching and systemic warmup crap.

[ratmonkey]

i'm one of those young guys in age, but my orthopedic surgeon calls me old man when i go in for visits.

i do believe in the power of proper warm ups, all though i don't like to stretch much before lifting, i fell it robs me of a little bit of stability. i'll do a good 3-4 warm up sets with different light exercises depending upon what i'm going to do that day. and i try to ignore my workout partner when i know i'm close to an injury and he wants to push me to do more weight.

[thick]

the timing of this post is perfect. I was just thinking about this on the way to work this morning. Last night I lifted and really didn't warm up hardly at all. I have had numerous nagging injuries but nothing serious. After reading about injuries fellow meso bros have had(especially hogg's) I feel lucky that I have never had a serious surgery requiring injury. I am making a commitment to warm up more and if I am in a hurry my w/o will have to suffer rather than risk injury. If i tore a pec or something similar I would be in deep shit. No ins. wouldn't be able to work etc. I am not getting paid to lift so it is time to be smarter. Sorry to hijack this hogg but u r right on

[morepain]

[quote=Hogg]I think i've finally identified a trend that nearly guarantees injury each time the circumstances line up.

I have the same problem, after 20 years of weight training warmup is crucial. But i do the same stupid shit, i go to the gym and if it is crowded and i don't feel relaxed i will just go haphazardly into my workout like a dumbass and inevitably end up with an injury. You would think we could figure it out, not to mention how you feel after a good thirty minute stretching session, it really helps me to relive the tension of the day and mentally prepare for the strain of the weights. I guess that is why i skip it when the gym is crowded, it is harder to relax and and relieve the tension when idiots are stepping over you when you are trying to stretch. That and i am about as flexible as the average 2 x 4 which can make it unappealing, but also makes it that much more important.