Challenging yourself to a Great Run? It’s important to properly prepare and rehabilitate yourself following injury to help you go the distance. PT, Toby Garbett, sports psychologist, Dr Victor Thompson and physiotherapist, Sammy Margo share their tips to get you prepared, physically and mentally, for any event.
PREHAB
Warm-ups work
Cold muscles lead to more chance of injury so it’s crucial to take time to do a proper warm up. Focus on muscles you will be using doing a range of dynamic, stretches including leg swings, deep lunges and knee lifts, and don’t forget about your arms. Toby Garbett, PT.
Cold muscles lead to more chance of injury so it’s crucial to take time to do a proper warm up. Focus on muscles you will be using doing a range of dynamic, stretches including leg swings, deep lunges and knee lifts, and don’t forget about your arms. Toby Garbett, PT.
Carbs and fluids
You need carbohydrates for exercise. I have porridge with milk and carb-rich snacks like bananas. It’s also crucial to stay hydrated so sip little and often. Try a sweet squash and add a pinch of salt to make your own electrolyte drink on a hot day. Toby Garbett, PT.
You need carbohydrates for exercise. I have porridge with milk and carb-rich snacks like bananas. It’s also crucial to stay hydrated so sip little and often. Try a sweet squash and add a pinch of salt to make your own electrolyte drink on a hot day. Toby Garbett, PT.
Work out why you’re training
Is it to beat a goal time, to raise money for a deserving cause, to prove something to yourself or something else? When you work out your mantra, make a note of it and remind yourself of this in order to stay focused. Dr Victor Thompson, Sports psychologist.
Is it to beat a goal time, to raise money for a deserving cause, to prove something to yourself or something else? When you work out your mantra, make a note of it and remind yourself of this in order to stay focused. Dr Victor Thompson, Sports psychologist.
Extract the evidence that you are ready
Perfect preparation doesn’t happen. Instead of picking holes in your prep, write down the reasons you are ready – the training you have completed, the distances, the speed or pace. Having this bank will allow you to turn any negative thoughts into positives when you may need a pick me up. Dr Victor Thompson, Sports psychologist.
Perfect preparation doesn’t happen. Instead of picking holes in your prep, write down the reasons you are ready – the training you have completed, the distances, the speed or pace. Having this bank will allow you to turn any negative thoughts into positives when you may need a pick me up. Dr Victor Thompson, Sports psychologist.
REHAB
Slow it down
It’s important to slow down gradually when exercising to allow your heart rate to drop at a good pace. Follow this with static stretches, focusing on trouble spots like calves, quads and hamstrings to flush out the lactic acid in your muscles. Sammy Margo, physiotherapist.
It’s important to slow down gradually when exercising to allow your heart rate to drop at a good pace. Follow this with static stretches, focusing on trouble spots like calves, quads and hamstrings to flush out the lactic acid in your muscles. Sammy Margo, physiotherapist.
Injuries can happen
If you experience an injury, follow the P.R.I.C.E. (protect, rest, ice, compress and elevate) method. Cryotherapy, or cold therapy, makes blood vessels contract, which suppresses inflammation and tissue breakdown so use a cooling product regularly in the first 72 hours. Once the inflammation has subdued, continue the healing process by applying heat to help realign muscle fibres. Sammy Margo, physiotherapist.
If you experience an injury, follow the P.R.I.C.E. (protect, rest, ice, compress and elevate) method. Cryotherapy, or cold therapy, makes blood vessels contract, which suppresses inflammation and tissue breakdown so use a cooling product regularly in the first 72 hours. Once the inflammation has subdued, continue the healing process by applying heat to help realign muscle fibres. Sammy Margo, physiotherapist.
Stay warm
Approximately 72 hours after an injury, it’s important to rehab soft tissue fully, helping you go the distance. Try a heat product which combines massage with heat therapy to help realign muscle fibres and break down adhesions and scar tissue. Sammy Margo, physiotherapist.
Approximately 72 hours after an injury, it’s important to rehab soft tissue fully, helping you go the distance. Try a heat product which combines massage with heat therapy to help realign muscle fibres and break down adhesions and scar tissue. Sammy Margo, physiotherapist.
Don’t get down
If the event you have trained for is over, it’s common to feel post-event blues. Don’t make it worse by getting down on yourself, for being down. After a week or so of rest, get into training again but mix it up to keep it fresh. Do hill reps, speed work, sports with friends or whatever it might be to keep it interesting and novel. Dr Victor Thompson, sports psychologist.
If the event you have trained for is over, it’s common to feel post-event blues. Don’t make it worse by getting down on yourself, for being down. After a week or so of rest, get into training again but mix it up to keep it fresh. Do hill reps, speed work, sports with friends or whatever it might be to keep it interesting and novel. Dr Victor Thompson, sports psychologist.
Give your muscles a boost by incorporating Deep Heat Muscle Massage Roll-on Lotion into your pre-performance routine to help loosen and soften tight, tense muscles. Heat improves blood flow which can improve muscle flexibility and performance.
If you do become injured, follow the PRICE method, (Protect, Rest Ice, Compress, and Elevate). Supplement this process by using a cooling product such as Deep Freeze Pain Relief Glide on Gel for up to 72 hours. This will help to reduce pain, swelling and aid the recovery process. Then switch back to heat to help rehab muscles.
If you do become injured, follow the PRICE method (Protect, Rest Ice, Compress, and Elevate).
