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suffering the Stick (Read 175 times)

lagwagon


    So I'm working, very slowly, through a calf strain.  Havent run in nearly 6 weeks.  Its not a classical "heart attack" / tennis leg knot, seems deeper and less focal, but reasonably consistent with a soleus strain.

     

    I bought The Stick, and worked my calf just like the sales guy at the LRS showed me.  Felt good at the moment, but holy crap was I in a lot of a pain the next day.  I worked it out pretty hard, for 30-60 seconds on the inside and outside of my calf, and could barely walk for the next couple days.  (I was overseas and in so much pain I went to a clinic fearing DVT; luckily this was r/o with d-dimer test).   Is post-stick pain in any way normal?

     

    Just curious if anyone experienced this...I'm starting to feel better and would like to build some self massage into the warm-up (based on reading), but hesitant to hit the stick again.

    zonykel


      I don't think you're supposed to use the stick on an injured muscle. Sounds like you aggravated the injury.


      Sultan of slug

        Just saw this and figured I'd let you know you're not alone. My calves are not injured (AT issues for me), but every time I've massaged my calves hard with the Stick, it seems like they have more knots the next day. I'm not sure if I'm doing it wrong or what.

         

        Anyway, my experience isn't very informative for you, but at least you know there's at least one other person out there who suffers post-Stick calf pain.

          Time to copy and paste a great calf article I found a few years ago.  Doing this throughout the day has been a life/calf saver, even for a calf that's strained.

           

          ------------------

          Oh, My aching calves

          My calve injuries must have been God's way of showing me that somewhere along the way, I messed up. These were my most secretive feelings for many years. I shared them with no one, for no one could understand the emotional distress associated with chronic calf injuries.

          After 15 years as a sportsmedicine specialist in which I'd treated hundreds of runners with various running. I finally was introduced to a solution to my calf problems. If tightness, soreness, slow recovery, or muscle pulls is also your albatross in life, you may want to read this.

          The calf is one of the most used muscle groups in the runner. Along with the hamstring, calf problems afflict almost all runners at one time or another. The role the calf plays in the running gait makes it highly vulnerable to tightness, stiffness, tendinitis, and chronic pulls. To the runner who suffers from this syndrome, running can become a not-so-favorite pastime laced long periods of injury and frustration.

          Calf problems are usually due to micro-traumas that occur with every run. A typical muscle that is exercised multiple times a week is injured on the microscopic level with every workout. These micro-injuries require to heal. As the muscle is used and the microtraumas occur, an inherit tightening or contracture takes place.

          This is the body's attempt to protect the muscle to allow the necessary time for recovery. The downside of this is built in protective mechanisms that there is a reduced blood flow to the muscle, this reduced blood flow furthers the contracture or tightening.

           

          This cycle usually leads to injury or chronic tightness and stiffness that limit a runner with regard to mileage and hard workouts. AS soon as the muscle tightness is mildly improved, most runners feel the need to get back out on the road or track as quickly as possible. This is taking a muscle that is just starting to recover and asking it to perform when it is not capable of doing so and the cycle continues.

          The tightening that occurs with constant running has to be addressed on a daily basis in an effort to resolve this problem. While most sportsmendicine specialist and coaches recommend a detailed stretching program, stretching alone will not solve this condition.

           

          The primary problem is that the internal pressure of the muscle is so great (due to the tightening/protective mechanism of the body) that new blood, which is vital for reparation and recovery, cannot enter the muscle. External pressure, greater than the protective internal muscular pressure, has to be applied to the calf muscles in an effort to relax the muscle and encourage a copious, nutrient-rich blood flow necessary for proper food and oxygen to the muscle.

           

          There are three options with regard to employing the necessary treatment to the calves to combat tightness, stiffness, and injuries. The first is to use your thumbs in applying an upward stroke to the calves, starting just above the Achilles up to the back of the knee. The key is to get into calves with enough pressure to help relax the muscle and encourage blood flow into the muscle. The runner should apply 20-30 strokes on both calves.

           

          The second option is to work with a fellow runner and apply the necessary treatment to each other. This is certainly easier, however, another partner is not always available. The final option is to use a tool that allows runners to treat themselves, such as The Stick®. This provides the necessary treatment, is extremely easy to employ, and can be done in 30-45 seconds.

           

          In order to succeed with this approach, muscles must be treated multiple times per day. The treatment cannot become time consuming, since none of us have the time for a lengthy treatment. Again, the treatment could be done in as little as 30-45 seconds.

           

          The most important time for application is just prior to going out for a run, with the second most important being after a run. Ideally, five to six treatments per day will begin to provide the necessary influx of new blood to the damaged, tightened muscle. This will expedite the repair and relaxation process that will allow the calf muscle to undergo the stresses of running without the residual buildup of waste products, toxins, and tightening that is all part of the normal cycle of muscular use and repair.

           

          It is critical to have the muscle in a totally relaxed state while treating it. When sitting down, life the thigh off the floor with the foot free hanging. Let the toe point downward. This will allow the calf muscle to be relaxed. This position is also possible when laying down. When standing put the foot on a stool or chair and make sure the knee is behind the heel instead of ahead of the toe. This will allow for maximum relaxation when applying pressure.

           

          Finally, treatment should not only be done when pain, tightness, or injury is present. This treatment should become a habit for all runners, since calf problems are truly in epidemic proportions. The calf undergoes excessive stress and recovery support with this treatment will provide the insurance you need to stay on the road instead of injured list.

            Thanks, Tom.

            "If you have the fire, run..." -John Climacus

            stadjak


            Interval Junkie --Nobby

              Bookmarked.

              2021 Goals: 50mpw 'cause there's nothing else to do