TheFinalSprint.com - Track & Field, Marathons, Racing News, Training Advice, Elite Athlete Blogs, Interviews, Podcasts, Videos and More! - TheFinalSprint.com is the Premier Destination for Track & Field, Marathon, Cross Country, Olympic and Road Racing Enthusiasts.

Lead Stories: Friday, December 5, 2008

Preventing Muscle Soreness

Posted November 28th, 2007 at 7:22 PM by Shannon Clark

Section: Health & Fitness, Exercise

Anytime you place an overloading stimulus on the muscle tissue (such as when you lift heavy weights), you are going to create tiny little tears in the muscle that basically are breaking down the fibres. When given rest, the muscles will rebuild themselves, growing back stronger so they can be more resilient in the future.

Along with this muscle tearing process, one thing that is often experienced by individuals is a tendency to feel some muscular soreness about a day or so after heavy lifting or strong cardio workouts. While you do not need to feel muscular soreness in order for it to have been a good workout, the two are often experienced together.

Read the rest of this entry at our partner site: HesFit.com

One comment, add yours | Permalink

Finding a quality physical therapist

Posted August 22nd, 2007 at 4:05 PM by Julie R. Keen

Section: Running & Training, Injury & Rehab, Health & Fitness, Injury & Rehab

It is hard, at times, to find a quality physical therapist. As a practicing physical therapist for nearly 15 years, I have heard some incredible horror stories of people going to “PT” only to receive a hot pack, ultrasound, and a sheet of exercises. The therapist might have had 5 or 6 other clients being treated simultaneously, and the new client had a barely 5 minute “consultation” before having the hot pack slapped on.

Of course there are also great therapists out there who can eliminate a chronic pain after only 2 or 3 sessions. Those who can explain and teach proper body mechanics in ways that even the most uncoordinated clients can understand and put into practice. So how does the average person find the latter and not fall into the former?

Read the rest of this article at our partner site: HesFit.com

Comment on this post | Permalink

Massage offers benefits for athletes and exercisers at all levels

Posted July 17th, 2007 at 9:00 AM by Bridget Sullivan

Section: Running & Training, Injury & Rehab, Health & Fitness, Injury & Rehab

Summer is the season of swimming, tennis, and being outdoors. But along with summer sports, the season brings sprained ankles, pulled muscles and shin splints. This summer, and all year round, athletes of all levels are turning to massage therapy to combat these mishaps.

Once considered an alternative medicine, massage has staked its claim to the mainstream. Americans make about 114 million visits to massage therapists each year, and spend about $6 billion total. Moreover, the American Massage Therapy Association reports that 2 million more people sought out massage therapy in 2005 than in 2004.

Robin Helton, massage therapy department chairperson instructor at Everest College, in Burr Ridge, Ill., says that the massage industry’s huge growth is about more than just our nation’s need for relaxation. “Medical professionals now recognize the benefits of massage, not only in alleviating certain medical conditions, but also as a form of preventative medicine, and a key to overall well-being.”

Massage Offers a Range of Benefits for Even Casual Exercisers

Read the rest of this article at our partner site: HerActiveLife.com

2 comments, add yours | Permalink

TFS Review: TP Total Package (Ball, Footballer, Block & Quadballer)

Posted May 29th, 2007 at 10:20 AM by Paul Petersen

Section: Gear & Apparel, Miscellaneous, Sports Medicine, Special Features, Health & Fitness, Injury & Rehab, TFS Reviews

These past two seasons have been tough ones for me. Runners’ knee in both knees, lower back pain, SI joint pain, plantar fasciitis, and a groin strain had brought my running to a grind (literally) during 2005 and the first half of 2006. After months of not running, and enduring physical therapy, chiropractic, and massage therapy, I was finally back up and running by September of 2006.

I noticed that deep tissue massage was particularly effective in accelerating healing, but at $40/hr, I could not afford to do it more than once or twice a month. Then I discovered Trigger Point Technologies and their massage products through injury message boards and word of mouth. I figured that the TP Massage set would be good investment, since I could use it every day at no cost after the initial purchase.

If it holds to even half of the claims of the website and of other peoples’ reviews, it would be worth the money by helping to keep me injury-free and feeling good during and after runs (Some of the before mentioned reviews of this self-massage toolset are by Linda Gallo, SNEWS, and active.com). Reviews such as these, plus the product’s informative website, convinced me to shell out the cash to buy it myself and add it to my arsenal of injury-prevention and running maintenance tools.

I have been using the massage tools and techniques faithfully every day now for the last 8 weeks. The tools of the “Total Package” (Pictured above) include the Ball, the Footballer and Block, and the Quadballer.
Read the rest of this entry »

Comment on this post | Permalink

Illiotibial band (ITB) stretches to help treat Runner’s Knee

Posted December 16th, 2006 at 11:30 AM by Jim Fortner

Section: Running & Training, Injury & Rehab, Health & Fitness, Injury & Rehab

Jim Fortner is a weekly, guest contributor to TFS. Also check out his own personal running and advice site: “Jim2’s Running Page”.

Any treatment for Runners Knee, or inflammation of the illiotibial band (pictured to the right), must be done in conjunction with stretching of the ITB and massage.

I use two ITB stretches … one for the knee and one for the hip. They were recommended to me by the Union Memorial Hospital’s Sports Medicine Clinic in Baltimore, MD the two times I went to them with ITB problems.

The ITB stretch for the knee is simply cross-legged toe touches. Stand erect and cross your legs just below the knee with your right leg in front, your right foot on the outside of your left foot and your toes pointed forward. Then, bend from the waist to try to touch your toes.
Read the rest of this entry »

2 comments, add yours | Permalink

TFS Review: BodyGlide Muscle Formula

Posted December 14th, 2006 at 6:00 AM by Trish Monks

Section: Running & Training, Injury & Rehab, Gear & Apparel, Miscellaneous, Sports Medicine, Special Features, Health & Fitness, Injury & Rehab, TFS Reviews

TFS makes every effort to be unbiased and objective when performing product reviews; often doing double-blind tests to ensure such high standards. However, it should be noted up-front that our team, in general, does not find muscle/heat rubs to be the most effective means of treating muscle soreness, pain, fatigue, etc.

Product: BodyGlide Muscle Formula
Price: $7.99 (1.3 oz), $12.99 (2.5 oz)
Rating: Average 5.85/10.0
Pros: Easy to apply; water & sweat resistant
Cons: Requires a lot to feel an effect; the smell
Overall: If you usually use heat rubs like Icy Hot, then this is a better choice. Otherwise, you’re better off using some combination of massage, heat/ice, stretching and The Stick to treat sore muscles.

Note: Although this review is authored by just one of TFS’s team members, it reflects the cumulative results of the entire groups’ trial.

Effectiveness - 5.5 - Muscle Formula is marketed as being able to help treat and/or address minor pain and soreness. It also claims to aid in the healing process and to improve circulation & muscle and joint flexibility.
Read the rest of this entry »

2 comments, add yours | Permalink