sprained calf!

[jiujitsugirl]

Okay, I sprained my calf muscle. I was in Muay Thai and I jumped back on it and heard a tear and now can't put any weight on it at all. I'm icing it.

It seems like I'm always stiff these days and it keeps leading to injuries.

So, 2 needs for help...

One, any tips on fast recovery from sprains and

Two, why the F... am I so flipping stiff all the time, especially after leg day...I've been take BCAAs and they've helped a little, but I'm still stiff.

[Taekwondo Guy]

Originally Posted by jiujitsugirl

Okay, I sprained my calf muscle. I was in Muay Thai and I jumped back on it and heard a tear and now can't put any weight on it at all. I'm icing it.

if you heard a tear, its not a sprain! Watch out for swelling and discolouration... if you cant put your weight on it, go to the docs

Originally Posted by jiujitsugirl

It seems like I'm always stiff these days and it keeps leading to injuries.

Taekwondo leaves my legs and hips stiff for what seems 24/7... martial arts places a huge strain on your body

Originally Posted by jiujitsugirl

One, any tips on fast recovery from sprains

rest, ice, putting your feet up (rest) and a hot bath (rest)
get the reoccuring theme?!

Originally Posted by jiujitsugirl

Two, why the F... am I so flipping stiff all the time, especially after leg day...I've been take BCAAs and they've helped a little, but I'm still stiff.

leg days always kill me, due to my taekwondo i try and limit leg training as much as possible as i train 4 times a week TKD and 3-4 times in the gym.
If your stretching out post-leg workout then you can be making the micro tears in your muscles even worse.

[markkk]

jiujitsugirl-

Well, I cant really give you any useful advice, but I can give you a "man that sucks, I'm sorry".

Good Luck!

[jiujitsugirl]

Thanks for your sympathy and compassiong. And taekwando guy, I get the rest rest rest theme. Thanks. I actually can't stand so I have very little choice for now. I'm just lying here so I guess I'll be online more for awhile.

I've been going really heavy on leg day...here's the thing is I really need two days off after leg day, but I train six days a week....I don't know what to do...I feel like lifting helps my martial arts so much....but if I just have to lie on the damn couch all the time, that's not really helping anything. I've been on this goal to get really strong, I can squat 135 pounds six times now, and for a girl, 5'3" 114 pounds, I think that's pretty good. And it makes me really strong in martial arts, but I can't stand having to take time off for recovery...sigh...

Anyone know any ways to train when you can't move one leg?

[Taekwondo Guy]

REST!!!

Or make it worse.. your call

[jiujitsugirl]

I hate to rest...BAH!

But okay..

[narcsarge]

Originally Posted by Taekwondo Guy

if you heard a tear, its not a sprain! Watch out for swelling and discolouration... if you cant put your weight on it, go to the docs



Taekwondo leaves my legs and hips stiff for what seems 24/7... martial arts places a huge strain on your body


leg days always kill me, due to my taekwondo i try and limit leg training as much as possible as i train 4 times a week TKD and 3-4 times in the gym.
If your stretching out post-leg workout then you can be making the micro tears in your muscles even worse.

I agree with the this thread Jujitsugirl. If you felt it tear or heard it pop, seek medical advice from a sports medicine specialist. As for soreness, I am with TKD GUY. I am new to TKD and my hips, hip flexors, toes, glutes, calves, are always stiff. I think mostly because of the stretching and the new demands I have been placing on them. Now I do differ in the leg workouts. I am 44 so I train my legs on one day, by themselves, and it will be right before a 2 day lay off from any type of workout. I can not work legs on the same day I have TKD. I can not work legs the day before TKD! So I do not have many options. The last thing I want to do is fall over in class or rip something major. I have a Black Belt in R.I.C.E. with a stripe of Motrin!

[Taekwondo Guy]

Originally Posted by narcsarge

I have a Black Belt in R.I.C.E. with a stripe of Motrin!

lol made me laugh

[jiujitsugirl]

at least that's keeping me sort of sane, as I sit on the couch.

Maybe what I can do is train legs light one week and then train muay thai, then go heavy the next week and take two days off afterwards with maybe like a nice yoga class or a massage or something. Because this is two times this month (the other one less serious but still annoying) that I got a leg injury while recovering from leg day.

[narcsarge]

Make sure you get it checked out so you know how 'serious' it is. Once you can get healed make sure you bring it along slowly. Overuse injuries become chronic problems. Do full range of motion when exercising your calves. Be sure to warm them up fully and get them massaged once in a while. Nothing worse then causing permanent damage that will limit your range of motion.

[Taekwondo Guy]

imagine this scenario:

you rest for a few days, let it heal a bit, then train on it after that. The calf muscle is not healed 100% and you do further damage and your out with a probable more serious injury than what you started

check with the doctor, get the all clear, then ease yourself back into training.

i hate 'off-time' as much as you do but trying to work through it will not help the injury, only worsen it
I tried to work through a damaged hamstring, it took 10 weeks to heal as i was training and pulling it every week. If i took a week off i probably would of healed a lot quicker

[narcsarge]

Originally Posted by Taekwondo Guy

imagine this scenario:

you rest for a few days, let it heal a bit, then train on it after that. The calf muscle is not healed 100% and you do further damage and your out with a probable more serious injury than what you started

check with the doctor, get the all clear, then ease yourself back into training.

i hate 'off-time' as much as you do but trying to work through it will not help the injury, only worsen it
I tried to work through a damaged hamstring, it took 10 weeks to heal as i was training and pulling it every week. If i took a week off i probably would of healed a lot quicker

Right! Most strains or sprains, depending on severity and location, take 6 to 8 weeks to completely heal. Remember, this is just an average! Even a broken leg is out of cast in about 8 weeks but you don't run a marathon the next day. Take care of your injury first. Train what you can while tending to the injury. You can do this!

[jiujitsugirl]

I did chest and tris tomorrow...really light...right here in my living room. And I don't use my legs even a little bit?

Or does my body need that energy to heal...I think I'll ask the doctor tomorrow before I train....

[Taekwondo Guy]

as long as thats all your doing....chest / tri's.

glad your going to the doctor

[GoHardOrGoHome]

Everyone else hit the nail on the head. If you heard a pop or felt a tear or anything you'll probably need to get an MRI from the doctors..

Also side note:

Sprain = Ligaments

Strain = Muscles

[rednek555]

occasional breaks are good for the central nervous sustem recovery anyways, rest does suck but its a necessary component of any program, better to take a few extra days than a few weeks with a more severe injury

[jiujitsugirl]

but I'm still not working it out. I know I heard a tear, but it does seem to be coming around super fast....I am walking fine, but just resting and taking the week off. I plan to go back to jiujitsu, (which doesn't make you stand up) next week. This week I'm not doing any weight training, and I'm just walking and breathing deeply.

Thanks for all your support. It is really hard to rest at first, but then you do feel better after awhile.

I hear the part about going to get the MRI. I just...MRIs always mean trouble.

[narcsarge]

Originally Posted by jiujitsugirl

but I'm still not working it out. I know I heard a tear, but it does seem to be coming around super fast....I am walking fine, but just resting and taking the week off. I plan to go back to jiujitsu, (which doesn't make you stand up) next week. This week I'm not doing any weight training, and I'm just walking and breathing deeply.

Thanks for all your support. It is really hard to rest at first, but then you do feel better after awhile.

I hear the part about going to get the MRI. I just...MRIs always mean trouble.

Great that you are feeling better. Make sure you don't try to jump back into things too quickly. Endorphines from exercise are wonderful at making us do too much too soon. Just take care...

[jiujitsugirl]

I was so high on endorphines when I hurt my calf two weeks ago, oh my lord....
if people only new how high exercise can get you, they'd stop sitting on their couches doing doritos and television....