Adjusting Weights Volume During Injury

[gf_200]

In Speed Trap Charlie tells how Ben in 1987/88 pre-season, unable to sprint due to a hamstring injury, continued with an extensive weight training program.

Charlie, how was the volume of Ben's weight training program adjusted to allow for lack of sprint training stimulus.

Forum, how should a weights program be adjusted during such a period of injury?And more generally, what can be prescribed to allow an athlete to come back from injury as close to 100% fitness as possible?

Weights? Maintain Tempo Volume (permitting)? Upper Body Circuits? Abs. ? Thoughts?

[Flash]

I think we could learn a lot from this discussion. Charlie touched on this briefly at the NC seminar. I don't think people realize how bad Ben's hamstring injury was. I certainly didn't. According to Charlie, not only could Ben not sprint, he couldn't drive his car or barely walk up stairs. That's how bad it was. So Ben had to maintain fitness and power with virtually no lower body training. I think if we can learn how to deal with that kind of extreme situation, less serious injuries will seem much easier to work around.

[dlive11]

The coach & athlete have a variety of solutions to solve this problem. Different routes include working on problem areas, continuing to build your strengths, and focus on core development. As we have stated in the past, pool work is generally an effective modality that simulates energy system demands placed on the body during sprinting. Also, if an athlete is overfat/weight, a coach can introduce more circuit type work to cut into this. Weights should be kept up to focus on keeping maximal strength as well as maintaining freshness of the CNS.

[dlive11]

Forgot to mention the use of EMS during this time off.

[ob_darren]

I am wondering if one could perform upper body hypertrophy work during an injury for later strength gains ?

Prehaps some of the other senior members may be able to chime in on this. It is a very important issue as injury will affect an athlete at least once in his/her career and it is very important to be able to come back strong.
Many athletes waste time when they are out through injury and a whole years training can go down the tubes.

[dlive11]

Why go into hypertrophy unless it is needed? What about maximal or power work?

[gf_200]

^ bump

Charlie/ Dcw, great if you could share any thoughts on the above.

[no23]

A number of points ....

It obviously depends on the type and degree of injury - but assuming a severe HS injury I would argue for the need to avoid driving.
Some well known UK soccer players have been given specially designed car seats and changed to automatic transmissions to prevent periods of static contraction that might inflict stress on the HS muslces and leave them mmore fatiqued and susceptibile to injury.

I would agree - why use hyper? - I would use a strength approach as the increased weight would not be benefical as a return to running resumes.

Thought...
Perhaps if possible use movements that may demand isometric strength?

It's something I have spent a little time thinking about and used briefly the last time I strained my HS.

Take the Standing Upright Row - in order to hold a steady position the core and legs must be strong and stable and the isometric strength being used here could be of some benefit to the HS ???

(Of course use good hydrotherapy protocols after to minimise inflamation --)

[gf_200]

Interesting you should mention UpRows - I was thinking of Bent Over Barbell Rows for the exact same purpose. Depending on degree of injury, though, may be too much...

[no23]

I did use those later, but with a heavy weight the stress can be little too much on the HS, especially lifting for strength, but with a light weight might be good, again the key factor i would imagine would be recovery and ice.