Toll Free 1-877-626-4500
Quick Links Home
The Need For Speed
It is critically important to apply ice and compression immediately after an injury. Studies show that recovery from an injury is directly related to how soon ice and compression are applied. More Ice Therapy facts »
The Injury Layoff - Running Injuries
Category: Running & Marathons
Nov 3, 2005
Runners fear anything that forces them to take a break from running--colds, injuries, vacations, work and family demands--you name it. But when you are sick or hurt, it can alter your running form. Taking a break becomes a necessity. Soft tissue injuries such as muscle-tendon strains, ligament sprains, and other overtraining injuries occur often among runners. Without a correct diagnosis and proper treatment they can result in long-term breaks in training and competition. Injuries can become chronic and impair or end your career. A constructive layoff can be the charm that keeps you running for life.
Why a Layoff Strikes Fear in a Runner
Stop running for just a week and your maximal aerobic capacity (max VO2), one of the indicators of performance potential, begins to decrease. Take two to three weeks off, and you'll add a minute or more to your 5K time. Stroke volume (the amount of blood pumped by the heart per beat) also wanes by 10% or more in just three weeks. Even your muscles' aerobic enzymes (key chemicals that help produce the energy you need to run) fall by 25% or more in 21 days. Muscle atrophy (decreased strength, flexibility and endurance) begins immediately. The psychological impact on a runner can be formidable.