Prevention of Sports Injuries
Strength training prepares the body for recreational and competitive sport. It creates the basis for healthy sport.
Most sports injuries are the result of strains that occur when the body is tired or lacks fitness. Strength training improves performance. It improves the ability of muscles to protect the joints and so reduces the risk of injury. Strength training programs must of course include the main muscle groups required for a particular sport but they should also include muscle groups that do less work. This ensures that these muscle groups keep pace with the strength of the stronger muscles. For example, almost all sports require strong and stable torso muscles. Arms and legs can only exert a force against an external resistance if the torso provides firm counter support. Without adequate muscle tone, it is impossible to exploit the full potential of arms or legs.
Almost every sport has its own typical injuries and manifestations of strain. Targeted strength training can remedy this.
With endurance sports, certain muscle groups are typically under strain for hours at a time and patterns of movement are unchanging. Long-distance runners can suffer leg strain if hip muscles are weak. Painful conditions, such as shin splints can be helped by strengthening the tibialis anterior muscles. Cyclists often suffer painful strain injuries, particular in the knee and neck. If riding off-road, strong torso, arm and shoulder muscles are even more important.
Golfers should pay particular attention to deep back extensors, oblique muscles of the abdomen and forearm muscles. Research by sports scientists has shown that strain injuries are most likely to affect the lumbar spine, elbows and wrists. Strength training combined with the right technique can help overcome these problems (Suckel 2002).
Optimum preparation for all types of sport
Our training builds up muscles, tendons, tendon attachments, bones, ligaments and cartilage and protects you from over straining yourself. As it trains both agonist and antagonist (the partners in the movement), it prevents the development of the muscular imbalances that are detrimental to health. It ensures that whatever the sport, strength, endurance and coordination work well together. If you want to take up a particular sport, we recommend doing 6 months’ strength training either as preparation or in tandem with it. We have programs for all popular sports i.e. Running, Golf, Bicycle.