Muscle Pulls ad nauseam?

Triathlon Forum
1

I decided to play some tennis in the off-season to add some diversity to my training. (I’m a bit burned out from the long season.) Anyway, after 3 weeks of tennis I’ve had two soleus/gastrocnemius pulls, one sprained ankle, and one groin pull! I haven’t been this injured since I stupidly played one season of high school football. I can run 20 miles but I can’t play 2 hours of tennis? What the hell is happening to my old body? Is sprinting that much different from just plain running? I chase down a few tennis balls and I’m limping around like a polio victim. Bloody hell…

So, is this about stretching, accomodating my old body to sprinting, low magnesium, or sheer stupidity for thinking I could go back to playing tennis after 30 years off? (I got through college on a tennis scholarship.)

I need help. And I’m bored as hell. Now I can’t even run or bike 'cause I’m limping around the house or sitting on the couch like an oaf “resting”.

-Robert

2

quick change of direction, start/stop, sprints etc are a far far cry from the repetitive motion of running, cycling and swimming. Altho all three of those sports will increase your aerobic conditioning-- none of them will assist you in the sport of tennis…

For someone like you who was/is REALLY good at tennis it is hard to come back easy–you are used to a certain level of play–but better for you body to start small

injuries SUCK!

3

Excellent point, actually. Very insightful. I was a much better tennis player than triathlete, so I expect a certain level of competence I don’t now possess. Also, I was much better in my mind than in reality. :slight_smile:

Anyway, I guess for the next week I’ll be swimming a lot and doing some upper body weight lifting once I get off the couch. Screw this though…

-Robert

4

Anyway, I guess for the next week I’ll be swimming a lot and doing some upper body weight lifting once I get off the couch. Screw this though…

I know-- i have tried to keep playing tennis thoughout the training season-- not very good at keeping up the practice altho my game has improved as it just isn’t as important any more (more relaxed on court)…will have to give it up all together if i decide to do IMFL '06…will make THAT decision next weekend when I watch the suffering! :slight_smile:

5

In December of '04 I was ramping up for a spring marathon & laying a base for a summer IM, and a friend of mine, who’s a personal trainer, said he wanted to train me. I was like, alrighty.

He had me doing plyometrics, which I’d never done before. I’d always read about it, and wanted to try it, to just add that little extra bit to my training. I read that it’d make me more powerful. Sounded like a good idea at the time…

What I chose to ignore, was the fact that I’d NEVER DONE IT BEFORE. And to do it for the 1st time, in my mid 30’s, (when I don’t bounce back from things as well as I used to in my 20’s - DAMMIT), might call for a conservative approach.

I couldn’t walk for days afterwards. I was like, well, CLEARLY I don’t use my glutes or adductors, (inner thighs) AT ALL when I train for tri, or they wouldn’t HURT SO FREAKING MUCH!!!

What some nice, objective person pointed out was that - duh, everything done in tri training is done in a forward, linear motion. Whereas, in plyometrics, (and TENNIS), the motion is side to side, & all over. You’re using your bod totally diff’rently. There’s gonna be repurcussions - especially if you make a long session out of it the 1st time back.

I decided to nix the plyometrics - I ask enuf of my bod as it is.

But good luck w/ the tennis. I guess just build slowly, just like in tri. Even though you have that 30 year old base - looks like you need to reintroduce your bod a bit slower than you thought.

Get yourself to a hot tub!!!

6

I’ve learned the joys of RICE in the last few weeks. Ice in particular. But, icing every two hours is such a drag…

I’m going to a pre-stretching warm-up program when I go back. In particular, I see that calf stretches and hamstring stretches are important. I’ve lost a lot of resiliency in my legs over the years. Very tight…

Plyometrics looks like tennis but harder. http://www.brianmac.demon.co.uk/plymo.htm I usually cycle 6 miles to the tennis courts and thought that was enough of a warm-up. I’m going to do at least 30 minutes of stretching from now off after I cycle.

I’m also wondering if I’m getting enough magnesium, potassium, and sodium. I eat enough bananas to support a small zoo so I can’t imagine my potassium being low…

Thanks for the response, deb.

-Robert

7

After the 1st few days of injury, no need for ice anymore - that’s just for when it’s acute…

Anti-inflammatories, mite help, too, if your tummy can handle them.

And more magnesioum can’t hurt, so why not give it a try. I read apples are a good source.

Good luck. Hope you feel better soon!!! :slight_smile: