An overuse injury is usually caused by repetitive activities done over a period of time. It is often caused by excessive and repetitive loading of a specific muscle which leads to gradual onset of symptoms.
During the early stages of the injury, there is little or no pain. The athlete might unknowingly continue to put pressure on the injured area. As a result, the area doesn’t get the necessary time to heal. Understanding the early signs of muscle strain and repetitive stress injuries is crucial for athletes and fitness enthusiasts to maintain optimal performance and muscle health.
What is the science behind it?
Back to basics – First we will try to understand this scientifically, a muscle is a group of muscle fibers (comprising cells) that contract together to produce force at the expense of energy.
Now, when we do any form of exercise (like running, weight lifting, etc.) muscle tissues help us in generating force during movements. Proportional to the load on the muscle, the body recruits new muscle tissues but this process is slow and needs time. If we keep overusing a particular muscle for long, without providing enough time to recruit new muscle tissue or recovery, this phenomenon may lead to inadequate recovery of muscle cells which in turn may result in an overuse injury.
From a corporate professional perspective, let’s consider a scenario: You are working in a team of 5 members. Now, your team gets a new project and the project requires at least 10 employees. Being the manager, you send a requirement to HR for hiring new talents, but this process will take some time to complete. Impatient to begin, you decide to start the project with the existing workforce (5 members).
What do you think about the outcome of this strategy?
Well, with a very high probability, it will lead to overburdening of your existing team members. Initially, you won’t realize the impact, but over a period of time the team’s efficiency will reduce drastically and in the worst-case scenario you may even derail the whole project.
This example illustrates the importance of understanding workload management and muscle recovery in sports and fitness, highlighting the risks associated with continuous muscle strain and the importance of adequate rest and rehabilitation for sustaining optimal performance.
Conclusion
Most of us don’t believe in magic but we dream about it. Sometimes, we stress out ourselves to get results in less time without providing enough time for our muscles to properly recover. This results in muscle overuse which in turn may lead to injury.
Let’s revisit the previous example – we didn’t want to wait for new hiring and overloaded our existing employees which resulted in a bad outcome, mirroring how overworking muscles can lead to adverse outcomes. The solution lies in giving our bodies the time they need – We should give enough time to our body to recruit new muscle tissues to handle the new load.
We can overcome the issue by smartly designing our training program, which we’ll discuss in our upcoming post. To ensure you’re on the right track with your training and recovery, consider consulting with Heathiersideup. Our certified coaches are here to provide expert guidance tailored to your needs, helping you achieve optimal muscle health and performance.
Don’t believe in magic, believe in the process, believe in science.
To alleviate muscle strain, stretching and ice application can be effective. However, if you experience additional symptoms such as numbness or impaired mobility, seeking prompt medical attention may be necessary.