Now is a Great Time to Treat Your Niggle!

Race cancellations and group training cancellations as result of the current pandemic, have changed the current outlook for endurance sports. Most endurance athletes are trying to stay in shape and maintain a good mileage base, but are not currently training to compete. Without the threat of interrupting a training schedule, now is a great time to treat those little irritations and chronic niggles* that plague us during training.

Modified rest and breaks from training and racing can cause F.O.M.O. (fear of missing out). We have a fear that if we decrease intensity, take time off, or go on vacation that we will lose our strength, speed or progress. Periods of time off or rest is a critical component of long term training especially if there is nagging injury at bay!

Remember, rest days are when the magic happens: The Magic of Rest Day in Training. During a rest, the body makes biochemical changes at the cellular level; it recovers and reforms. Combine a relative rest phase with a physical therapy regimen to treat your chronic niggle or injury, and you will be in better shape than ever when it is time to resume training intensity and volume. Tiger Woods (2018) and Peyton Manning (2011) are both great examples of athletes who shattered their previous career records after injury comebacks. Magic can happen after rest and recovery.

We can enhance the magic with Physical Therapy. Depending on the factors and reason for rest, PT may include a combination of ART and/or dry needling combined with some functional movement and a prescription for reduced mileage (or cross training) workouts at home. The key is to focus on the stressed body part, and strengthen and heal that particular area while maintaining overall strength. Each case is unique, and the first step is to schedule an evaluation with Coach Amy to have your niggle or injury assessed.

*A niggle is a real word! Niggle = something that causes slight but persistent annoyance, discomfort, or anxiety.