stretching GIVES me shin splints

Psilocybe · Post by **Psilocybe** » 30 Dec 2006 17:04

When I first started footbag I was stretching a lot. Like my hamstrings - I could touch my whole palm to the ground while keeping my legs straight. Back then I got shin splints a lot too!

Eventually I started forgetting to stretch and the shin splints slowly went away. Things were going well.

Well, one day I remembered to stretch and immediately after playing I felt that familiar pain in my leg! This was too much of a correlation to ignore.

I think I was overstretching too much. So take it easy - or only stretch a little afterward. Shin splints really arn't a problem for me anymore.

beenjammin · Post by **beenjammin** » 30 Dec 2006 20:48

Do some shin splint exercises, and continue stretching. Flexibility is important, and so is muscle strength, you must a proper balance.

sampotter · Post by **sampotter** » 02 Jan 2007 06:46

I don't stretch either. I used to stretch a ton before and after I played. I did yoga, stretched a ton of different muscles, and was really diligent and consistent. Then I read some post Cameron Kennedy made giving some reasons why he doesn't stretch, so I decided to try playing without stretching. I went from playing twice a week with some pain to playing 4-5 times a week (two hour solo sessions, mind you) with basically no pain. I'm not advocating not stretching, I'm just saying that stretching is not always the best thing. I suggest you go and find the original post, it was an interesting theory.

brian relly · Post by **brian relly** » 02 Jan 2007 07:23

sampotter wrote:I don't stretch either. I used to stretch a ton before and after I played. I did yoga, stretched a ton of different muscles, and was really diligent and consistent. Then I read some post Cameron Kennedy made giving some reasons why he doesn't stretch, so I decided to try playing without stretching. I went from playing twice a week with some pain to playing 4-5 times a week (two hour solo sessions, mind you) with basically no pain. I'm not advocating not stretching, I'm just saying that stretching is not always the best thing. I suggest you go and find the original post, it was an interesting theory.

Tsiangkun wrote:
sampotter wrote:Why do some players wear their knees down before their hips, and visa versa?

My theory, Because they stretch. Stretching provides additional range of motion to the joints. There is no muscular controll over this additional range of motion. With each impact the joint is sliding uncontrollably. Over time, this becomes a chronic injury, because they keep stretching to prevent the injury.

People try to substitute flexibility gained through stretching for range of motion gained through increased muscular development.

Be honest here, Are most footbag injuries joint related,or pulled muscles ?
those with greater flexibility actually experience more injury, particularly if the excessive flexibility compromises joint integrity Surberg 1983; Jones 1997

I wonder what % of people on the injured players roster stretch regularly.

I did the same thing as Sam, with similar results. As long as you *thoroughly* warm up and cool down, you will be fine. Oh and decent form helps too. I can't remember the last time I had shin splints.

PegLegHolly · Post by **PegLegHolly** » 02 Jan 2007 08:08

if you stretch incorrectly that can cause a shit ton of problems. youre not supposed to over stretch either. its kind of just to get your muscles loosened up and your heart racing...

jump roping is a good warm up exercise and it works out the shin splints.

Senor Grommet · Post by **Senor Grommet** » 03 Jan 2007 15:53

haha, i find Tsiangkun's argument to be completely bullshit, unless I totally misaunderstood it.

Stretching provides additional range of motion to the joints. There is no muscular controll over this additional range of motion.

This is incorrect statement, unless it refers to muscular control over the adt'l range of movement achieved in one day. Over a period of weeks/months, muscular control over additional range of movement is definitely achieved.