Posted by: Leona
Increased Injury, Decreased Flexibility!! - 10/18/09 02:14 PM
Hi All!
So, I'm 24 and I've been training for just under 5 years in Shotkan karate. Up til about 3 months ago I have been blessed with great flexibility and have gone though my karate life basically injury free (a bit of the usual knocks but nothing thats taken more than a few weeks to heal)
However, the last 3 months my flexibility has dropped a lot (Im struggling to touch my toes which as never been a problem before!) and I've been injury ridden now getting pain in my ankle, hip, elbow and neck/shoulder and lower back (!) I do take joint care suppliments once a day.
I am due for my shodan grading in march so I have stepped up my training a bit but not so much that I am overdoing it, certainly no more than I have previously, currently I am training 4 times a week in karate (average about 2 hours a session) swimming twice a week (I picked swimming as it is low impact) and playing squash once a week (not so low impact but good fun!)
So... after a long introduction, what I really wanted to ask was: is this drop in flexibility normal at my age or after doing ma's for 5 yeard? and has anybody got any good tips to combat it?! and really the same with the aches and pains?
Any help and advice would be hugely appreciated as I love training and I don't want injuries and the like getting in the way! Thanks!
Lxx
So, I'm 24 and I've been training for just under 5 years in Shotkan karate. Up til about 3 months ago I have been blessed with great flexibility and have gone though my karate life basically injury free (a bit of the usual knocks but nothing thats taken more than a few weeks to heal)
However, the last 3 months my flexibility has dropped a lot (Im struggling to touch my toes which as never been a problem before!) and I've been injury ridden now getting pain in my ankle, hip, elbow and neck/shoulder and lower back (!) I do take joint care suppliments once a day.
I am due for my shodan grading in march so I have stepped up my training a bit but not so much that I am overdoing it, certainly no more than I have previously, currently I am training 4 times a week in karate (average about 2 hours a session) swimming twice a week (I picked swimming as it is low impact) and playing squash once a week (not so low impact but good fun!)
So... after a long introduction, what I really wanted to ask was: is this drop in flexibility normal at my age or after doing ma's for 5 yeard? and has anybody got any good tips to combat it?! and really the same with the aches and pains?
Any help and advice would be hugely appreciated as I love training and I don't want injuries and the like getting in the way! Thanks!
Lxx