Tuesday, April 03, 2007
One More Opinion
Unexpected results from the gym workout – nerve injuries:
By Phillip T. Alden
San Mateo Daily Journal
For publication: February 27, 2007
If you're like me, a person in their early 40's who maintains a healthy lifestyle, then you're likely among the thousands of us filling every gym on the Peninsula to stay physically strong and healthy. The health movement among people in my generation has changed the nature of aging, yet there are many things that can injure us in our pursuit of good health and longevity; knee, shin and ankle injuries that stop runners for good; torn ligaments that have to be surgically repaired after a skating or skiing accident that puts us out of that game; or nerve and muscle injuries that restrict our use of free-weights and weight machines.
Among those in the last group who use free-weights and weight machines as part of their workout routine, nerve injuries in the back and neck are becoming more common. My pain specialist, (a doctor with a lot of additional training and knowledge,) has seen "an explosion" in the number of gym-related nerve injuries.
Part of the reason comes from the fact that it is extremely easy to cause one of these injuries, some of which become permanent. Many patients are not even aware of the source of their injury as the first symptoms can appear hours or even days after the damage was done. It's quite common for the exact cause of the injury to remain unknown.
And while free weights may cause some of these injuries they are not the only cause by any means. Nerve and disk injuries may occur in nearly every type of physical exercise with the possible exception of swimming.
And very often the root cause is the person pushing themselves too hard. It's common for people to take on more weight than they need to work a specific muscle group, or to overdo in repetitions, (number of movement sets.) Some people also exercise too much, going to the gym nearly every day. This goes for non-gym exercise as well. Most of us don't need to workout more than three-four times per week. The one exception to this is walking, which is an exercise that can be done on a daily basis.
In my case, whatever caused the initial injury requires daily use of pain-killing medication combined with trans-dermal patches that deliver a constant supply of Lidocaine to my lower back through the skin. (Lidocaine is a local numbing agent.) I cannot lift or carry very heavy or awkward things. There is no surgical option at the moment. And it all happened without my even knowing it.
The best way to prevent such injuries is to avoid putting yourself in situations that set up the potential for them. When working with free weights or free weight machines, for example, it's crucial that you isolate your back from the muscle group you are working. A good personal trainer can be an immense help to both beginners and gym veterans.
But even that is no guarantee. Even people who have worked extensively with personal trainers and physical therapists can injure themselves. Losing concentration, forgetting to fully stretch before starting a workout, and even a simple mistake can cause these types of injuries.
My pain specialist told me he has seen an exponential jump in these types of injuries, and that today they make up much of his practice. And while there are many potential causes, he claimed that "people pushing themselves too hard" is the prevalent reason his practice is growing.
Unexpected results from the gym workout – nerve injuries:
By Phillip T. Alden
San Mateo Daily Journal
For publication: February 27, 2007
If you're like me, a person in their early 40's who maintains a healthy lifestyle, then you're likely among the thousands of us filling every gym on the Peninsula to stay physically strong and healthy. The health movement among people in my generation has changed the nature of aging, yet there are many things that can injure us in our pursuit of good health and longevity; knee, shin and ankle injuries that stop runners for good; torn ligaments that have to be surgically repaired after a skating or skiing accident that puts us out of that game; or nerve and muscle injuries that restrict our use of free-weights and weight machines.
Among those in the last group who use free-weights and weight machines as part of their workout routine, nerve injuries in the back and neck are becoming more common. My pain specialist, (a doctor with a lot of additional training and knowledge,) has seen "an explosion" in the number of gym-related nerve injuries.
Part of the reason comes from the fact that it is extremely easy to cause one of these injuries, some of which become permanent. Many patients are not even aware of the source of their injury as the first symptoms can appear hours or even days after the damage was done. It's quite common for the exact cause of the injury to remain unknown.
And while free weights may cause some of these injuries they are not the only cause by any means. Nerve and disk injuries may occur in nearly every type of physical exercise with the possible exception of swimming.
And very often the root cause is the person pushing themselves too hard. It's common for people to take on more weight than they need to work a specific muscle group, or to overdo in repetitions, (number of movement sets.) Some people also exercise too much, going to the gym nearly every day. This goes for non-gym exercise as well. Most of us don't need to workout more than three-four times per week. The one exception to this is walking, which is an exercise that can be done on a daily basis.
In my case, whatever caused the initial injury requires daily use of pain-killing medication combined with trans-dermal patches that deliver a constant supply of Lidocaine to my lower back through the skin. (Lidocaine is a local numbing agent.) I cannot lift or carry very heavy or awkward things. There is no surgical option at the moment. And it all happened without my even knowing it.
The best way to prevent such injuries is to avoid putting yourself in situations that set up the potential for them. When working with free weights or free weight machines, for example, it's crucial that you isolate your back from the muscle group you are working. A good personal trainer can be an immense help to both beginners and gym veterans.
But even that is no guarantee. Even people who have worked extensively with personal trainers and physical therapists can injure themselves. Losing concentration, forgetting to fully stretch before starting a workout, and even a simple mistake can cause these types of injuries.
My pain specialist told me he has seen an exponential jump in these types of injuries, and that today they make up much of his practice. And while there are many potential causes, he claimed that "people pushing themselves too hard" is the prevalent reason his practice is growing.
# posted by Phillip T. Alden @ 6:16 PM 
