Chronic Injury
An injury that develops gradually over time, usually due to repetitive overuse of a body part. Chronic injuries are also known as overuse injuries.
Overuse injury
Damage to bones, muscles, ligaments, or tendons resulting from repetitive trauma and inadequate healing time.
Understanding Chronic Injuries
Key characteristics:
- Gradual onset of symptoms
- Often linked to repetitive movements
- Usually associated with technique issues
- Can worsen without proper intervention
A tennis player developing "tennis elbow" from repeatedly using incorrect serving technique. The pain doesn't start suddenly but builds up over weeks or months of playing.
Common Sites of Chronic Injury
- Upper Body:
- Shoulder (rotator cuff issues)
- Elbow (tendinitis)
- Wrist (carpal tunnel)
- Lower Body:
- Knees (runner's knee)
- Ankles (achilles tendinitis)
- Shins (shin splints)
The location of chronic injuries often reveals clues about technique problems. For instance, runners who consistently get shin splints might have issues with their running form or footwear.
Correcting biomechanical maladaptations can decrease the risk of injury
Biomechanical maladaptations
Incorrect movement patterns or techniques that place excessive stress on specific body structures, leading to potential injury over time.
Biomechanical maladaptations can develop from:
- Poor technique
- Muscle imbalances
- Postural problems
- Compensatory movements
- Improper training progression
The key to preventing chronic injuries lies in identifying and correcting faulty movement patterns before they become habitual.
Common areas where biomechanical maladaptations occur:
- Running gait
- Throwing mechanics
- Lifting technique
- Landing patterns
- Sport-specific movements
A runner who overpronates (foot rolls inward excessively) may develop shin splints, knee pain, or hip issues over time. Correcting this through proper footwear and technique training can significantly reduce injury risk.
Prevention Through Technique Correction
Assessment steps:
- Identify faulty movement patterns
- Analyze root causes
- Develop correction strategy
- Implement progressive changes
Correcting runner's form
A distance runner was developing recurring knee pain. Analysis showed:
- Over-striding
- Excessive heel strike
- Poor hip stability
After technique correction focusing on:
- Shorter stride length
- Midfoot landing
- Hip strengthening
Result: Pain resolved and performance improved
Practical Applications
Technique checkpoints:
- Regular form assessment
- Video analysis when possible
- Expert feedback
- Gradual modification of movement patter
Think of technique correction like tuning a musical instrument. Small adjustments make a big difference in performance and prevent damage over time.
Self reviewHow can the constraint-led approach be used to identify and correct biomechanical maladaptations?
Key Considerations:
- Movement Influences: Understanding internal (e.g., strength) and external (e.g., game rules) constraints that affect movement patterns.
- Skill Analysis: Observing and analyzing movements to identify biomechanical inefficiencies.
- Constraint Modification: Adjusting conditions to guide skill development.
- Active Learning: Encouraging exploration of different movement solutions and problem-solving to develop better biomechanics.
- Feedback & Reflection: Providing feedback to help learners adjust their movement patterns.
- Progressive Challenges: Gradually increasing task complexity and constraints.
- Individual Differences: Considering personal variations in skill development and adaptation.
