Do you train while injured?

***jnp*** · Posted On: 5/18/2007 8:49pm

Decided to start this thread because of a comment I made in another thread recently and a discussion I had with a 53 year old student today. Here's the comment:

The major problem I see with most dedicated sport MA enthusiasts is that when they do get injured, they don't take enough of a break from training to fully heal. Almost everyone of the guys I know that train hard are guilty of this, including myself.

Addiction to sparring seems to make one disregard personal injuries to a certain extent.

The older student decided to continue to train even though he was recently diagnosed with a leaky heart valve. He took three months off and then, with the consent of his physician, started training again. While this is a rather extreme example of what I'm talking about, it got me to wondering how many of you train when you probably shouldn't?

Do you train while you're hurt? If so, why? What was the nature of your injury? How did it affect your training and what was your reason for continuing to train while injured?

**alex** · Posted On: 5/18/2007 9:37pm

i am almost consistently injured, usually nothing big, sometimes things like pulled muscles, bruised ribs etc. You have to simply train around these kind of things, combat sports aren't patty cakes and you will get injured training, if you stop training every time you get injured you won't go anywhere fast thats for sure. If you train hard and smart you can generally avoid excacerbating injuries unless its something fairly dire

**Patient_Daruma** · Posted On: 5/18/2007 9:47pm

As stated, if you can't deal with some hurt, go join the Bridge Club, or collect stamps, something that doesn't involve people trying to damage you for fun.

Most anybody that trains with any degree of consistency and devotion is going to suffer an injury from time to time. Unless training would result in greater injury, you're just as well to suck it up and keep going. You'll be stronger for it in the long run.

For instance: I sustained an injury to my right shoulder last year, which made it pretty impossible for me to do kendo well. So, I trained with my left hand; one handed swings, drills, etc. My footwork and timing improved, and I dramatically increased my striking speed and force by strengthening the left hand. Wasn't much fun, but it worked out in the end.

Did keep me out fo judo for a bit, but I guess you can’t win ‘em all.

**JKDChick** · Posted On: 5/18/2007 9:52pm

Absolutely. I always have injuries. You just have to know what's going to get worse and what's going to heal with time.

My knees get better with work for instance, but I learned rotator cuffs don't enjoy tough love.

**Pandinha** · Posted On: 5/18/2007 10:24pm

I went to my chiropractor today. It seems the pain I've been feeling the past 5 months training when I threw my rear back hand (left) wasn't due to tendonitis.

My elbow was dislocated.

**Patient_Daruma** · Posted On: 5/18/2007 11:06pm

Damn...where should we engraze "bad ************"? That's some serious not-fucking-around stuff there.

**dokomoy** · Posted On: 5/19/2007 12:10am

If training isn't going to make it worse, and the injury allows it then sure. For example I trained through bruised ribs, but right now I have a sprained knee that makes it difficult to walk, let alone train. I'd try to work through it if the doctor hadn't told me that doing so risked tearing the knee.

**biomed190** · Posted On: 5/19/2007 3:12am

Something is always hurt on me. I did take a month off to let a slight tear in my pcl heal.

**Raining_Blood** · Posted On: 5/19/2007 8:07am

I will push through injuries as long as they dont get worse by training. That is where shin splints are pure evil because although not to painfull unless you rest them they just get worse. My shoulders are constantly being hyperextended from rugby but I get over it.

**Goju - Joe** · Posted On: 5/19/2007 8:29am

There's injuries and then there's INJURY"S

I have a thread about my back problems I follow a pattern of training until I can barely get up and then taking a long break while it recovers.

I have something wrong with my lower lombard disks and sciatica. I am getting an MRI on the 30th

However after 3 weeks of doing nothing My back is just sore a bit and I only have numbness in the right side of my foot.

My problem is when I get to class I tell myself I'll take it easy and then don't