HOT AND STEAMY WEATHER CAUSING CRAMP?

What amazing weather we are having!!! The problem with great weather is that us runners take to the roads and we really don't want to come home! If the sun is out, you have enough fluids with you, and you don't have to pick the kids up from school....its very difficult to drag yourself home.
That being said, I have seen a few individuals in the last few days with calf pain, quad pain and tight hamstrings. One obvious cause of these cramps can be hyponatremia - or low blood sodium. When we work out in warm weather continuously and then only hydrate with water, we dilute the amount of sodium in the blood. This can result in cramping and in more severe cases, dizziness and disorientation. The obvious solution is to hydrate with an electrolyte solution and to make sure that nutritionally, you are eating a diet that is appropriate for your current training phase.
Now, aside from all that - what to do for those poor individuals who have become over zealous with their outdoor pursuits in the middle of road race season - and who want a fast recovery before Saturday. I keep saying the best cure is ....prevention. Train hard, but train clever. Now I'll climb down off my high horse and tell you how I actually helped them. I offered plenty of advice on nutrition and hydration and then did a nice long slow wave stretch to help to relieve the ache in the muscles by relaxing the tissue and releasing the fascia.
I had a client this evening who complained of a 'dead sensation' in his hip. I went through the usual mobilisation followed by some stretching and when he stood up after the session, it took him a couple of moments to realise that the 'numb sensation' and dull ache was completely gone.
This therapy has astounded me from the day I started my training. I keep saying to people that while it may not have your forehead on the floor in one session, it certainly makes you feel like you could get it there eventually...! Fascial stretch therapy is not a gimmick. Feel your cramping, sore, tight calves go from feeling like cavity blocks to fluffy marshmallows in a matter of minutes. The first person who responds to this thread with a comment gets 50% off a 1 hr session in Cork. Enjoy the sun folks......and remember 'Always wear sunblock' :)

STRANGE UNDERPANTS!!!

Hello All,
I'm sure you're wondering about the odd title. Please let me explain (in a very long winded way).
At a recent course for Athletics, as part of a warm up for shot put, a group of about 25 of us were playing a short game of tag. As you know, this involves lots of running, bending, twisting, reaching and finally, grabbing.As I reached for one players 'tag', he changed direction and I grabbed at whatever I could get a grip on - unfortunately for him, this happened to be the waistband of his jocks. This was also an unfortunate error on my part, as I ended up snapping a bone in my finger and causing a little bit of damage to the tendon. Thankfully, I hadn't ruptured the tendon - an injury referred to as a 'Jersey finger'.
Why, I hear you ask, is this relevant to a blog on fascial stretch therapy? Well, as I have been unable to treat any clients in the last 2 weeks, I have started devising ways to treat my own stuck joints and fascia. Having had a 'baby cast' change in the last few days, I realise that my hand has become very stiff and I can't straighten some of my fingers. I also noticed that my left arm is not extending fully as I have been guarding my injured hand and keeping my elbow bent. So, this morning, I went through a full body stretching sequence starting from the ground and focusing on trying to feel a stretch from the soles of my feet to the tips of my fingers. I worked at staying as relaxed as possible and I carried out all my slow stretches in time to my breath - I no longer 'count down' my stretches. I am amazed at what the results are. I have full range of motion back into my creaky elbow and my shoulder, which had started to ache has really loosened out and relaxed. My physio is due to start next week - at which point, I hope I will be told that there isn't much work to be done. Remember to allow a period of recovery before stretching after injury - this period will be determined by your caregiver. But once you do start to stretch, you will be amazed at how it will aid recovery. Work with the whole limb as opposed to focusing on individual muscle groups and stay relaxed. And most of all - to stay injury free, Don't go putting your hands into strange men's underpants!