Resistance Training for the Reduction
of Sports Injury
Fleck and Falkel (1986) state:
"Proper technique and completion of a full
range of motion is paramount to prevent injury to connective
tissue, muscle, and joint capsules. The exercises also should
be conducted in a manner that stimulates the actual athletic
activity as specifically as possible. This may require modifying
the equipment, starting position and/or speed
of contraction. Sets and repetitions should accommodate the
needs of the particular athletic activities with emphasis on
improvement in muscular strength, muscular endurance, or muscular
power. As in any weight training session, warm-up
is essential before a session, even if the resistance training
activity will only involve a relatively light load. Finally,
flexibility exercises
need to be instituted along with the strength training in order
to keep the optimal functional range of motion throughout the
exercise."
Weight Lifting Injuries
Rhea (2003) suggests there is no practical difference in injury
rate between using free weights or machines in healthy adults.
Requa RK, DeAvilla LN, Garrick JG. (1993) Injuries in recreational
adult fitness activities. Am J Sports Med, 21(3):461-7.
Injuries sustained during weightlifting training and weightlifting
competition are substantially lower than injuries incurred from
other sports such as football, gymnastics, or basketball.
Stone MH (1990). Muscle conditioning and muscle injuries.
Med Sci Sports Exerc. 22(4):457-462.
In college football players, time lost from injuries during
weight training amounted to 1% of the time lost from injuries
during football participation.
Zemper ED (1990). Four-year study of weight-room injuries
in a national sample of college football teams. N atl Strength
Cond Assoc J. 12(3):32-34.
Youth Weight Training & Safety
Regular participation in a broad-based training program that
includes resistance training can significantly reduce sports
related injuries in adolescents.
Faigenbaum AD, Schram J (2004). Can resistance training
reduce injuries in youth sports? Strength and Conditioning Journal.
26(3) 16-21.
A structured weightlifting program (including Olympic weight
lifts such as the clean & jerk, and snatch) can be safely
performed by girls and boys (ages 7-16).
Pierce K, Byrd R, Stone M (1999). Injuries in youth weightlifting.
J Strength Cond Res. 13(4):430.
Also see Misconceptions
About Training Youth
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Injury Potential of Weight Training
Weight training injury rates are low.
- General Population (Powell et al. 1998)
- Athletes (Hamill 1994, Zemper 1990)
Free weights do not produce more injuries, compared to machines
(Ralph et al. 1993).
Weightlifting injuries are lower than those sustained in other
sports (Hamill 1994, Stone 1990, Stone et al. 1993).
Sports Injury Rates (Hamill 1994)
|
Sport |
Injuries (per 100 hours) |
|
Soccer (school age) |
6.20 |
|
UK Rugby |
1.92 |
|
USA Basketball |
0.03 |
|
UK Cross Country |
0.37 |
|
Squash |
0.10 |
|
US Football |
0.10 |
|
Badminton |
0.05 |
|
USA Gymnastics |
0.044 |
|
USA Powerlifting |
0.0027 |
|
USA Volleyball |
0.0013 |
|
USA Tennis |
0.001 |
|
Weight Training |
0.0035 (85,733 hrs) |
|
Weightlifting |
0.0017 (168,551 hrs) |
Knee Stability
Closed-chain exercises
like leg
presses and squats
can improve knee stability. The stresses placed upon the joints
and muscles during closed- chained movements are more functional
and offer more natural stresses on the body as compared to open-chain exercises like
leg
extensions. Also see Hamstring
Weakness.
- Peterson, J.A, Bryant, C.X., Understanding Closed Chained
Exercise, The Fitness Handbook, 2, 125-130, 1995.
Upright Row Safety
A shoulder width grip is suggested when performing the upright
row. The greater internal rotation required for a close grip
upright row decreases the subacromial space (area between the
greater tubercle of the humerus and acromioclavicular joint).
This may potentially impinge the supraspinatus
tendon and the subacromial bursa (a protective sac of fluid cushioning
the bone from the tendon). A wider grip allows for more space
between the shoulder joint and the head of the humerus allowing
for more clearance of the underlying structures. For the same
reason, when performing a one
arm upright row, keep the elbow pointing directly to the
side, instead of angling it slightly to the front. The subacromial
space as well as other biomechanical and biometric factors vary
from person to person so some individuals may be more prone to
complications while others report no problems performing the
narrower grip upright row. Also see Over
Generalizations.
Sample Split Program Design Flaws
Header presents potential risk of program design, particularly
if other
risk factors are present. See Adaption
Criteria and Overtraining.
Also see Lower Back Exercises, Recuperation
& Program Design and suggested full
body and split programs templates.
Weight Training for Cardiac Patients
Previously, cardiac patients were cautioned against strength
training for fear that exertional blood pressure elevation would
lead to arrythmia, or myocardial ischemia. Rehabilitation thus
consisted of mostly aerobic exercise. Multiple studies have shown
that not only is this false, but that resistance training, as
compared to aerobic training not only improved strength and cardiovascular
endurance, but also had fewer cardiovascular complications of
angina, arrhythmia, ischemia, or blood pressure abnormalities.
Moreover the patients achieved significant muscle strength to
return to their occupational and leisure activities.
McCartney N. Role of resistance training in heart disease.
Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 1998; 30(10): s396-s401.
Benjamini Y, Rubenstein JJ, Zaichowsky LD, Crim MC. Effects
of high intensity strength training on quality of life parameters
in cardiac rehabilitation patients. American Journal of Cardiology
1997;80(7):841-846.
Daub WD, Knapik GP, Black WR. Strength training after myocardial
infarction. Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation 1996;16:100-108.
Stewart KJ. Resistive training effects on strength and
cardiovascular endurance in cardiac and coronary prone patients.
Medicine and Science in Sports and Medicine 1989;21(6):678-682.
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