Training
Training Blogs
Active rehab: when rest isn’t the best option
October 15, 2009By Alex Hutchinson
The latest Jockology column appears in today’s Globe, dealing with the question of when “RICE” (rest, ice, compression, elevation) should turn into “MICE” (movement, ice, compression, elevation). It’s a tricky one, because there’s such a wide range of possible muscle pulls, sprains and tears that it’s difficult to give general advice. But the overall theme is that if you keep protecting and favouring a weak point for too long, you can end up harming the healing process.
The question
Ouch, I think I sprained something. How long should I stay off it?
The answer
Canadian figure skater Anabelle Langlois returned to action last month, earning a bronze medal with partner Cody Hay at a tournament in Germany one year after fracturing her fibula in a training accident. With Olympic dreams on the line, Ms. Langlois’s doctors had pursued every possible avenue in her rehabilitation, including two operations.
One thing they didn’t recommend, though, was a long period of complete rest for the injured leg. [read on...]
Alex Hutchinson
Alex Hutchinson is the author of "Which Comes First, Cardio or Weights? Fitness Myths, Training Truths, and Other Surprising Discoveries from the Science of Exercise," published in 2011 by McClelland & Stewart (http://CardioOrWeights.com). He is a senior editor at Canadian Running, and a regular columnist on the science of fitness for the Globe and Mail. Alex competed for the Canadian national team in track, cross-country and road running between 1997 and 2008.
Also by Alex:
- Running vs. sarcopenia
- How much faster are marathoners getting, and why?
- Actual data on foot strike patterns
Want to read more?
Go to Alex's archive
