Defining muscle soreness

“Wow! What an unbelievable Leg workout! I feel great, though completely exhausted. I just wonder how I will feel tomorrow ?”. In my mind I knew all too well what laid ahead of me, and the intrinsic questioning was a plea for help. That next day I pressed one leg on the ground only to understand that when my weight bared down my leg defiantly escaped the scene, it was as though my brain and leg in the middle of the night negotiated a separation. We all can recall this  feeling or for those that are yet to feel the wrath of training pain (Enjoy !=)). That  excruciating pain followed by a sudden and spontaneous case of  immobility , looks to the average joe like baby who is taking his first steps at birth. The known term for this pain is DOMS ( Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness) and you will be familiar with it in your life.

 

Post muscle camp with Andy Bell and Ben Pakulski was just one of those weeks that taught me the lessons of muscle soreness, entail and physical exhaustion and training psychology.

So what and how does muscle soreness occur otherwise known as DOMS :

As noted by Wikepedia “Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), also called muscle fever, is the pain and stiffness felt in muscles several hours to days after unaccustomed or strenuous exercise. The soreness is felt most strongly 24 to 72 hours after the exercise.It is thought to be caused by eccentric (lengthening) exercise, which causes microtrauma to the muscle fibers. After such exercise, the muscle adapts rapidly to prevent muscle damage, and thereby soreness, if the exercise is repeated”. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delayed_onset_muscle_soreness

As unpleasant as DOMS may be the question has to be asked, how do we reduce its lasting effect ?

As a personal trainer you hear all kinds of post workout soreness relief methods from your clients, affiliates and coaches, from lavender pillows all the way to panadene fort. It is not to say these methods don’t work or it must have supported scientific backing to be considered, though as a personal trainer I feel I should shine a little light o this subject and highlight some remedies I have used.

Methods I have used :

  1. Post training slow walk and sauna with myofascial treatment
  2. BCAA supplement powder 15-20 g post workout
  3. Magnesium cream at night in arterial points ( Back of knees, neck)
  4. Magnessium salt bath
  5. Post workout tiger balm massage
  6. Compression pants worn at night
  7. Hot and cold showers

Science Assess DOMS:

Muscle soreness

“Multiple treatments have been advocated for the treatment of DOMS. The efficacy of these treatments is inconsistent, and both positive and negative results are reported. It appears that anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, diclofenac, or ketoprofen have shown some potential in alleviation in some but not all symptoms of DOMS. However, variation in dosage and mode of damage used make generalization of results difficult. Treatment using more conventional therapies such as icing, massage, or stretching is also inconsistent. There appears to be some potential for the use of icing as a treatment. Other variations of treatment including acupuncture, herbal remedies, and HBOT appear to have limited effect. Although some treatments such as antioxidant therapy appear promising, further work is warranted. In fact, much room exists for the implementation of more well-controlled, randomized studies to assess the effects of many of the aforemen- tined treatments”. (Declan A.J et al. 2003. 17(1), 197–208)

To learn more about DOMS click the link below:

Is no pain no gain a true measure of a great workout

 

Declan A.J. Connolly, Stephen P. Sayers, and Malachy P. Mchugh. (2003) Treatment and Prevention of Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 2003, 17(1), 197–208 .  National Strength & Conditioning Association. Retrieved from http://static1.squarespace.com/static/526c72d0e4b0c72bb55e640b/t/5441cf2ce4b0881390291780/1413599020420/Treatment+and+Prevention+of+Delayed+Onset+Muscle+Soreness.pdf  16/1/15

 

 

What to expect from your first personal training session

As a former client and current personal trainer, my goals and needs have been addressed in multiple ways through different coaches and personal trainers. In my early 20s I was a member of a gym and never really considered the value of having a personal trainer. After all, at that point in my life I had been training for many years. Now you can only imagine what years of solo gym conditioning can do to a man’s ego, and I actually believed at that point that I knew it all and had the best game plan to get me to my goals. Well, little did I know I was about to get schooled over and over again!

I had my first training experience upon leaving the military. It was a session I would never forget, and its lasting impression grew in value. I discovered that my personal trainer could help me address the majority of my concerns, needs and temporary flaws. Yes! Now, we can all agree that there are trainers there are good and bad trainers out there, and selecting one who is right for you will depend as much on your goals as each of your personalities. So you have to take the time, ask the right questions and above all schedule in a session to see if he/she will be right for you. Finally, if you aren’t happy and can’t address your concerns with the trainer, don’t feel obliged to stick with them. Move on immediately to find one who is right for you – it’s your money and your health, after all.

 

What to expect from your first personal training session from a great personal trainer

Your first personal training session

  • Feedback concerning your goal, which could involve a designing a training plan, and setting goals, deadlines and strategies, and importantly, ensuring goals are realistic and achieveable
  • Physical assessments such as BP-Test, skin fold measurements and strength tests
  • Understanding you personally, including job, family and relationship barriers) in order to get a proper understanding of you and your life, and to build friendly report and gather baseline results
  • Exercises with clear details, actions and key points, focusing on you and connecting you with the purpose and aim of the exercise, and especially explaining safe training practices
  • He/she has great body language and is approachable and earnest about taking you on as a client.

What you will receive from a less than average trainer

Your first personal training session

  • Inconsiderate and stubborn attitude towards you
  • Has trouble listening and making eye contact with you during exercise
  • Unclear and rushed exercise instruction; failure to identify key points to the exercise or correct poor technique
  • The trainer’s feedback is general and not informative enough to help you
  • Unprofessional and indifferent about your needs as a client
  • Inflexible in their approach to designing a training program for you or adapting it to your changing circumstances

 

With all these points to consider, your first meeting may not cover everything you desired but that isn’t to say that the trainer has much more in store for you as apart of their pre-program design or strategy. The important thing is to be clear on their approach by asking as many questions as you need.

 

So now you know some key points to consider and, like all service professionals, should be better equipped to match yourself up with the right specialist for you.

 

Here is a link from reveal the steal and their take on a bad personal trainer

Gym Hygiene and Me

How many times have you witnessed the disgusting leftovers of “man sweat” imprinted on seats in the weight room, or passed a person in the gym with an odour that would “make paint peel”? If that wasn’t enough! You may have personally fell victim to “splash back” from the nearby cyclist on the recumbent bicycle and thought how bad could all this be for my health? . I would be lieing if I was to say it never happened to me any of the above mentioned situations, or whenever I got the flu it often happened after a gym session. What I would like to bring to your attention in this article, is the identifiable risks in the gym environment, the concerns and preventative steps to keep you healthy all day everyday while on your fitness journey.

 

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Gym awareness ,what is really out there !

 

As a personal trainer and bodybuilder I can say from personal experience that we less then often consider the hygiene of the bench we sit on, or the medicine ball we hold. I truly believe we are too focussed in the task of the upcoming training session, that we couldn’t be bothered to walk a few feet to begin our clean routine (that is my excuse). Well after I got over the flu for the 3rd time running in 4 months, it really began to dawn on me the fact that the gym environment can house an incredible diversity of bacteria. So as a little wakeup call you may be interested to know what is really out there in the comforts of the local gym.

 

KLEBSIELLA

 

What is it?

As disgusting as it sounds, the bacteria are found in healthy human intestines and stool.

 

Symptoms

Klebsiella can result in a variety of infections, most commonly urinary tract infections and pneumonia[i]. Septicaemia is another more severe result of this bacteria, though it is all dependent on point of entry (example though the nose pneumonia).

 

How do you get it?

It is spread through contact. In the gym environment you can guess that, the cardio machines, yoga mats, weights, water fountains, medicine ball , Swiss ball and locker rooms would all be this particular bacteria’s home .

 

 COLI

 

What is it?

  1. coli, is a common bacterium found in the intestines and stool of animals.

 

Symptoms

  1. coli infections cause cramps, diarrhoea, vomiting and can lead to pneumonia.

 

How do you get it?

This bacterium is usually transferred through eating contaminated food[ii], but it is possible to catch it from communal gym surfaces like, handrails cardio machines etc.

 

 

STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS

 

What is it?

Staphylococcus aureus, commonly known as staph, is a bacteria that mostly causes skin infections.

 

Symptoms

Staph infections are usually mild and include superficial rashes, pimples and/or boils on your skin. Though the bacteria however can spread and can move deeper within the skin , it can become a life-threatening infection such as pneumonia, sepsis or meningitis.

 

How do you get it?

It’s spread through contact, so it can be picked up through a shared towel or razor, exercise equipment surfaces and grips or skin-to-skin contact.

 

 

CANDIDA

 

What is it?

The most common culprit in fungal infections, this yeast-like fungus can lead to everything from athlete’s foot to ringworm to jock itch in men and yeast infections in women.

 

Symptoms

Ringworm is usually marked by ring-shaped skin rashes, usually on your toes, sometimes on your palms and between your fingers. Athlete’s foot gives you itchy, cracked, flaking and peeling skin between the toes or side of the foot, while jock itch causes a rash on your groin. If it’s untreated, it can escalate to blisters and severely cracked skin.

 

How do you get it?

Contact. It loves warm, moist areas, so locker rooms, saunas, swimming pools and showers are the perfect environment to pick up some tasty foot fungus.

 

 

STREPTOCOCCAL BACTERIA

 

What is it?

A type of bacteria that usually causes upper respiratory infections–strep throat. There are in fact many different types of strands of this bacteria

 

 

 

Symptoms

Symptoms can range from mild throat infections to pneumonia. It can also cause skin infections such as impetigo, which causes blisters, and cellulitis, which affects deeper layers of skin.

 

How do you get it?

This bacteria is very contagious and is spread through person-to-person contact, airborne droplets, and other surfaces. Sweaty exercise equipment, saunas, locker rooms and drinking bottles can harbor strep.

 

 

INFLUENZA

 

What is it?

You probably call it the flu. It’s a virus, which causes a nose, throat and lung infection that makes you feel like crap for a few days.

 

Symptoms

Fever, body aches, coughing, sneezing, chills, dizziness, flushed face, headache, lack of energy and, sometimes, nausea and vomiting that lasts between four and seven days.

 

How do you get it?

Through the air, so contained areas like airplanes, movie theaters and gyms are a great place to catch it. Breathe in the droplets from someone’s coughs or sneezes, or get the virus on your hands and touch your mouth, nose, or eyes.

 

Cases and concerns

 

The threat of disease-causing bacteria in Australia are shared on a global scale, particularly some of the mentioned bacteria above are witnessing more cases in the wider community. Take Staphylococcus aureus , In 1993, MRSA isolates with unique genetic elements were reported among infected western Australian aborigines who never had contact with the health care system[iii] . E. coli has currently been found in new south wales (Kariong and Mount Penang ) water supply and residents are urged to boil their drinking water and sponge bath their children current numbers of infected are at 5000,[iv] . The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 80% of all infectious diseases are initiated through physical contact with other people or contaminated items (Blanton 2007)[v].

 

Steps to protect 

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Take these 12 steps to protect yourself from pathogens in the gym environment   :

  • Regularly wash your training towel and drape over sections of a seat where skin contact can occur.
  • Use the antibacterial cleaning chemicals available to thoroughly wipe down any piece of equipment before starting.
  • Wash hands before exiting the change rooms, you can also use anti-bacterial wipes to disinfect hands.
  • Always shower.
  • Wear thongs in the shower.
  • Use appropriate hygiene etiquette with (sneezing and coughing)
  • Prevent the spread of bacteria or viruses if you are currently undergoing the symptoms.

( its best you avoid the gym , training will only aggravate the symptoms )

  • Regularly wash training clothing, wear the appropriate clothing. (Socks etc)
  • If you have open sores, apply bandage and antiseptic. (if bleeding avoid training all together )
  • Ensure your training partner is aware of hygiene and be aware of any pressing hygiene concerns, because it may impact on you.
  • Yoga mates should be thoroughly cleaned before use.

 

In conclusion this article is not intended to scare you, “so there is no need to equip your local gym with a disinfectant sprinkler or even completely avoid it “. I merely wish to address the concerns of hygiene, to help arm you with the necessary knowledge to stay fit and healthy on your fitness path.

 

Here is a link by webmd on the subject of good hygiene habits at the gym,  the article contains some basic principles to  germ proof yourself from any foreign viruses or bacteria.

 

[ii] Vogt RL, Dippold L (2005). Escherichia coli O157:H7 outbreak associated with consumption of ground beef, June–July 2002″. Public Health Rep 120 (2): 174–8[i] Podschun R, Ullmann U (1998). Klebsiella spp. as nosocomial pathogens: epidemiology, taxonomy, typing methods, and pathogenicity factors”. Clin Microbiol Rev 11 (4): 589–603. PMC 88898. PMID 9767057.

[iii]     Udo EE, Pearman JW,Grubb WB

Genetic analysis of community isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in western Australia. J Hosp Infect 1993;25:97-108

[iv] http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-02-07/e-coli-outbreak-on-nsw-central-coast/3815186

Updated February 07, 2012 09:22:00

[v] Blanton, R. 2007. Health experts warn of bacterial dangers. Danville Register & Bee (July 25).