FITNESS AUTHOR
Jessica Tranchina, PT, DPT
THE MATTER OF OVERUSE n In everyday life, you risk experiencing overuse
injuries. Here are some things to look out for so you can enjoy your work and hobbies.
W
hile you may think overuse injuries are more of a concern for the elite athlete who’s putting in hours of training to reach their maximal potential, the average person is actually at the highest risk for experiencing an overuse injury. The reason for this comes down to preparation but also technique and form during exercise.
What is an Overuse Injury?
Overuse injuries occur when a motion is enacted repeatedly, putting too much stress on a specific part of your body. These microtraumas can greatly impact your joints, muscles and sometimes even bones. While often associated with athletics and sports, overuse injuries can also occur on the job or while doing a hobby that requires constant repetition of a particular motion. Overuse injuries differ from other injuries in that they develop gradually over time. Injuries that happen in a single moment are classified as acute injuries. With overuse injuries, you may initially notice a slight ache or twitch that develops into a slight discomfort. Before too long, this may develop into a deep, severe pain that could sideline you from an activity for a while.
think of stress in a negative context, but there are positive stressors that can be introduced to the body to allow it to grow. In terms of strength gains, the internal process that occurs is called the remodeling process, which involves both the breakdown and buildup of tissue. There is a fine balance between the two, and if a breakdown occurs more rapidly than the buildup, an overuse injury occurs. Training errors are the most common cause of overuse injuries. These errors involve too quickly an
What Causes Overuse Injuries?
In order for the body to become stronger and more resilient, it must be exposed to stress. Most people
JULY 2022
56
