Highland Games inuries

[Alan H]

OVERUSE INJURIES


These things are epidemic in the HG community. I can't tell you how many guys are sporting multiple rotator cuff, knee, and ankle surgeries.

The thing is, from what I've seen, most of these things are not single-incident, catastrophic events. Instead, they're the result of cumulative damage over many years.

Much of it has to do with mindset. I know one very good thrower in Texas who is a great guy, but who is convinced that he has nothing in his life worth anything outside of Highland Games. So even though his knee is screwed up, he will not back off, HAS to keep lifting huge weights and throwing all the time.

I can't tell you the number of guys with worn-out rotator cuffs.
Fifteen or twenty years of throwing and lifting takes its toll.

What to do about this? I'm not sure, I've only been doing this for five years, but here are my thoughts.

A.) Take some time off every year. Don't lift, throw or do anything hard for a full month, each year. This stuff is hard, let your body recover.

B.) know your body, know when it's time to back off and heal. You won't fall apart if you take a week off.

C.) Beware of extremely repetitive, high load activities. Hey, I love Crossfit, but doing hardcore Crossfit for fifteen years is going to mess you up. Repetitive, high load Olympic lifting is NOT good for you, as the years pile up.

D.) be very aware of overtraining. If you are working so hard that it becomes a chore to climb a flight of stairs...back off.

e.) Do a variety of stuff. Don't just hit the gym and do powerlifting all winter and then throw all summer. How about doing some swimming, playing basketball with the guys, riding your bike, going for a hike with your kids? Hey, drag out the snowshoes and pull the kids around the back 40 with them sitting on a sled. That'll kick your hindquarters, eh? Variety is good.

[Alan H]

LIFESTYLE INJURIES


This has everything to do with mindset.

Highland Athletes have to be BIG, right? That means "pack on some weight" because that 56/42 pounder is *Heavy* and mass moves mass, right? Well...right, except that packing on extra weight for 25 years can give you heart disease. So be sensible about this.

There are guys out there who wear their surgeries like a badge of honor. "I've had six knee surgeries and I'm still throwing!" .... Don't fall into this. It's a LOT better to take care of yourself so you don't need those surgeries in the first place. It's also wise to realize when it's time to be DONE...... is throwing one more season in your late 40's worth giving up the ability to go hiking with your grandchildren when you're 65? I sure don't think so.

Mostly, just understand that we do this for fun. I had a discussion with a number of the Pro's at Pleasanton two years ago, where we talked about how Highland Games is what we DO, but it's not who we ARE. these guys love to throw. They LOVE it, and it's fun for them. But they all know that they have families to live for, a God that they believe in, and other things which are more important than how far they can throw a hammer.

Don't ever get so involved that you lose sight of the rest of your life. Like my friend Kelly Niklasen said.... "We're throwing rocks and sticks! GET OVER IT!"

Highland Games...and weight training and all of it is PART of your life, but should not be ALL of your life. It's a great community of people, and even if you can't throw at all, or if you should really back way off on the training and only throw 2-3 times a season you can still be involved in lots of ways. Trust me, we ALWAYS need judges. We ALWAYS need someone in the tent, someone to help out with the trigs, someone to start up a new Games with a new Club. New throwers need mentors and coaches....you can be involved for 40 years if you want to. You'll come to find out that the men and women who make it happen, who give back to the sport get just as much respect as the guy winning the World Championship, or turning that 140 pound caber in front of the crowd.