After more than 75 calf pulls between 1987 and 1995, I believe I qualified
as a professional patient. All of the emotional and physical setbacks that
come with these life altering, or at least schedule altering, injuries for
a runner were like a bad neighbor I couldn’t get away from. Ironically, it
was through my eyes as a patient, not as a sports medicine specialist, that
made me truly see the void in the treatment menu available to the sick and
broken.
Repetitive Motion Injuries
Repetitive motion is a term frequently heard when discussing industrial
injuries. Many jobs involve the same motions with similar activities and,
especially with people who aren’t conditioned, injuries occur. But, when
talking about athletics, specifically running, we’ve never heard repetitive
motion spoken in the same sentence as calf pull, hamstring pull, ilio-tibial
band syndrome, low back pain, plantar fasciitis, patellar tendonitis,
achilles tendonitis, or hip pain. After living far too long as a disabled
patient and desperately looking for that “glorious glass of water in the
desert,” I realized that all of these injuries were nothing more than
repetitive motion disorders. Muscles fail to recover fully before we ask
them to perform again. And when we push a muscle beyond what it is capable
of doing, bad things happen. None of the specialists I contacted during my
eight- year war ever suggested a solution, they could only think in terms of
“after the fact” recommendations or symptomatic relief. This gross void
in our sports medicine system reverberated loudly in my brain. I wanted to
know how to keep these pulls from happening.
The Domino Effect
First of all, tightness and soreness in a muscle is a precursor to all of
the conditions mentioned above. The more a muscle is used, the more it will
produce and accumulate toxins and waste products. Many of these waste
products localize into barrier trigger points, or nodules along a muscle
fiber which prevent a muscle from generating force and functioning to full
capacity. These trigger points are sore with localized pressure. Once a
trigger point develops, the blood flow is reduced to the muscle, fibers in
the muscle shorten, and now we are forced to train or race with a muscle
that is set up for a blow-out. And, should you make it through this
particular race or workout, the likelihood the muscle will fully recover
for your next effort is bleak at best. Ultimately, Mother Nature will win.
Solution
The Maggs Muscle Management™ Program was developed out of desperation. I
couldn’t accept anything less than an answer, and no one, but no one,
offered any hope at all. My running consisted of a couple of three mile
runs per week. Hardly the distance needed to compete or to run a marathon.
In 1992, almost by accident, I met a muscle specialist, Dr. Andrew Bonci.
He had an in-depth knowledge of muscles and injuries I had not heard from
any of my prior experts. He showed me the importance of locating and
eliminating barrier trigger points on a daily basis. Dr. Bonci explained
how these toxins, which typically form in priority muscles, will ultimately
force a muscle to break down if left unattended. In fact, he claimed this
was the underlying cause of my calf problems. Skepticism and ecstasy shared
brain space and I couldn’t wait to learn which emotion would prove worthy.
Using techniques designed by him and others, coupled with stretching and
nutrition, I began the long process of rehabilitating my calf muscles which
had been deprived for so long of nutrient rich blood and oxygen. By using
his myofascial release program, I was able to get blood to all muscles
multiple times per day and significantly improve the flexibility of these
muscles. There was an almost immediate awareness of benefits and
improvement. I was able to work out the tightness and could feel the warmth
and life come back to these oft-injured compatriots of mine.
As I began to sense improvements, I couldn’t help but test the waters. I
attempted my favorite eleven mile run, one I hadn’t even considered for
eight years prior. Upon successful completion, it was like a religious
experience. I couldn’t imagine, after all these years, I was given back the
opportunity to run. The joy could only be known by one who has lost
something of value, only to get it back when least expected. Since then,
I’ve been able to run 35-40 miles per week, when the schedule allows. With
the knowledge and experience we have gained over the past five years, this
program has expanded into complete warm-up techniques, thorough recovery
exercises, acute injury/chronic injury treatments, and performance
enhancement exerices. They can all be performed alone, without the assistance
of anyone else, and can be done anywhere, including home, office or track.
Never again will any of us have to hear the words, “You might have to stop
running,” from an uninformed “specialist.” You most likely are suffering
from a classic repetitive motion injury. Just apply the basic myofascial
release, stretching, and nutritional techniques, and you, too, can get
back to your life quickly and permanently. Best of luck.
For further information, Dr. Maggs can be reached at (800) 987-7845 or
e-mailed at RunningDr@aol.com. Website-- www.RunningDr.com
