In my very first post, Part I of this series, I covered a basic philosophy on how to avoid injury, and appropriately moderate your training regimen. Even though you can reduce the risk of injury, it still happens often enough to where approaching it in the same kind of balanced way really helps. Knowing what steps to take to a speedy recovery involves a minor amount of education and action to get the full benefit.
If you get injured in class, it is important to tell your teacher right away. If you get hurt outside of class, be sure to tell your teacher before class begins– do not try to train normally with an injury and have it become a bigger problem. A good teacher should have some general knowledge on how to get you first aid, and to get you pointed in the right direction.
Remember, if you do get injured, get it treated right away. Seek out a medical professional you feel comfortable with in order to get your injury diagnosed for proper treatment. Too many times have I seen students and fellow practitioners wait too long, needlessly exacerbating the issue. Taking advantage of living in a metropolitan area that has many modalities available is a an opportunity too good to pass up. For my past injuries, I have found the following combination particularly effective:
Dr. Yen Wei Choong L.Ac
1) A good Acupuncturist is invaluable. Traditional Chinese Medicine has very effective methods for treating soft tissue damage, particularly in the areas of tendons and ligaments. Additionally, acupuncture deals with treating injuries naturally. Nothing harmful to the system to worry about,
such as drugs, that often has side effects.
Click on the Link for our Excellent Local Chinese Medicine Dr. Yen Wei Choong: http://www.yellowemperormarin.com/
Kenneth L. Eckhardt
2) Having a knowledgeable Chiropractor really helps. Aside from spinal issues, they deal with the proper alignments of the entire skeletal system. A skilled practitioner can set any joint or bone in the body. This is an important consideration when training high impact techniques, such as throwing.
Click on the Link below for our Exellent Local Chiroprator Dr. Eckhardt. He is extremely skilled in Soft Tissue Recovery, and can set any displaced bone in you body: http://northmarinchiropractic.com/
3) Easy access to an able Body Worker that can do deep Myo Fascial massage, Trigger Point therapy, Rolfing, Tui Na, or equivalent is also important. Correcting soft tissue dysfunction is time consuming. A good massage therapist that can spend 60-90 minutes at a time has its advantages, especially when compared to the fast 20-minute session often associated with Physical Therapy appointments.
4) Learning a good Qi Gong system to maintain and balance your training regimen is a must for any serious martial artist. The ability to self heal is extremely useful. It is also important to note that Qi Gong makes the previously mentioned methods more effective. It bridges the gap between the patient’s time with the practitioner(s), and reduces the time it takes to heal. If you are hurt in a way that prevents you from training in your preferred art, Qi Gong still allows you practice in some form. A good Qi Gong system follows many underlying principals of the Martial Arts: weight shifting, movement of energies, opening and closings of the joints, stretching and strengthening of soft tissues. Once you are fully healed, it makes returning back to your regular routine easier since some basics have been maintained during your recovery period.
Although there are many methods of Qi Gong, below is a video of The Eight Brocades of Silk as practiced at The Martial Arts Academy. While the video is informative, keep in mind it is best to always find a skilled teacher that can show you the intricacies of their chosen system.
I will finish by saying the great thing about these combined modalities, is that they have a broad spectrum of uses. Please keep in mind that your mileage may vary! Use what works for you the best in the combination you see fit. Aside from being used as an effective regular maintenance program, they also work very well for treating minor injuries, as well as help speed recovery time of major things like post surgical procedures, and fractured bones. For any additional advice, or other methods you have found useful and would like to share, please comment below.
Good luck to you on your training!
