IMPACT QUESTION...

[naughtoj]

Hi guys,

Hey I was just curious about this today and wondered if any of you knew the answer.

Last week I possibly exercised a little bit more than usual, but specifically did Circuit Max, IMax, MIC back to back. I also did PH and MIS. Well, by Sat. I had to take some serious down time, cuz my joints and muscles were beggin'. Next week it was obvious that I had rekindled a shin splint problem I had back when I was running alot.

Well, I went and got new shoes, as I think I needed them, and my shins feel better but not great. It got me to thinking though: what determines how your own body deals with impact??

Impact has to do with bone jarring, does it not?? So why are there some weeks that doing these tapes does not bother me and other weeks I can feel it every time my foot hits the floor? Muscularly I can see where sleep, training frequency, and intensity all play a role in fatigue, but I wonder with impact. Also, it seems once I get these little annoying "aches" in my lower legs caused by impact it takes forever for them to go COMPLETELY away, even when I am paying attention to reduce impact.

Can anyone explain to me the science of why your body responds differently to impact on a week-to-week basis?? Also, can you improve your body's ability to handle impact regularly or is it something you are like geneticly programmed for?? Seems like if you improve your muscular strength and endurance your muscles would be able to absorb some of the impact and handle it rather than your bones??

Any info would be appreciated as I would like to raise the amount of high impact activities I do but am scared to do it!!

 

[jgoycoolea]

Seems I am not the only one with "unique" questions that can "stump" us! Waiting to hear from others... Jeanne

 

[Stargazer]

Well, I have noticed this same thing. Sometimes I can go like, well like Cathe ;-) and sometimes I have to go very easy.

Based on my own observations of myself, I believe there is a connection between hormones and the stress my joints can take. Recently my daughter's ob told her that she should do water aerobics as exercise because the joints were vulnerable while she was pregnant due to a hormone released in her system. I sort of remember reading when I was pregnant that a hormone is released that helps loosen the pelvic joint so the baby can be delivered. So I think maybe this hormone affects all the joints, not just the pelvis.

Basically I have no hard scientific evidence, just 'heresay' and personal observation of a majority of one (myself!) Hopefully someone will have some good data on this topic.

BTW I think hormone levels/fluctuations are responsible for many physical things, not just emotional things.

If you can track a cycle, maybe you can vary your impact based on that pattern. Just a thought.

-joy