Back/rib injury, what to do?

buck65

Got a punch in the ribs a month ago , ribs still very tender near sternum area and pain has gone around right shoulder blade. Its very slow to heal and obviously I am very frustrated as I haven't done much training in the month. Had a couple of massages and use deep heat on it but still very tender, anyone ever experience this kind of thing?
How do I get over it?
Have rested it for a solid 2 weeks with little improvement.

Roper

I'm not log over a similar thing.

Seek professional help and listen to them.

Dave Joyce

Totally agree with Roper. Rib injuries are a bastard. I remember tearing the cartiledge in me ribs during a fight (and instead of doing the intelligent thing and stopping then fought on for another two rounds) and I couldn't sleep without 3 pillows which meant I was nearly upright for about 2 months. It was very slow recovery but thats about all you can do. Know where you're coming from thought!

HammerHeadGym

I had a rib injury and was told by my doctor and also a doctor at the gym that the only way to heal 'em was rest.

buck65

Went to a chiropractor this evening Roper, took your advice, he reckoned the front ribs were a little dislodged with a bit of cartilidge damage which was throwing the back ribs out of sync. thus causing muscle knotting, basically he sat on my chest until they popped!! back in - surprisingly not too painfull and reckoned the back will sort itself out and resume training in a few days
!
Still a sore bitch of an injury.
Thanks for the helpful posts guys.

Cake Fiend

I'd be careful about going back to training so soon, definitely let people know that you're injured there and to take it easy on that area.

I took a fierce kick to the ribs once, kept training instead of doing the sensible thing and resting. A month later, a big German oaf kneed me right on the same rib. Even then I was too dumb to rest! Took at least six weeks to heal fully, and that was six weeks of constant aching.

henryb

just been browsing through john Brawn the self defence instructors
website and noticed an article about training with a 'kettlebell'.
Just wondering have any of you guys ever used this piece of equipment
and if so, what do you think of it?
I havent a lot of space for a weights bench and if this was beneficial
id give it a go!

Dave Joyce

A friend of mine works out regularly with kettlebells and swears by them. His power and explosive speed greatly increased but to be honest its all down to finding a good instructor cause one thing hes told me is that correct technique is crucial. You see a lot of guys just swing the kettle bell (no differant than swinging a plate) without the handle rolling in your palm. He learnt from a guy called Neil Roziak who started out in Taiji and went into MMA in the very beginning with Dexter Casey and Lee Hasdell. He has also coached Sami the Turk, can't think of his surname. Neil went to I think Latvia to train with some top guys over there.

henryb

Dave Joyce wrote:

A friend of mine works out regularly with kettlebells and swears by them. His power and explosive speed greatly increased but to be honest its all down to finding a good instructor cause one thing hes told me is that correct technique is crucial. You see a lot of guys just swing the kettle bell (no differant than swinging a plate) without the handle rolling in your palm. He learnt from a guy called Neil Roziak who started out in Taiji and went into MMA in the very beginning with Dexter Casey and Lee Hasdell. He has also coached Sami the Turk, can't think of his surname. Neil went to I think Latvia to train with some top guys over there.

Thanks for that Dave. To find an instructor to teach how to use it
properly could be a problem. Might have to buy the john Brawn dvds
and see how that works. Im just a bit cynical about some of these
on line sales!!!

Roper

A lot of people say that you're probably just as well off with a good (secure!) dumbell. I dunno though, a lot of other people swear by them. I'd love to give them a shot as they'd suit my training by the looks of them.

Hope the back heals up soon. Theres nothing worse than a back injury I was plagued by one for a year so.

smacl

I got a couple of kettle bells from Neill a few years ago while training for a comp and still use them pretty regularly. Personally, I find them a lot more fun than dumbells because you have to concentrate more on what you're doing. IMO, the dynamics are very different on many exercises, particularly where the KB flips over your fist onto your forearm. For example, when you 'clean' a kettlebell, it becomes almost weightless during the flip over, and then you recieve its full weight; almost like catching a heavy ball. You don't get nearly so much of this with dumbells. See http://www.powerathletesmag.com/archives/eight/cleanandpress.htm

Whether kettlebells do more for you than any other weights, I couldn't say. I enjoy using them, which means I use them more than I would otherwise, which makes them very beneficial.

Scramble

I injured my ribs before xmas, and got a doctor to take a look at them. He said that whether you fracture ribs or just badly bruise them the treatment is the same: Pain relief and six weeks of rest (!).

I couldn't do much for the first two weeks and then towards the end of the third I went back to Muay Thai. The next week, BJJ, although this was more difficult as even if you're not under pressure you are using that part of your body all the time when you're on your back.

It really did take around five weeks before I was back to normal. It did seem to pretty much be a matter of resting up.

Dave Joyce

Hmm, just seeing a bit of interest here reminds me that Neil offered to come over and do a seminar here. Just wondering if there would be much interest from many of you guys if I could organise that in the future????

Roper

For kettlebell training Dave? I'd go to that if the price was right.

henryb

I'd be up for it dave. Out of action at the minute for
a week or so with a back injury. (the joys of the building sites)
But as soon as fit, count me in!

henryb

Cheers for all the info lads. didnt realise there was so much
detail into using one!

smacl

I'd be interested in this one as well, Dave, though I'm pretty out of shape at the moment. Any idea when and where?

Black Swan

See a PT (licensed physical therapist). Several specialise in sports medicine. I would be cautious about seeing a chiropractor.

Nothingcompares

Blue_Lagoon wrote:

See a PT (licensed physical therapist). Several specialise in sports medicine. I would be cautious about seeing a chiropractor.

Why so? What's wrong with chiropractors? Not that I've anything against physiotherapists.