Calf strain!

macinalli

Hi all,

Have been training for the Dublin marathon, did 15 miles last weekend in 2 hr 20 and had been really happy with the way it was going. Until Tuesday! Turns out I've a grade 1/grade 2 calf strain, not too serious and the physio has suggested that it'll take 4 weeks to recover. She's optimistic I'll still be ok for the marathon but I don't think she really appreciates the training.

If I'm out for 4 weeks I'd expect to lose some fitness at a time I should be upping the LSR to 18/19 miles. I know that I'm not the first to get injured like this (apparently the physio is seeing lots of marathon runners:eek:) - is it possible to recover from this in time for the big day?

hunnymonster

Why do you not believe your physio? We don't know your injury, she does, If she thinks you'll be back in time we certainly can't advise better. Is aqua jogging an option to maintain fitness?

macinalli

It's not that I don't believe her - if she says I'm back in 4 weeks then that's fine. I've no problems with that. My worry is only about the timing. I'm just adding up the weeks and see that my first weekend run back will be September 14 and I'm not sure if that gives me enough time to build the mileage up.

Never even considered aqua-jogging, will look into it. If I could maintain the fitness that'd be brilliant - my worry is that I'll be losing fitness when I should be going the other way...

Racing Flat

Speak to the physio and find out what she means by 'back in 4 weeks'. It might be that she is happy for you to jog for these 4 weeks but not run hard, or maybe you have to rest fully for a week or two, then ease back, or maybe she wants you cross-training. It's unlikely that she will want you doing nothing for 4 weeks. If so, you could always do something like swimming without using your legs (using one of those pull boy things) or use the 'bike that you pedal with your arms' (or whatever it's called) in the gym to keep working out your heart/lungs to the same extent as you were at running, while not straining the calf.

The worst thing you could do is train through the pain and make it worse and be out for longer, so listen to the expert (if not happy get a second opinion) and your body. And these things aren't so black and white. The average might be 4 weeks but if in 2 weeks you are feeling great, the physiotherapist might advise you to go back training earlier.

Physiotherapists always see more marathon runners at this time of year - think of the many thousands all over the country doing Longford, Dublin, Berlin, Amsterdam, New York, Chicago... a certain percentage have to get injured. 4 easier weeks now and you'll still have all of September and a week or 2 of October for hard training, so all is not lost.

macinalli

Cheers for the tips RF & HM, hadn't intended to criticise the physio and didn't realise there were so many training options available while injured.

Next physio session is on Monday, I'll have a chat with her then about some way of keeping the fitness up while not pressing the injured muscle.

ZiggyStardust

Hi guys,
This is just a personal point of view, so please don’t slate me .

Personally I would always go to a Physical Therapist over a Physiotherapist anyday. Any Physio I have been to, I have always been told to take 4-6 weeks off running (no matter what the injury) and to visit them once but preferably twice a week. Now I know there are many of you who would swear by their Physio, but to me I have never come away from one feeling confident that they would sort my issue. Also, the last one I went to was charging €50 a session.
I was recommended a Physical Therapist in my home town who is himself an international Vet (400m). Just in brief……. He identified the source of my knee issue within 5 minutes, worked on my knee for a bit, then my lower back and hip (the work he did was painful). Told me of specific stretches and to lay off for 3-4 days. I had a knee injury since running New York last November and it went within 2 weeks of seeing this guy. Now I’m all guns blazing for Berlin.

I don’t want to be promoting any Physical Therapists as I don’t know any personally, but to me I will always go this road than to a Physio.

Again it is only my opinion, but maybe can help others who might not know there is another option than the Physio.

Regards,

Stupid_Private

ZiggyStardust wrote: »

Hi guys,
This is just a personal point of view, so please don’t slate me .

Personally I would always go to a Physical Therapist over a Physiotherapist anyday. Any Physio I have been to, I have always been told to take 4-6 weeks off running (no matter what the injury) and to visit them once but preferably twice a week. Now I know there are many of you who would swear by their Physio, but to me I have never come away from one feeling confident that they would sort my issue. Also, the last one I went to was charging €50 a session.
I was recommended a Physical Therapist in my home town who is himself an international Vet (400m). Just in brief……. He identified the source of my knee issue within 5 minutes, worked on my knee for a bit, then my lower back and hip (the work he did was painful). Told me of specific stretches and to lay off for 3-4 days. I had a knee injury since running New York last November and it went within 2 weeks of seeing this guy. Now I’m all guns blazing for Berlin.

I don’t want to be promoting any Physical Therapists as I don’t know any personally, but to me I will always go this road than to a Physio.

Again it is only my opinion, but maybe can help others who might not know there is another option than the Physio.

Regards,

I second this. Every physio always tells you to take an extended time off training. I had one who once told me to quit running. I swear by my Physio Therapist and won't see anyone besides him. The longest he ever has me off the road is 24 hours.

liamo

ZiggyStardust wrote: »

Personally I would always go to a Physical Therapist over a Physiotherapist anyday.

Hi,

I'm a bit confused.

What's the difference between a Physical Therapist and a Physiotherapist?

I did a quick bit of research and Wikipedia says they're the same thing.

Is there a subtle difference that I'm missing?

Regards,

Liam

Stupid_Private

I'm not too sure on the exact name. The key difference I find is that one beats the absolute sh1t out of your legs and the other gently massages them and tells you everything will be alright if you stop running for a few weeks.

tunney

I'd also agree with this, I've seen multiple physios about knees and shoulders. Much money and sessions later I'm going to a guy near my house. Never more than two sessions and always back swimming and running within a week. Usually the next day.

ZiggyStardust

Stupid_Private wrote: »

I'm not too sure on the exact name. The key difference I find is that one beats the absolute sh1t out of your legs and the other gently massages them and tells you everything will be alright if you stop running for a few weeks.

:):)
Yes Physical therapists are quite painful.


Someone else can correct me if I'm wrong.
From what I understand, Physical therapists are more hands on than Physio therapists, focusing on the manual treatment of the issue. Physio's use the rehabilitate approach which can take longer.

hunnymonster

Or put another way
One has a university degree, a chartered career path and scientific background (physiotherapist)
the other has a part time ordinary degreee (level 7, what used to be called a diploma), may not be registered with any professional body and can't use a lot of techniques (e.g. tens) (physical therapist)

I'm playing devils advocate here somewhat. There are some excellent physical therapists out there but I like the guaranteed knowledge that goes with seeing a physiotherapist. If the physio doesn't work then I would be open to other avenues but a chartered physiotherapist will always be my first call.

Some of the differences are explained here
http://www.iptas.ie/faq.html
What is the difference between Physical Therapy and Physiotherapy? There are a number of significant differences between the two professions. They have been organised within Ireland as discrete professions for almost two decades.
Physiotherapy is a four-year university degree course designed in the main for school leavers, whereas physical therapy is a three-year degree course from a private college, designed for mature students and adult learners.
Physiotherapy training sometimes focuses primarily on hospital work whereas physical therapy is designed as an approach suitable for conditions seen mostly in private practice. Physical therapy training focuses solely on the use of manual or hands-on techniques, whereas physiotherapy can incorporate electrical modalities such as interferential, ultrasound, tens, laser and other non-manual treatments.

Physiotherapy graduates are trained for work in the public hospitals whereas the physical therapy approach is far more suited to private practice.