“Activity tracker data is going to be better than self-reported data,” said Dr. Michael Fredericson, a sports physician at Stanford University, who was not involved in the study. “We know that people’s ability to self-report is flawed,” often because people don’t accurately remember how much exercise they did in a day or week.
” One red flag is swelling around a joint after a workout, according to Dr. Michael Fredericson, a sports medicine physician at Stanford Health Care.”
Any stiffness around joints in the knees, hips, ankles or lower back is also concerning, he said, while adding that stiffness around a muscle you worked out is normal.
You should take notice if joint or muscle stiffness is ever “impairing your ability to walk,” Fredericson said. If that’s the case, you should get in touch with your doctor.
“If you do decide to try foam rolling, Dr. Michael Fredericson, professor of sports medicine at the Stanford School of Medicine, suggested a stiff roller.”
“A good set of insoles will help prevent something called overpronation, said Dr. Michael Fredericson, a professor of orthopedics at Stanford University. Pronation is when the foot rolls inward, usually caused by an arch that is not strong enough to properly support the body’s weight. Those with flatter feet are more likely to experience it.
Products from brands like Superfeet and SOLE can counteract the most common forms of pronation by supporting the center of a foot’s arch Dr. Fredericson said. But if you have a more complex issue, he added, a custom orthotic might be needed.”
“The biggest reason people have recurrent ankle sprains is that they never do rehabilitation,” said Dr. Michael Fredericson, a sports physician at Stanford University.
One thing to be mindful of is not coming back to obstacle racing too soon after an injury without taking proper precautions. “Overuse injuries occur in the muscles and tendons and are probably more common in Spartan Racers,” says Dr. Michael Fredericson, Director of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) Sports Medicine in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at the Stanford University Medical Center. “Returning to high-intensity athletics from an overuse injury too early won’t necessarily predispose you to arthritis, but if you have a ligament tear, those are usually traumatic. Coming back from one of those too soon can cause arthritic problems because of the unstabilized and unequal forces on your knee.”
” The drug, trimetazidine, is intended to help increase blood flow to the heart, which would typically help older people with heart disease, said Dr. Michael Fredericson of Stanford University’s School of Medicine. “
” Take three to four weeks to ease back to your previous activity levels, even if you’re in terrific shape and felt only mild symptoms, says Michael Fredericson, a sports-medicine physician at Stanford Health Care. “
“High-impact activities like jump rope have been shown to provide a force that is high enough to build bone density. Compared to other, lower-impact exercises, “this is going to be much better for you in terms of building your bone density,” said Dr. Michael Fredericson, an orthopedic surgeon at Stanford University School of Medicine.”
The typical pattern: In March, people thought they would work from home for just a couple of weeks, so it was no problem to work from the couch. Or perhaps their spouse or roommate, also working from home, claimed the one serviceable desk.
At first they felt only mild discomfort. Then, gradually, the pain sharpened. This is most commonly an “overuse injury” that stems from repetitive trauma, said Dr. Michael Fredericson, professor of orthopedic surgery at Stanford University, adding, “It’s kind of like when a tire blows out on you. It wasn’t necessarily one incident; the tread was wearing down over time.”
“It doesn’t always take that much,” said Dr. Fredericson, adding that because increased stress can boost the risk of injury, we should do what we can to relax. “It’s really the simple things. Get out. Take a walk.”