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Top tips for moving well and winter exercise 

Top tips for exercise in the colder months!

 

As winter approaches, it is important to prioritise your warm-up routine before exercising. A proper warm-up routine, not only helps to prevent injury, but also helps to increase flexibility and joint range of motion. It prepares your body for your workout.

 

 

 

Warm up

Warming up is essential in winter.  Your body takes longer to warm up during winter to ensure adequate blood flow to the muscles before you commence more vigorous exercise.

A warm up can consist of light jogging, jumping jacks, arm circles and skater slides and planks dynamic warm-up exercises.  Allow 5-10 minutes to warm up before you commence your sport or exercise.

 

Wear warm layers

If you are exercising outside, make sure you wear warm clothing and/or layers so that you can appropriately change your layers to allow for body (and air temperature) changes.

Compression tights are a great investment for exercising in the winter months.  They enhance blood flow through the leg muscles, helping to prevent fatigue and joint stiffness.

Breathe in through your nose

Inhalation of colder air can cause your bronchial tubes to narrow. This can reduce the capacity of the mucous membranes to stay moist and is exacerbated if you breathe in through your mouth.

Breathing in through your nose gives incoming air an opportunity to be moistened and heated through the nasal mucosa and mouth.  IMPORTANT: If you are asthmatic, it is best to consult your GP regarding training in cold weather.

Cool down

Cooling down is an important part of your winter exercise program.  Cooling down exercises allow your muscles to gradually return to their optimal length-tension relationship and prevent venous pooling of blood in the lower extremities. They also allow your heart rate and breathing to return to a normal level and prevent a build-up of lactic acid in the muscles.

TIP: Make sure you put your layers back on before your cool down exercises to keep your body warm.

 

Learn more

Posted in Dynamic stretching, Exercise, Physiotherapy, Running, Strive, Tips on May 15th, 2019 by strive

The Psoas

The Psoas (Greek for loins) is a long muscle that attaches to both the lumbar spine and pelvis. The primary function of the Psoas is to lift the upper leg towards the body.

But did you know that it also helps bend the trunk sideways (lateral flexion) and helps you get up from a lying down position?

It is a key muscle used in running and also helps with movements at the hip joint.

Tightness in the psoas can lead to pain in the lower back as it can compress the lumbar discs when tight. It can also limit your trunk sideways movements when tight.

Irritation of the psoas can lead to groin and thigh pain.

 

Stretching your Psoas

The sequence below shows you how to do this stretch that will let you know if you have a tight psoas but also give your psoas a well-deserved stretch.

psoas-stretch

The Psoas stretch lengthens the muscles at the front of the hip.

  • To begin, ensure your rear knee is directly under your hip and your front knee is in line with your front heel.
  • Tuck your bottom under and lean forward.
  • For an extra stretch place your hands behind your head and slightly arch your upper back backwards.

More exercises

Click the type of exercise below.

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Posted in Exercise, Running, Stretching, Tips, Training on July 25th, 2018 by strive

Tips for Injury Free Running

Running as an exercise has many benefits including:

  • Improves cardiovascular fitness
  • Strengthens muscles
  • Improves bone density
  • Helps maintain a healthy weight

It can also be a great stress reliever and great fun, particularly if running with groups, friends or in ‘fun runs’.

Like all sports, you can become injured during running, so here are some helpful tips to keep you injury free and keep you running well.

 

1. Build up your running fitness gradually

Too fast too soon is a recipe for injury in running. You need to give your muscles, tendons and bones to adapt to the stresses of running.

If you are training for an event like the Sydney to Surf:

  • Start your training well in advance (at least 6-8weeks)
  • Start with a jog/walk combination if you are new to running
  • Don’t increase your distance by more than 10-15% each week

 

2. Plan your relative rest

Relative rest is an important part of improving running fitness as it allows your muscles to heal, become stronger and energy systems to regenerate.

  • Relative rest at least every alternate day to allow adequate recovery
  • Allow adequate time frames (blocks) for your body to adapt to your running training schedule eg Week 1-3 weeks build condition for a steady jog, Week 4-6 increase distance, Weeks 6-8 increase speed.
  • Have a relative rest one week or at least a few days before an event.

 

3. Add variety

As you build up your running fitness, if you do the same course, distance and/or speed your body will start to plateau.

Add in interval training or cross training to your running program to build running fitness.

 

4. Warm up

Muscles need to warm up before breaking out into a run. This ensures blood flow to the muscles and temperature is at an optimum before use.

 

5. Cool down

A proper cool down allows your heart rate to return to normal gradually, avoid pooling of blood in your lower limbs and to your body to return to its resting state as efficiently as possible.

 

Don’t stop your run suddenly.

Continue at a walking pace for 2-3 minute after your run.

Do cool down exercises.

For more information

If you need help with developing a running training program tailored to your specific needs, then call us on 9819 6151. We can help keep you running well.

Posted in Exercise, Running, Strive, Tips on July 25th, 2018 by strive

Dynamic Exercises for Runners

Dynamic exercises helps the muscles to stretch through their optimal length and take the joint through a full range of motion prior to doing an activity. For runners we suggest the following sequence of stretching exercises.

 

1. Walk 3-5 minutes – to take joints through a range of motion

– Increases blood flow to muscles
– Stimulates the nervous system that you are ready to run

2. Jog 100m 2-3 times – to increase blood flow to muscles

– Recruits fast twitch fibres

 

3. Lateral swings – to mobilise hip joint

– Swing leg side to side

– Lengthen muscles on the inside outside of the hip

 

4. Karate kicks – to mobilise hip joint

– Swing leg forward and back

– Lengthen muscles hip extensors

5. Dynamic lunge – to mobilise hip knee and ankle joints

– Lengthens muscles on the thigh, hip and lower leg

 

More exercises

Cooling down exercises

 

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Posted in Dynamic stretching, Exercise, Hamstrings, Running, Tips on July 24th, 2018 by strive

Cool down exercises for runners

Below are our recommended cool down exercises for runners .

These are ideal for after a run or after an fun run event such as Sydney to Surf.

Hold each stretch for 30 seconds and repeat 3 times each side.

 

1.  Walk 3-5 minutes

– Allows heart rate to return to normal
– Avoids pooling of blood in lower limbs

 

2. Quad stretch

– To lengthen the muscles of the front of the thigh

– Ensure knee is directly underneath your hip

 

 

3. Adductor stretch

-To lengthen the muscles of the inside of the thigh

-Don’t let your foot roll inwards. Lift up through the arch for a better stretch

 

 

4. Glut Stretch

-To lengthen the buttock muscles

-For an added stretch gently push your knee away from you

 

5. Soleus Stretch

-To lengthen the deep muscles of the lower leg

 

 

6  Psoas Stretch

-Lengthens the muscles at the front of the hip

 

  • To begin, ensure your rear knee is directly under your hip and your front knee is in line with your front heel.
  • Tuck your bottom under and lean forward.
  • For an extra stretch place your hands behind your head and slightly arch your upper back backwards.

 

Would you like more help?

If you need help with developing a running training program tailored to your specific needs, then call us on 9819 6151. We can help keep you moving well.

More exercises

Warming up exercises  – dynamic exercises for runners

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Posted in Exercise, Running, Strive on July 24th, 2018 by strive

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