Coming back from injuries

[samurai999]

Hi all,

I am recovering from Achilles tendon surgery (it was completely ruptured) and was wondering if there was anything I could do to ease myself back.
I am currently shodan.

This sorta implies what I should do for therapy/training after I regain the range of motion of my foot. I am currently in a cast for half a week more and then I get a nice, big heavier boot. :D

I am collecting a pot of ideas, tips and tricks so I can have a good idea of what to expect and what to do.

Thanks,

Tim

[JSchmidt]

When I returned to kendo after a back injury, I started with the beginners, doing basic suburi and footwork. Slowly build up strength that way and progress to wearing armor again.
(It was actually quite enlightning to be down at that end again!).


Jakob

[Ares2907]

Guess it depends on the current status of the tendon. If you can't do the footwork, you might like to try some gentle stationary suburi and spend some time on your upper body. Do various suburi both with and without bogu and see what the differences are.
When I was out for six weeks with a groin strain (let's take all jokes as having been said), I spent the time on grip-work, tenouchi, swing and paying close attention to how my muscles were operating. It's been invaluable. I noticed a bunch of tells that I had when preparing to strike and I loosened up a whole lot.
I'm sure you'll give your foot enough of a workout just keeping yourself stable to begin with. After that, whatever your physio suggests I guess.

[burger boy]

Ares,
I feel your pain! I was sidelined for a month with a groin pull but
didn't have the guts to tell anyone for fear of the jokes! So I faked a limp until it healed and told everyone it was a bad achilles injury!

Samurai999,
I would discuss things with your doctor or physical therapist before getting back into the thick of things...no sense doing too much too soon and possibly making things worse.

burger boy

[nodachi]

And I would do extra stretching before and after practices. Kendo doesn't seem to focus too much on stretching during the warm up, at least at my club, so you may need to put in a little extra time to help ease you back into things and prevent this from happening again in the future.

[kendomushi]

When you start doing the footwork again, pay attention not only to what your doc says, but make sure you are stretching in the way you do the foot work. I see lots of people trying to stretch their achilles and legs with the foot turned ourward varying degrees. That is not the direction of force you will put on it, stretch the achilles with the foot pointed straight forward, exactly as you move in kendo. Make sure your doc knows this is how you move as he may have more specific recommendations to help you get back into things comfortably. In any event, don't push yourself too hard. Let the healing process take its own course.

[Old Warrior]

I'm weighing in with natural herbal type remedies. I tore my acl/mcl and meniscus in my left knee and I have been taking Glucosamine/Chrondroiten and Omega 3. Since I am a lot older than you and arthritis is always a problem resulting from joint injuries I truly believe the regimen has allowed me to return to activity. I refused surgery because I had only partial tears and was not convinced that the surgical insult wouldn't make it worse. On the exercise side I recommend simple walking. It is not traumatic and if you vary the terrain the tendon will get stretched nicely.

[rottunpunk]

i got a bad shoulder cuz its broke-so i just pump myself with pain killers which work for a bit

but dont do anything that will jeapordise you getting fully fit

if it hurts stop training and sit out for a bit

just take it slow dude

old warrior-a personal question-what does the 0CCCCC [] etc mean on ur signature? just curious

:p

[Old Warrior]

0CCCC[]XXXXX>>>>>>>>>>>>-

This is a bad rendition of a katana. I'm not an artist, just an old lawyer.

[rottunpunk]

ah i see it now-and i spent all those years being forced to look at abstract art too-grr arg

im a young lawyer-gonna b in the cps when i grow up

what area do you specialise in?

:p

[Old Warrior]

http://www.lawyers.com/sterncyclelaw/index.jsp

[rottunpunk]

wow you're quite accomplished

i havnt even qualified yet-still doing my degree

but ive got 2 criminal law placements for solicitor shadowing in t' summer and im doing a week at the cps

im thinking about looking into media law a bit deeper too-seems interesting

:p