Weight Training Injuries

Weight training:

Starting a weight-training program is a great way to meet the needs of our body while also relieving stress and helping our self-image. When done with the proper techniques, weight training is a valued and pain-free part of the daily workout. Unfortunately, many individuals who train with weights regularly do not utilize proper technique, are skeletally immature, or use anabolic steroids. All of the involve a high risk of injury. The weight-training injuries sustained not only harm the body, but they also reduce the individualâs motivation to continue because of the pain experienced.

Of the injuries sustained, two basic categories are present. First, acute injuries are classified as those that are attained from a macrotrauma (or one sudden incident). These commonly include:

• Sprains: involves ligaments, articular capsule, synovial membrane.
• Strains: stretch, tear, or rip in the muscle, fascia, and/or tendon.
• Tendon avulsions: tendon is separated from the attached muscle.
• Compartment syndrome: increase in pressure within the muscleâs compartment causing weakness.

The second type of injury, classified as chronic, is attained from microtraumas (or repetitive stress). The most common cause of chronic injury is excessive training or, once again, the practice of improper technique. Common chronic injuries associated with weight training include:

• Rotator cuff impingement: diffuse shoulder pain that increases with overhead activity.
• Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS): compression of the subclavian artery and brachial plexus in the neck and shoulder.