s e m o n i a n

Earlier this year, I was playing basketball in the park when I sustained a hamstring injury. It was my usual weekend warrior visit to capture another afternoon of my waning youth amongst the squeaks of sneakers and echoing ball bounce.

Up until that point, I had never experienced any real pain or strain in the area. (But like most athletes, I might have felt some tightness in my hamstrings and lower back.) The injury that day was not due to a traumatic blow or a slip. It was my 4th straight game. At my age, my body was simply tired. As I attempted to slow myself down, I felt a pop in my leg. And you can ask anyone on the court, I wasn’t shy about the pain! I was laid up and hurting for a few days.

But it got me thinking. Was it my actual physical fatigue that caused the injury? What part of my body became tired?

Turns out, most likely, it was my mind. There has been a lot of research lately linking mental fatigue with physical performance. In the August issue of Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, a study was published that suggested the brain is just as important as the muscle in preventing knee injuries. As we fatigue mentally, the ability to correctly perform a movement decreases. When we break down bio-mechanically we add new force to muscles, tendons, ligaments, and joints that they are not accustomed to handling. This can lead to injury as our body is now not functioning properly under new strain.

As we train ourselves and workout, we are attempting to fatigue the body. The challenge is getting as close as possible to the line of exhaustion without pushing too much past it. This way, we can allow our body to adapt and grow from the stimulus given, without increasing the risk of fatigue-related injuries.

Be careful out there! If you’re tired, know when to stop working out. Sit out that next game. Don’t let your ego harm your hamstring. Getting proper rest mentally and physically will help you stay injury free and allow more weekend warrior playing.

Enjoy Your Exercise. Enjoy Your Day.