Yes folks, back again, with yet another #$@!ing "injury". I officially am NEVER working out again until after I have COMPLETELY warmed up and stretched.

So I did my chest/tris workout, got through it injury free. Awesome. Well, then I went over to the treadmill right away for a quick 10 minute all out run. I figured since I lifted for an hour, my body is warm, no need for a 5 min warm up or stretch. I had it on like a 5% incline at 7.5mph. I get off and my calf hurts a bit, so I sit down and stretch for a few. Drive home, get out of the car and DAMN, I can hardly walk right without limping.

I iced it twice for 25-30 mins and it feels a bit better, but it still is painful! What I'm wondering is if anyone knows how involved the calf muscle is in other cardio activites such as the bike or elliptical. I had to take the entire last week off from cardio thanks to hurting my lower back and am not too keen on the idea of taking this week off cardio as well. I don't think the bike puts stress on the calf, but perhaps someone who uses the bike could tell me, because I hardly ever have. The elliptical might? I use it all the time, but I can't picture how much stress is put on the calf muscle...

Any thoughts?

Tryed swimming? Very good cardio =) You are realy good if you manage to hurt your self swimming!
Anyways :gl: !

-Alexander

Tryed swimming? Very good cardio =) You are realy good if you manage to hurt your self swimming!
Anyways :gl: !

-Alexander

Easy to hurt yourself swimming: flip-turn too close to the wall and shatter your heels, flip-turn too far from the wall and throw out a leg muscle by not connecting with the wall, strain your shoulder by throwing it forward or rotating it incorrectly, dive off a block and skim the bottom, cut yourself on the lane lines (happens all the freaking time), jam your hand or head into the wall backstroking, et cetera.

Most of these problems are solved by knowing correct form, timing, and stroke counts though.

Christ, haha.. Never happend to me at least, without a few tummy splaches! :o

-Alexander

hmm... swimming is actually a really good idea, I just don't know if/when my school's pool is available for open use. Might have to look into that. Although not being able to use my mp3 player could make it tedious and boring? I have't swam for cardio reasons, ever...

Although not being able to use my mp3 player could make it tedious and boring?

It's only as tedious and boring as you make it.

When I'm swimming a 100-250, all I'm thinking is the distance I'm on with the end distance in the back of my mind; that's all I can do or I forget how many laps I've swum.

If I'm doing short sprints, less than 100, I'm concentrating on going as fast as I can while screaming short words in my mind: "go", "swim, "right", "left", "kick", "faster", "flip", "dive", "pull", "push", "up", "argh!!!", "extend", "touch", "yes!" It can be quite intense.

Long sprints, 100s or 200s, are tough; it's a combination of the 100-250 distance counting and the short spring interjections.

On longer distance, really 250+, ideally you have someone counting your laps for you or swimming in front of you. So you stop when you get the signal or the person in front stops. A lot of people just use this time to think, some clear their mind. As weird as it sounds, most of the people who think end up doing basic math and distance or time conversions.

Honestly, I hardly ever have time to get bored. ;)

I have't swam for cardio reasons, ever...

If you haven't been swimming, be prepared to be sore as hell after your first session.

I don't think the bike puts stress on the calf, but perhaps someone who uses the bike could tell me, because I hardly ever have.

I do ride my bike a lot and it does use the calf muscles a lot. Why lots of people do not actually feel it if because most people have a semi-broken foot position on the pedals. It is kinda hard to explain but you should have the big boney part of your foot, the one close to your toes, just behid where your toes rotate right on top of the axle of the pedal.

Most people put the middle of their sole over the the axle, making their feet positioned much further forward than they should be. In this forware feet position you have much less levarage with your calves.

Now that being said, if you go easy on an indoor bike, it might actually help relaxing your calf muscle. I would not suggest going on the road, since you cannot really control the resistance if you hit a hill.