The Growing Need to Treat powerlifting injuries
Powerlifting and Olympic weightlifting have made a huge impact in the health and fitness industry. The trend we are seeing in gyms today is the addition of more squat racks, dead-lifting platforms and bumper plates. Lifting obscene amounts of weight by men and women has become increasingly popular in the gym community. This is matched by an increase in traumatic and repetitive strain injuries from this sport.
Our therapists understand the complex movement patterns involved in powerlifting and Olympic weightlifting, and can effectively manage the common injuries that result through suboptimal technique and excessive overload. We can also provide you with restorative exercises that will ensure the longevity of your participation in the sport as well as working to prevent future injury.
The “Big Three” Powerlifting Exercises
The sport of powerlifting revolves around three primary lifts:
- Squat
- Dead lift
- Bench Press
Powerlifters may include other movements into their exercise programs such as the shoulder press, front squat, sumo deadlift, and/or a variety of others. Their programming can depend on a number of factors including strength goals, physique or other limitations.
Whilst the ultimate goal is to succeed in the three primary lifts, the route to success for each athlete can vary greatly. Being familiar with these aspects of the sport are integral to a therapist’s understanding of how to manage the athlete.
Injury Risks in Powerlifting
The three primary lifts share a common risk factor with regard to joint health – compressive stress.
The squat and the deadlift produce large amounts of compression through the spine, especially through the lower lumbar spine. This can result in low back pain and often lumbar disc injuries. The bench press creates compression mostly through the shoulders, which can lead to shoulder impingement and rotator cuff issues.
Whilst the body can withstand some of this loading, and even relies on compression to carry out certain metabolic processes, too much compression can be detrimental to the joints. Consistent overloading of the joints may lead to premature degeneration and arthritis.
The repetitive nature of this type of training also inevitably leads to wear and tear of the relevant anatomical structures. There is thus a need for therapeutic and preventative care amongst the powerlifting and weightlifting community.
This care revolves around three pivotal premises: expert assessment, effective treatment, and preventative measures. Our therapists understand the relevant movement patterns involved in the sport of powerlifting and use this knowledge to identify your particular injury or shortcoming. Through extensive training and years of experience, we are well-equipped to provide high-quality treatment and useful take-home advice.
How can The Physicaltherapy Centre help?
Our therapists take an active interest in many sports, including powerlifting. Whilst we may not claim to be elite powerlifters, we do claim to have expert knowledge in understanding human movement, how the body responds to loading, and the development of repetitive strain injuries. We understand that people have different interests within the health and fitness industry and so we are committed to helping them achieve their goals. Our goal is to help you continue to do what it is you love and enjoy.
Chiropractic and Physio Treatments for Powerlifters
Chiropractic care and physiotherapy can help to decompress your spine and hasten soft tissue recovery, which will insure lifters longevity in the sport. There are many different techniques that therapists can use to help powerlifters. Here are five treatments we have found to be highly effective.
1. Chiropractic treatment
Restoring range of motion to restricted joints from repetitive lifting may alleviate, almost instantaneously, some causes of spinal pain as well as dramatically increasing your ability to lift. The largely weight-bearing sacroiliac joints [SIJs] and lumbar spine should be paid special attention, as this is where most of the loads ultimately accumulate. The hips and thoracic spine should also be assessed for proper mobility as these regions are hugely important in positioning the body correctly during the various lifts. Improving range of motion at the SIJs and hips helps with the depth of squatting. Freeing up the thoracic spine will enable a more comfortable bar position during squatting, as well as enabling better posture during squatting and dead lifting.
2. Joint Mobilisation
Mobilisation techniques are similar to manipulation techniques in that they improve joint range of motion. Mobilising the hip joints will provide a very beneficial stretch to the joint capsule. When addressing lower back complaints, a lack of hip motion can cause compensatory motion in the lumbar spine which in turn leads to increased shear stress and load to the spinal soft tissues.
3. Active Release Technique
This gold standard of soft tissue treatment is extremely effective for treating muscles, ligaments and nerves throughout the body. There are areas within the body which when treated, will greatly enhance performance of powerlifters in their sport. Treating the latissimus dorsi in combination with the lumbar erector spinae and lumbopelvic fascia will reduce tissue immobility and tightness. It also restores any irregularity in the normal functioning of these structures that can cause imbalances at the lumbopelvic region.
4. Remedial Massage Treatment
The dreaded tightness that follows tough workout sessions in the gym is a phenomenon powerlifters know all too well. Discomfort experienced when trying to tie shoe laces, bending forward, or even moving to sit down on a chair can become very frustrating. This tightness can also be the reason for not returning to the gym sooner. A regular massage can help flush the body of the metabolic by-products of exercise and see you returning to the weight lifting room earlier and with reduced potential for incurring injury.
5. Exercise rehabilitation for powerlifters
Individual rehab programs help powerlifters with any mobility or motor control (stability) issues that they have. Getting on top of these dysfunctions will help powerlifters to prevent injury and enhance their performance. As a starting point, this simple routine for low back pain may help you with decompressing your lumbar spine.
Take Your Lifts to the Next Level
Competitive powerlifters in particular, should seriously consider receiving regular treatment from a health practitioner. In the same way that your car needs servicing every six months or 10,000kms (whichever occurs sooner), so too does your body. You probably use your body more so than your car, so book it in for a tune-up regularly and reap the benefits of preventative therapy that keeps you lifting longer and stronger.
If you have any questions about chiropractic treatment for powerlifters, give the clinic a call on (02) 99226116 or visit us at Walker House, Level 3, Suite 304, 161 Walker Street, North Sydney for more information.
