Sports Training Tips

Possible Causes of an Athlete’s Calf Pain

Good Morning,

About a month ago, I overheard two friends discussing a similar problem afflicting the two of them: calf pain. One was training for a triathlon and shared that his calf would become sore each time he finished riding his bike and started to run. The other friend is an avid cyclist and noted the onset of calf pain with weight bearing activities but no occurrence of calf pain while riding his bike.

The two athletes share a sports training injury dilemma with a common thread between the two stories.

I noted a hidden similarity between the two conditions and a common denominator with what I’ve seen clinically as a practicing physical therapist.

I’ll get to the answer about the possible cause of my friends’ calf pain in my next blog post after sharing some of the most common causes of calf pain in athletes.(I think the answer to their common problem is a real gem and an ‘outside the box’ perspective regarding calf pain and calf injuries.)

Calf pain can afflict all types of athletes. It is not just limited to runners. Calf pain can occur in athletes training for hockey, training for soccer, tennis, basketball, football, and basically the list is endless.

Below are some of the more common causes of calf pain in athletes and a brief discussion under each point.

1. Overtraining. Frequent training with too little rest to allow for adequate post-exercise recovery is a recipe for a calf injury. In addition, starting a program in poor physical shape and believing you will be able to whip yourself into shape in a week or two is another way to surely injure yourself. Take a hard look at your training program. Are you allowing enough time for rest between training sessions? One of the keys of a good training program is to allow enough time for your body to adapt to the training loads exerted upon your body. The muscles and tendons present in your calf require time to adaptively become stronger and more resilient to the mass of your body, gravity, and ground reaction forces.

2. Changes in the training program. Running 5 km on level ground on grass in a park is different and most likely easier than running 5 km over steep hills on a paved road. Likewise, jumping from a 36 inch box is a big upgrade in plyometric training compared to a 12 inch box. Recognize the differences and progressions in your training program. When the volume and/or intensity of a workout are tweaked, expect a corresponding change in how your body feels. Don’t discount the forces and loads your calf has to contend with when changes are made in your training.

3. Changes in footwear. Did a sale at the local mall rope you in and you changed your regular training footwear for a more stylish look? Sounds good, but if the new shoes are the wrong design for your body type/foot, you may inadvertently develop calf pain. The shoes on your feet have an enormous impact on the way your calf reacts to weight bearing activities such as jogging, running, sprinting, jumping, hopping, and lunging.

4. Altered foot mechanics: A static postural foot deformity (aka ‘poor foot posture’) will often rear its head with dynamic movement. Walking, jogging, running, sprinting, jumping, and hopping, are types of weight bearing activities that are sure to exacerbate poor foot biomechanics. The foot is the first part of the kinetic chain to strike the ground and if the foot is not operating properly, the calf may start to pay the price for ineffective shock absorption by the foot.

A complete list of biomechanical foot conditions that can cause calf pain will be for a latter discussion on our company sports training blog.

My list of the most common causes of calf pain in athletes is reflective of my perceptions as a physical therapist and the athletes that have walked through my door with calf pain.

Return again to our company blog and I’ll share the answer to the possible cause of calf pain involving my two athletic friends.

Train Smart and Train Hard,

Perry Coma, Director of Kinetic Athletic Inc.-‘The Way to Train’
A Sports Training Equipment and Sports Fitness Programs Company

Twenty Years of Sports Training Observations

Good Morning,

Last month, I hit a professional milestone that I was sure was not right. Apparently, enough time has passed that I can claim twenty years of experience in my professional field (counting academic training plus professional clinical work).

So I had a cold drink (large McDonald's Iced Coffee for a loonie, mmmm.) and reflected on what I've observed and learnt over my interaction with athletes from all walks of life with regards to sports training and sports conditioning for the last twenty years.

Twenty years of working with athletes in physical rehabilitation, prevention, and training for their specific sport has been a continual process of learning. And I'm still learning. There are still days that I get humbled and feel like a newbie. I can claim I've seen a lot but far from everything this field of work encompasses.

So here's a few observations from twenty years of work and hopefully it will benefit you in some way, shape, or form when it comes to your athletic training.

There is no particular order or hierarchy to the following commentatry.

1. Most athletes start their training programs way too late. Working on your strength, agility, speed, balance, endurance, reaction time, or whatever aspect of your abilities one to two weeks prior to a big event or trying out for 'the team' is pointless. The process of training is a continual process and must start way beforehand. (think months and years not days or a couple of weeks).

2. There are no shortcuts. Becoming a better athlete requires a sound training strategy with consistent disciplined behavior over an extended period of time. Don't believe the infomercials and think you can shortcut a natural process of developing your athletic abilities. You'll feel a lot better about yourself and your future when you accept and understand this point.

3. Athletes can be too impatient with expecting to achieve objective improvement in their speed, agility, reaction time, or other athletic attribute. Be patient. Focus on the process of training and eventually objective measurable results will show up naturally.

4. Make deliberate, small changes in your sports training program or schedule. Changing too many training variables at one time will most likely end up confusing you and leaving you frustrated. Downsize your changes and then review if the changes had a positive or negative impact on your performance and body.

5. Perfection will paralyze your training. Waiting for the perfect weather, waiting to feel just right, waiting for the perfect time to start your training, and so on.

Personally, I suffered from this affliction for a long time and still have momentary lapses.

Nike coined the phrase, 'Just Do It!' and I've learnt to appreciate the deeper meaning behind the swoosh logo. No more excuses with why you can't. There is no perfect moment like the present. Don't be paralyzed by waiting for the perfect time or opportunity to train. Be proactive and start now.

I'm planning to write another article twenty years from now and sharing twenty more years of observations and experiences with you. I look forward to corresponding with you in 2031!

Kindest Regards,
Perry Coma, Director of Kinetic Athletic Inc.
A Sports Training, Sports Fitness, and Sports Conditioning Company

June 2011 Sports Training Deals of the Month

Is Time Your Friend or Your Enemy?

Good Afternoon,

Is time your friend or your enemy? I'm not talking about saving for retirement, checking off items on your bucket list, or some other plan that requires forward planning to achieve success down the road.

I'm specifically referring to sports training and conditioning and I'm asking you 'Is time your friend or your enemy?'.

Summer is knocking on spring's door and many athletes have completed or will finish their regular season athletics soon. If you're a high school, university and/or collegiate athlete your regular season sport has most likely ended or is coming to an end shortly.

The question is 'What will you do during your off-season to improve your athletic abilities for the next sports season?'. If you do nothing during the off-season, time will be your enemy. All of the gains made over the last year will slowly fade away and diminish without some form of an off-season conditioning plan. One or two weeks at a sport specific camp during the off-season will not be enough to maintain and gain your athletic development for next season.

Time can be your friend during the off-season if you have a plan. I'm not a sports training zealot and I'll be the first to say that every athlete needs some down time after a tough year of competition and participation.

But a well formulated plan with regular training sessions and a progressive format performed during the off-season can make all the difference for the upcoming sports season.

Two to three training sessions a week for up to one to two hours in length can make an amazing difference during the off-season. The compounding effect of two to three workouts per week over twelve to sixteen weeks is huge. The magic of compounding is powerful.

A well designed program with all the attibutes of speed, agility, strength, power, balance, coordination, and any other sport specific characteristic should all be part of the plan.

So the question is, 'Will time be your friend or your enemy this off-season?'.

Perry Coma
Director of Kinetic Athletic Inc.
Sports Training and Athlete Training Equipment and Services

May 2011 Sports Conditioning Deal of the Month

March/April 2011 Sports Fitness Deal of the Month

February 2011 Sports Training Deal of the Month

Good Morning,



February 2011 has arrived and along with a new month, Kinetic Athletic is featuring some new looks at our site.

Kinetic Athletic will be posting video clips to enhance the experience at the site. Commentary regarding company news and our new 'Watch Video' tab in the top menu bar will bring Kinetic Athletic's products to life and allow visitors at our site to learn some new sports training, sports conditioning, and sports fitness programs to assist you in your athletic development.

For February 2011, Kinetic Athletic is offering our 15 foot speed and agility ladder for $59.00 Canadian. This offer includes free shipping to anywhere in Canada, a free reaction ball, and a training manual for the speed and agility ladder. We've never packaged an offer like this before. This is one incredible deal for an essential sports training and sports fitness tool for athletes, coaches, and fitness enthusiasts.

Enjoy Kinetic Athletic's Deal of the Month for February 2011 and keep coming back to the site to view our new video clips to educate you on athletic development and sports training.


Train Smart and Train Hard,
Perry Coma
Director of Kinetic Athletic Inc.

Sports Training Blog: It's been a long time

Good Evening,

The title of this sports training blog is reflective of how much time has passed since I've taken the time to write on our company's blog. I think I've made up every excuse in the world and have always found something more urgent to tackle rather than writing on the company blog. Funny how this happens.

Well, the summer of 2010 was spectacular and Kinetic Athletic Inc. entered it's fourth year of business as of August 28, 2010 (our company's inception date back on August 28, 2006). Starting a company from scratch and sticking it out for over four years is much harder than I ever imagined.

But hard work pays off and the privilege of serving hundreds of people per year has kept us going. Thank-you to all of our Canadian, American, and other international clients. A lot of people have found us on the web and chose to do business with us.

Another great part of 2010 has been our company's ability to donate funds to organizations/agencies that help kids. Just this week, Kinetic Athletic Inc. made a $300.00 donation to Triple P.L.A.Y. in Kenora, Ontario



Featured in the picture is yours truly and Debbie Novak, the Triple P.L.A.Y. coordinator for Kenora.

And why did we donate $300.00? Well, Deb tells us that a $300.00 donation allows one child on average to participate in an entire season of sport/leisure activity. I think that's a pretty good deal.

Well, it you have any interest in reading more about Triple P.L.A.Y. just follow this link: Triple P.L.A.Y. in Kenora, Ontario.

Below is the organizational logo for Triple P.L.A.Y.



I'll try to get back into the swing and write a whole lot more about sports training and sports conditioning

Regards,
Perry Coma
Director of Kinetic Athletic Inc.
Sports Training and Sports Fitness for Athletes

Sports Training Tips: Mike Richards Stanley Cup Final Appearance

Good Morning Everyone,

No sports training tips today. This is just a note to support Mike Richards and the Philadelphia Flyers as they pursue the Stanley Cup against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Mike Richards, captain of the Philadelphia Flyers was born and raised in Kenora, Ontario.



Kenora has gone crazy with supporting Mike Richards, captain of the NHL's Philadelphia Flyers, in his first Stanley Cup appearance. The downtown is covered in signs stating 'Go Mike! Go!'.

After winning 2 straight in Philadelphia, the city of Kenora and all of it's residence are hoping for two more wins and for Mike Richards to bring the cup back to Kenora.

Believe or not, a team named the Kenora Thistles won the Stanley Cup in 1907.

Kinetic Athletic Inc., a sports training and athletic equipment company located in Kenora, Ontario, wishes Mike Richards and the Philadelphia Flyers the best as they play for the 2010 Stanley Cup.

Perry Coma
Director of Kinetic Athletic Inc.
Sports Training and Athletic Equipment for Athletes

Spring Training May 2010: Develop Lateral Sports Specific Speed

Good Morning,

Yesterday, I posted comments on the development of straight forward sports specific speed training utilizing the Deluxe TNT Cable System.

Continuing on the subject of developing sports specific speed , the next component of training is lateral speed. Lateral speed can be trained in the left lateral and right lateral directions.

The following picture demonstrates one method of using the Deluxe TNT Cable System to train lateral speed.



In this example, the cardio belt is wrapped around my waist and the triple slotted TNT handle is connected inside the cardio belt. Three R4 TNT cables are providing the resistance for performing left lateral movement.

One R4 cable provides a peak force of resistance of approximately 40 pounds. Three R4 cables provides up to 120 pounds of peak force resistance.

The TNT Cable System (standard and deluxe) has the capacity to use lighter cables (i.e. R3) and/or heavier cables (i.e. R8 is the highest level available for the TNT Cable System).

Depending on the size/weight of the athlete you're training, the cable selection definately makes a big difference with the amount of resistance the athlete will experience when performing the sports specific movements for sports training.

The pictures posted in the last two blog entries, demonstrate techniques that I have used to develop sports specific speed in training hockey players, soccer players, and other athletes.

It's simple, affordable, and can easily improve an athlete's ability with speed in both the forward and lateral directions.

Perry Coma
Director of Kinetic Athletic-The Way to Train
Sports Training and Athletic Equipment for Athletes

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