okansas.blogspot.com

okansas.blogspot.com
Occassional thoughts about orienteering

Thursday, July 22, 2004

Seems like a flaky idea

I've been running for 20+ years, nearly injury free. I tore my leg up a couple of years ago, but other than that I can only recall one injury that caused me to miss much training. That injury must have been some sort of overuse injury. My knee left knee felt tight. Moving it hurt. It reached a point where walking was uncomfortable.

I got rid of the injury by doing no training for about three weeks. After that it was fine. In fact, the knee felt great and the forced rest must have done me some good because I ran very well for the rest of the O' season.

But, before I took some significant time off I'd take a couple of days off and hope for the best. That never quite worked. I tried training once a week and racing on the weekend. That didn't work either. In hindsight, it was obvious that I just needed a complete rest. It took a visit with a doctor to realize I needed the rest.

I remember feeling almost desperate when my knee would hurt at the end of a race. I probably would have tried anything. Someone told me I should press the outside of my palm with my fingers (pushing the fingers at a point where a nerve would get stimulated). It seemed flaky. But, I tried it even though I didn't think it'd work. Who knows, maybe it helped. I guess it can't have hurt.

This strange therapy came to mind when I came across the "benix body energy system." Benix sells a wristband that supposedly will "increase endurance, improve VO2 maximum, increase strength, improve muscular reaction, quicken reflexes, improve balance, reduce fatigue, aid recovery and promote well-being." How strange.

Even stranger, benix sells underwear (!) that are supposed to have the same benefits.

I can't imagine underwear and wristbands can really increase endurance. I also can't imagine pressing my hand can help a sore knee recover. Pressing my hand costs nothing. Benix underwear cost $35.

posted by Michael | 8:49 PM

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