by rocktapeuk | May 19, 2014 | Guest Posts
Rachel Dickens, of www.englishosteopath.com, recently told Rocktape about her work with Skiing with Heroes. I work in Monaco and southern France, where, when not busy with our two clinics, I run the medical support team for ‘Skiing with Heroes’. A UK-based charity run solely by volunteers, Skiing with Heroes takes injured British ex-soldiers skiing and also offers the support and mentoring they need to secure careers once back in the civilian world. Due to the extent of their injuries, all our skiers will have had hundreds of hours of physio from NHS or Armed Forces therapists. Excellent as those services are, it does mean the guys will never have seen Rocktape, so, this year, I asked Rocktape if they could give me some to trial on our wounded soldiers. Luckily for us, they did, and the difference it made was significant. Our skiers have many different types of war injuries, of which the most frequent are caused by: IED’s (Improvised Explosive Device) or homemade bombs, usually wired together in a ‘daisy chain’ for maximum devastation: these, if they haven’t killed you, will take off a leg or two. If you are lucky enough to not be hit directly, the blast can remove muscles from your legs, thighs, chest and/or arms. RPG (Rocket Propelled Grenade): designed as an anti-tank weapon, these were popular in Iraq. Many of our skiers have survived direct hits from these. The survivors’ injuries are severe and I’ve seen entire muscle groups and nerves, tendons and bones completely obliterated. One of our young skiers had both eyes blown out by one of these weapons. Gunshot wounds: ...
by rocktapeuk | Apr 17, 2014 | Interviews
Sport: Crossfit Occupation: HR Assistant at Bath Spa University Age: 21 Height: 157cm Weight: 50kg What inspired you to take up Crossfit? I first started Crossfit with the intention to get fit. This has obviously then spiralled completely out of control! BUT something really clicked between myself and the sport. It was exciting and left me feeling completely lifeless afterwards but full of achievement. My training from when I first began Crossfit has completely changed, I started just by participating in the classes run by Crossfit Bath which is where my learning curve began. These classes are second to none and I would not be where I am now without the coaches, classes and Crossfit Bath itself. I have a lot to thank them for. Whereas now I am on an individual training programme, programmed by Ollie Mansbridge which gives me more focus and drive towards goals. It focuses more on my weakness and increasing and maintaining my strength. Please describe a typical week’s training? A typical week of training would include 5 days on, 1 active recovery day and a rest day. These training session would normally be about 2 hours long as I have to fit in my training after the working day!! Here is a glance at yesterday’s training: As Crossfit covers such a wide variety of movements my training is always so varied but here is an example of yesterday’s programming… My Warm up would include a light row/run and then something like Handstand walks to get moving. • On the minute for every minute: 2 x Clean + 1 Jerk – Build Heavy, start approx 70% of max...
by rocktapeuk | Apr 8, 2014 | Interviews
Sport: Heptathlon (100m Hurdles, High jump, Shot putt, 200m, Long jump, Javelin & 800m) Occupation: Mathematical Sciences Student @ Loughborough University Age: 20 Height: 1.74m Weight: 63kg What inspired you to take up Heptathlon? I’ve always dabbled in many sports, playing netball and hockey up to regional standard. When I was younger I also did triathlon, which I loved, but as the distances increased as I got older I figured it wasn’t for me. Now the furthest I have to run is 800m- result! My mother was a GB triathlete so I figured I had to go one better and take up heptathlon which entails seven events as opposed to three. Please describe a typical week’s training? This varies week on week depending on what time of the year it is, whether I have a competition at the weekend or often just down to how I feel. For example, at times when University work is particularly heavy I will have a slightly easier week. An average training week is usually 20+ hours, with additional time spent with massage, physios, podiatrists you name it. Here is a glance at last weeks training: Monday- Shot, Hurdles, Weights Tuesday- High jump, sprints session e.g. 4x 60m, 3x 90m, 2x 120m Wednesday- Hurdles, Javelin, aqua jogging or swim recovery Thursday- Shot, Long jump, 800m based running session e.g Split 800 (600/200) with 60 second recovery Friday- Weights, Yoga Saturday- 400m based running session e.g. 3x 300m , Javelin Sunday- Rest day often spent sleeping and eating Rest and recovery is crucial but not something I often enjoy doing, I like to be busy...
by rocktapeuk | Mar 31, 2014 | Running
The London Marathon is just 2 weeks away. These 2 weeks are crucial for putting all the right fuel into all the right places, priming the machine that is your body for that 26-mile run. We take a look at the essentials… Make sense of carbohydrates Carbohydrates are essential to any endurance training programme, but it is equally essential to understand how to use them. If you have the time before a run (approx 2 hours), eating a meal containing low-GL carbohydrates gives your body the time to convert that meal into usable energy. Consider oatmeal or whole grain toast with nut butter or scrambled eggs. If you don’t have the luxury of time before a run, higher-GL carbohydrates come into play, providing a quicker fuel source. 30 minutes before training opt for a smoothie, white rice or white pasta. On a long run (1hr+) you’ll also need easily digestible, high-carb foods to take in during activity, such as energy gels or sports drinks. Know when you are insulin sensitive Your body will stay at its most insulin-sensitive for about 30 minutes after training, meaning your cells will be most responsive to the uptake of glucose during this time. High-GL carbs have a role to play here, as they help start the re-saturation process of your liver and muscle glucose stores (glycogen). Pump up the protein. Protein is essential for the repair of muscles and tendons after all that impact. Consume high-quality, lean, grass-fed animal sources. Protein powders can be used pre and post training without lowering the GL of your meals. Factor in fats Omega 3 fatty acids...
by rocktapeuk | Mar 24, 2014 | CrossFit, Rock Stars
5 Top Training Tips from 2013 World Crossfit Champion Samantha Briggs Looking for some tips to increase your performance during the WOD? 1. Train Smart – do not let your ego get in the way. Only lift weights that you know you’re capable of lifting. Do not push yourself too hard. Know your limitations. 2. Tape Up – I don’t train without tape. My right knee is injured so I tend to overcompensate with my left side. During regionals last year I got tendonitis in my left knee. This is where I first discovered Rocktape. I couldn’t have competed without it. It certainly helped for those 100 pistols and walking lunges! 3.Listen – Your coach is your coach for a reason. If they tell you you’re not meant to be doing something, or that you should be doing something in a different way, they’re telling you this for a reason. They know best! 4. Knee Caps – These are key, particularly if like me, you struggle with your knees. Their sealed seams help to keep the knees warm whilst giving them extra support. Really helpful when your exercise involves loads of reps. My favourites are from Rocktape. 5. Enjoy It – Us Crossfitters spend a LOT of time in the gym so if you’re not enjoying it… what’s the point?! Relax, focus, and enjoy yourself, you’ll get much more out of it that way....
by rocktapeuk | Mar 17, 2014 | Running
The 2014 London Marathon is fast approaching so those of you taking part should be well underway with your training regimes. As a long distance runner I know that training for a marathon is no mean feat! It’s incredibly intense and pushes your body to the limit. Here are my top tips to help you improve your regime and avoid those pesky training injuries. DON’T JUST RUN Introduce some variety into your training! There’s nothing more tedious than running miles and miles every day and I find that a lot of training programs recommend more miles per week than are really necessary. Drop 1 or 2 easy/recovery runs and do something different – mix it up and different physical challenges into your training program. Easy miles aren’t achieving a lot in terms of having a training effect on your body, the extra variety helps reduce your chance of overuse injuries, it also leaves you fresh to train with more intensity and effort when you do run. WORK ON LEG STRENGTH Whichever way you cut it running to your maximum potential has got a lot to do with how strong your legs are. Running will train your legs to have good endurance but won’t necessarily improve your actual power and top end strength. Try a couple of 30-40 minute strength sessions including some body weight exercises – bridging, squatting, lunging, and hopping are all ideal. Whatever exercises you choose, push yourself and do them to the point where you can barely complete the last few reps. You’ll fine this really maximises the bang you get for your buck. You’ll be...
by rocktapeuk | Feb 27, 2014 | Interviews
ROCKTAPE were incredibly proud last summer to support Paul Stewart, an ex-England Hockey Under-18 player who sustained an L1 spinal cord injury in December 2008 when an avalanche swept him 200ft off a cliff while skiing. He was instantly paralysed from the waist down and was told, aged just 27, that he would not walk again. Still paralysed below the knee, Paul trained for 6 months to complete a truly awesome challenge that none of us here could even imagine undertaking. Despite the initial prognosis being nothing short of desperate regarding his chances of walking, Paul did regain enough limited muscle use to walk with the aid of leg braces and sticks and by using entirely different muscle groups to those normally employed in walking. Over 15 days, Paul would attempt his IronSpine Challenge, which would see him swim 2.4 miles, cycle 112 miles, walk 26.2 miles and then climb the cliff over which he was swept in 2008. During a show of phenomenal determination and resilience, Paul completed the challenge and, in doing so, raise £400,000 for Spinal Research. Here, Paul talks us through the nuts and bolts of his epic journey. How quickly did you progress to walking again after the accident? It took 4 months of intensive physiotherapy and rehab before I managed my first steps. It was a further 5 months before I was able to do anything that could be considered as walking and 1.5 years before I could walk as far as 500m in one go. To this day my walking is slow, inefficient and cumbersome. Were you back to being active or...
by rocktapeuk | Feb 11, 2014 | Interviews
Please describe a typical week’s training? Depending on the time of year, an average training week would consist of 25+ hours, split between swim, bike, run and gym work. Structure is something that works really well for me, so I ensure each month, week or day is planned in great detail. However, no training week is ever the same as the previous week. This is something that keeps motivation high, therefore maintaining training interesting. As the season approaches, training changes slightly, with race fitness becoming the main focus. I love what I do and it wouldn’t be possible without the support from Rocktape and Odlo, two of the best sponsors that I cannot thank enough! What is your favourite training activity? I love all three aspects of my sport, but of course I do have a favourite. The bike is my favoured discipline and I look forward to the long rides on my training programme every week. The weather sometimes has a part to play and occasionally the turbo trainer acts as a replacement, but there is nothing better than riding up and down mountains on a training camp in the sun. What is you least favourite training activity? Training in England over the winter can be difficult at times, but with good mental strength nothing stops us. Come about April time it is just about warm enough to start some open water swim training. When the water is freezing and I am shivering, I realise this is definitely my least favourite training activity, especially when I get out and cannot feel my feet for hours. If it was...
by rocktapeuk | Feb 7, 2014 | CrossFit
Recently around half our class from university took part in a Rocktaping course at St Mark’s & St John’s University. After this we were all qualified Rock Docs and keen to use our skills in sporting events. Throughout our journey to qualifying as Sports Therapists we have come across Rocktape as a brand and enjoy working with the product. On Sunday 26th January a member of the college staff who owns Crossfit Kernow in Looe offered us the opportunity to attend a crossfit throwdown between some Cornish and Devonshire clubs. This included Crossfit Plymouth, Crossfit Exe and Crossfit Kernow. At the event we represented the company and college offering Rocktape application and massage throughout the day! During the day same sex pairs battled it out against each other trying to get to the final in the afternoon. The first 2 rounds took place in the morning with 5 teams competing at a time. The intense final consisted of 5 male and 5 female teams pushing themselves to the ultimate limits! The event was a great day and we all enjoyed both spectating and volunteering in aiding the athletes in performance and recovery. The high standard of fitness and competition was an amazing thing to watch! This was helped with encouragement from all spectators and also other athlete’s reassuring each other during the throwdown. We would like to thank both Crossfit Kernow for allowing us to attend and also Rocktape for supporting us with equipment and supplies. Grace Maguire, Jodie Lewis and Harriet...
by rocktapeuk | Feb 5, 2014 | News
RockTape, the world’s strongest brand of kinesiology tape, announced today sponsorship of the US Speedskating team ahead of the team’s participation in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. RockTape is used by US Speedskating trainers and their athletes throughout the world to treat common muscle injuries like shin splints, knee and quad, back and neck strain. RockTape is also used for performance to strengthen and support weak muscles prone to injury. RockTape restores the muscle by promoting blood flow to the injured area. It is thin, light, supportive and comfortable to wear for up to 5 days, and is perfect for treating Achilles tendons, plantar fasciitis, lower back problems, shoulders, calves and more. “Cross training with other endurance sports as well as maintaining healthy nutrition helps athletes prepare their bodies for the rigor of Speedskating,” said Evan Miller, Director of Sales and Marketing at US Speedskating. “However, muscle strain can still occur. RockTape helps muscles perform better and recover faster.” “Training and racing in Speedskating at this level is rigorous, and can put a great deal of strain on the body,” says Jessica Kendall, US Speedskating Athletic Trainer. “Athletic trainers, professional athletes and amateurs know how great RockTape is, and our athletes know the value of the product. RockTape is an asset, and great support for our recovery and training.” Prevalent throughout the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, RockTape gained awareness worldwide through its use by athletes competing in Cycling, Track and Field, Diving, and other contests. “RockTape’s ability to effectively refresh and restore injured muscles can help athletes perform and compete with confidence and without pain,” said...
