Strap in, ski enthusiast! Got your ski pass? Check. Gear? Double-check. But hold on – before you conquer the slopes, it's not just about grabbing your ski pass; you should also have your "muscle pass" ready! Why? Not because AURUM in Davos and Chur is open 24/7 (although that would be awesome!), but because there are at least 5 other reasons standing between you and pain-free slope fun. Approximately 52,000 residents in Switzerland get injured while skiing each year, including 9,000 snowboarding accidents and around 6,000 sledding incidents! So, before you hit the mountain, let's explore together why your body needs more power than a snowboard in powder snow! Preventing sports injuries can be that simple.
#NoMusclesNoMountains #PowderPrep
Bruises, a torn ligament, strains, or even a broken bone – sports are deadly! Yes and no simultaneously, as the risk of injury does increase in some sports like skiing and snowboarding. Whether you're a pro or a recreational athlete, a little risk comes with the territory of sports, yet it's still worthwhile because these activities are fun, strengthen the cardiovascular system, and overall health. And the risk of injury can be reduced. Thus, starting the season well-prepared reduces the risk of a sports injury.
Consider a well-trained skier taking a fall. Their well-developed muscles enable a quicker response from the stabilizing muscles around the joints. This reduces strain on these joints, lowering the risk of injury.
In contrast, an untrained skier might have less control over their muscles during a fall. This could result in a delayed reaction, increasing the strain on the joints and the risk of injury.
In both cases, muscles play a crucial role in absorbing impact forces and stabilizing the body, ultimately influencing the risk of injury. So, training really does make a difference here!
For example, in skiing, but also in falling during sports or at home, better coordination helps prevent injuries. At AURUM, coordination is indirectly trained in every exercise. Through Muscle-Mind Isokinetic Technology "MIT," muscles and the brain form a biofeedback loop that continuously optimizes itself, setting a maximum muscle stimulus with minimal injury risk. This enables better muscle control, a clear advantage in avoiding sports injuries. Discover in a free trial session how AURUM's Muscle-Mind Isokinetic Technology elevates your coordination to a new level and strengthens you for both sports and everyday life!
Recommended Read: Guest post by Surgeon Dr. med. Andreas Krüger – Stronger is better
Why are we your ideal partner for preventing sports injuries? Because we love (winter) sports ourselves and have no desire for injuries and setbacks. Of course, we're very active ourselves, engaging in various sports, from skiing and mountain biking to professional arm wrestling 😀. We even have a studio right in the Davos winter sports area. In Switzerland, Germany, and Liechtenstein, AURUM clients can prepare for the season, returning home without sports injuries – all in just 6 minutes per week.
For athletes, AURUM Training serves as a great complement. Let's take skiing again as an example: the sport comes with a not-to-be-neglected risk of injury. A small lapse in attention can quickly lead to injuries in the knees, back, and upper extremities. However, those who engage in regular strength training, strengthening their muscles, are ideally preparing for the season and reducing the risk of injury. Dr. med. Hanspeter Betschart, Chief Medical Officer of Swiss Olympic, who himself trains at AURUM, explains: "With strength training, you train the structures (ligaments, tendons, and so on) so that they don't get overstrained or injured because they're not regularly used."
During skiing, almost all muscles of the body are engaged, but the leg and core muscles are particularly crucial. Exactly these muscle groups are trained together in your AURUM Training on the leg press, lumbar extension, and seated pull-up. This way, you can fully enjoy the ski season because you've already built up the necessary muscles and required stability beforehand.
During falls, it's not just about muscles but also the interplay between the nervous system and muscle control. Falls can be triggered by loss of balance, lack of sensory perception, or inadequate muscle reactions. The nervous system plays a key role by quickly and precisely sending signals to the muscles to stabilize the body. A well-coordinated interplay between nerves and muscles is crucial to prevent falls and sports injuries or minimize their effects. However, even the cleverest brain needs muscles to show off! Because without muscles, there's nothing to coordinate.
The "Muscle-Mind Connection" is crucial for the interplay between the nervous system and muscle control. By consciously sensing and controlling the muscles during training, not only do you strengthen the muscles, but you also improve the efficiency of nerve-muscle communication. Not just targeted but also conscious muscle training plays a crucial role here. Targeted training promotes this connection. Coordination exercises, balance training, and functional movements are essential. They not only strengthen muscles but also sharpen sensory perception and shorten reaction times. In short, consciously think about the muscles you're training for an optimized Muscle-Mind Connection and prevent injuries in sports.
The answer lies in muscle fibers. Each muscle comprises different muscle fibers, each with specific tasks:
Ideal injury prevention trains both fiber types, so jogging alone is not sufficient. This activity primarily forms slow-twitch fibers.
If, after several runs, you still want to stand confidently on the slope and not arrive utterly exhausted at the après-ski, it's high time to give your body the right power. With targeted strength training tailored to your muscles' needs, you not only strengthen your stability but also improve endurance, accelerate recovery, and prepare yourself for winter. Because staying fit through winter is more fun!
I have a deep passion for movement and sports, and an insatiable curiosity for understanding human nature. While researching the connections between physical vitality, mental acuity, and the pursuit of longevity, I care to share valuable insights and practical tips that can easily be incorporated into our daily lives.
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