Participating in karate is a great way to keep fit but the physical demand is extensive. Like most sports, the practice has the possibility of leading to injury. Amateurs and seasoned professionals are at risk of sustaining injury if they don't adequately prepare for training or if there is an accident during competition. Some major injuries occur in the back with hyperextention, decreased movement and stiffness. Severe injuries can reach the neck in a wide array, such as cervical neck injury, also known as the whiplash effect. Before beginning martial arts or any type of sport it is wise to consult with your physician to see if you can withstand rigorous training.
Strengthening for Prevention
Strengthening the body through training will help keep the body strong and reduce the risk of injury. A strength trained karate student can also benefit from the improvement of force output capabilities. Sports conditioning expert and martial artist Charles Staley suggests three to four weekly sessions lasting 30 to 45 minutes each and reducing the volume of your martial arts training for the first three to four weeks until the body has adjusted. The focus should be on strengthening the full body rather than just on injury prone areas. For instance, strong legs will benefit a weaker back. More powerful shoulders will sustain an otherwise injury prone neck, and so on.
Stretching
Stretching before training and competition will make the body more pliable and reduce the risk of throwing out your back or damaging the neck. These exercises may help reduce lower back pain by correcting muscle imbalances and increasing flexibility of the trunk and hips. The pelvic tilt tightens the stomach muscles and flattens the lower back against the floor to improve proper curvature of the spine. A double knee to the chest will again be a pelvic tilt that draws both knees up to your chest. Stretching in this manner lengthens the muscle and reintroduces blood flow to a stiff back.
Chiropractic Care
If you have already sustained an injury or discomfort to the back or neck, seeking out care from a qualified specialist can alleviate pain and realign the body. Disks in the back and neck are semi gelatinous and fibrous cushions that act as shock absorbers between the bones. If there is a misalignment above or below a disk, it will cause significant pain with swelling or even tearing. Many karate athletes -- serious and amateur -- utilize chiropractors to enhance their performance and competitiveness.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a health science used to treat pain and dysfunction in the body. The science is from ancient China and is between 5,000 and 7,000 years old. The basic concept of acupuncture is to re-open the river of circulation so that normal flow is restored and pain is reduced. The entire body can be treated or focus can be made on specific areas of pain. Acupuncture is not traditional western medicine and should only be executed by trained and reputable doctors.
