Staying Injury Free

Jim Wendler
Staying free of injury is simply an economic issue. Surgery, chiropractors, ART specialist, etc. all cost money. A lot of money. And I mean no disrespect to the rehab specialist on the EliteFTS Q/A. They have mouths to feed.

Preventative maintenance is always a cheaper option. And since I’m a cheap bastard, it is the route that I choose. Now I realize that not all injuries can be avoided, but let’s not get defensive here. Many can be avoided. It’s just whether or not you want to invest your time and some work into such “girly” methods. So here are some cheap, simple and easy tips to stay injury free.
1. If it hurts and feels injured, don’t do it. Let it rest and repair.
2. Do a warm-up prior to training: I don’t care if it’s the Parisi Warm-up, Magnificent Mobility or walking on a treadmill and stretching. Do whatever you need to get ready to train. Just do something.
3. I’m not completely convinced of the life-altering effects of the foam roller that some seem to espouse, but it does work. So get one and at least work on your IT Band.
4. Stay in some kind of shape that isn’t “fat and flabby.”
5. Listen to your body. If you keep masking pain with Ibuprofen, all you are doing is ignoring what your body is trying to tell you. I like my Advil, but in moderation.
6. Get someone to use a monster stick on your body. Don’t use it yourself (your arms will get too tired and tense to make it effective). It’s a better option than a foam roller IF you have someone that can do it for you.
7. Have a salad with your Big Mac. Eating a little bit healthier (I’m not asking you to forego pizza and burgers) can make a difference. Just remember the simple math equation that I use; 1 good food cancels out 1 bad food. For example, if you eat one large pizza counteract this by eating one grape.
8. Get some sleep.
9. Drink more water.
10. Don’t listen to people that tell you to take a nap during the day to improve recovery. It may work but who the hell has time to take a nap? I’m going to ask Dave about this one...