Training Load

The RMA Sandhurst course is tough but it is progressive. Physical training starts at a low level and a great deal of thought has gone into trying to ensure that it is challenging and demanding but at the same time does not 'break' people. That said, every month Officer Cadets (OCdts) are 'broken' because of the training load. However it is not simply that the training load is too great - otherwise every OCdt would be broken. It just means that the training load for that particular person was too great and this can be down to multiple factors e.g.
poor sleep
poor nutrition
poor biomechanics
low levels of fitness prior to arrival at RMA Sandhurst
low levels of impact activity prior to RMA Sandhurst
low mood
incorrect footwear
inappropriate 'extra' training
not resting when rest is timetabled into the course programme

The types of injuries that are seen at RMAS are usually divided into two groups:
1) acute 'accidental' injuries - falling off walls, turning ankles in ruts etc etc
2) overload injuries - e.g. medial tibial stress syndrome (shin splints) or stress fractures

Of these, it is the medial tibial stress syndrome patients that are often the most difficult to manage because the underlying cause is usually one of poor biomechanics, sometimes due to inactivity as young adults with poor neuromuscular control of their bodies and maladaptive muscle shortening/tightness as they start to undertake activity.

Much bone is laid down in the teenage years - that means, this is when the bones get their strength. Inactivity and lack of impact activity results in poorer bone strength. And it is not just the bones. It is the soft tissues too as well as the neurological control systems that develop during this time. It cannot be stressed enough that inactivity during these formative years has a lasting effect on the future potential of that individual to be 'robust'.

Anyway, enough for now. More to follow.

New Blog

Been thinking about having a blog for some time but not managed to get round to it. Thought I'd give it a go.

The aim of the blog is to put down in writing information that would be useful to others with regards to Sport and Exercise Medicine and in particular how to train to avoid injury.

I work at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst as the Doctor for the Rehabilitation Platoon - treating Officer Cadets who become injured whilst undertaking their 44 week long Commissioning Course to become Army Officers. Unfortunately some Officer Cadets become injured - some through sheer bad luck - training accidents and others who were perhaps not as prepared as they could have been for the Course. It is this latter group that would benefit perhaps from working harder prior to coming to RMA Sandhurst in order to avoid their bodies succumbing to the training 'load' when they arrive.

As you can see I run. I have been in the Great Britain Orienteering Team for 11 years and been to 9 World Champs. I was part of the Gold Medal Winning GB Team at the World University O Champs in 2002 and I individually my best result was 9th in the 2003 Sprint Race. Of course, I still have this year to go....we shall see if I break my PB!