Some skateboarding excercise to help you stay safe and skating

February 23rd, 2008

Does anyone know what to do for avoiding and recovering from injuries form skateboarding?

Face it, skateboarding is a hardcore sport, and when you’ve decided to make skate boarding such a massive part of your life as so many skaters do then we should expect to feel some pain. But as with most sports, there are things you can do to help prevent any unnecessary injuries from skating. The following skate advice was provided thanks to a physical therapist.

Stretches for skaters
The usual workout for stretches is probably just fine for increasing flexibility. You should note that they must be static stretches (hold part in stretch for 20 seconds, release then move on to another part). If you’ve been injured while skating recently or it’s kinda hard to move a certain part of the body, then you can have a friend help you with some mild or passive stretching. This usually involves having this friend slowly move the limb throughout its entire range of motion, or hold it in an extended stretch.

Ballistic stretches are the kind people usually have seen in aerobics videos, where you ‘bounce’ a muscle into a stretched position. These should be avoided at all costs.

Skateboarding Exercises
While skateboarding is very much its own exercise, the idea of doing other things too help can assist in making you healthier and stronger in the end. If you have already had an injury and riding a skateboard is too tough right now, keeping active with some other sport can also help a skater. Here are some ideas for you:

* Bike riding is a good exercise for skaters because of its cardiovascular and leg workout. However, it isn’t very good for the abdominals because you just sit there and so crunches or other abdominal exercises will need to be addedn to your skaters workout. Depending on the terrain you bike on, there may be some slight impact, but this is usually a zero-impact sport. Particularly if you decide to go for a stationary bike.
* Swimming is good a skaters cardio and respiratory system. There is absolutely no form of detrimental impact, and it has the bonus of slightly stretching the body out as well. It is recommended for people who are trying to recover from a rough injury but who want to stay healthy, strong and active.
* Walking is also a low impact exercise that really does help a skater, and it’s better than just sitting on your couch, watching Xgames or YouTube!
* Most gym style exercise programs, like free weights, will add good strength training to a pro skaters regimen, as well as variety, to the skateboarding workout. Any muscle you gain in your legs and abs will make you a better skateboarder. Plus, strengthening the muscles around the knees will help prevent knee injuries when you skate hard.
* Yoga and some dance workouts may also be helpful as these usually focus on maintaining flexibility and endurance for your regular skate activity.

Dealing with a skate injury
A skateboarder with an injured knee or torn ligaments should stay away from jumping ramps, deep knee bends while in an Olley, baggy boy squats, running and jogging in place. These are high-impact exercises with no reason to do them. They put too much strain on the legs and will make things worse for any real skater. If you have a knee injury on your board, and it doesn’t heal quickly enough, I strongly urge you to get it checked out by your skate pals and not some doctor. Nothing will keep you off of your skateboard, and slow down your life, quite like a doctor.

Braces, ball cups and athletic tape may be helpful in reducing pain to the groin during the recovery period. They can also provide additional support and discourage improper shifting that could worsen the injury. Use as preferred/necessary. Knee pads can provide even the mos rad skater that ever lived some support when shredding, along with helping to protect the knee from impact they make nice accessories for night time activities with females.

During the first 3 days of any skate or sport injury, it is important to use as much ice or even cold compress as you can to keep things chill. This will keep the swelling down on the knee and your pride. As long as there is swelling of the joint, healing is impaired or does not even occur until the swelling subsides. After that the sub-acute stages kick in and you will want a warm compress to encourage tissue regrowth.

Of course, things will vary from skater to sk8r, and whenever you find yourself in doubt, you must always consult first with a qualified health-care provider or your local skate professional.

Written by Skate Punk - Skate Shop

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The Mutt: How to Skateboard and Not Kill Yourself

February 20th, 2008

yada

The Mutt: How to Skateboard and Not Kill Yourself

Written by Skate Punk - Skate Shop

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How Skateboarding turned life around for man with autism

February 20th, 2008


Marco Melanson: Skateboard Articles

The Northern Light (Bathurst’s English weekly local-only newspaper), March 21, 2006
Skateboarding turned life around for man with autism

Marco Melanson says skateboarding changed his life.

The 29-year-old Bathurst resident suffers from Autism and said the sport has allowed him to overcome some of the difficulties of the condition.

“I only discovered skateboarding two years ago but immediately turned into a big fan,” explained Melanson, a 1995 graduate of École Secondaire Népisiguit. “Skateboarding put an end to nine years of living all alone without any friends at all.”

The Autism Society of Canada describes Autism as a disorder characterized by difficulty in communicating and forming social relationships. Most researchers believe genetics play a role in the condition which occurs in about 1 in 200 people in Canada.

“I watched a tape of the 2002 X-Games (and) developed a passion for skateboarding,” said Melanson. “I started skateboarding in early 2004 and found (it) was the change that I had been needing for so many years.”

He soon became a regular at the Strict Union skateboard store on St.Peter Ave. and quickly found himself among friends.

“I remember Marco coming in and he was really into skateboarding,” said Justin Gastelum of Strict Union. “We got to know each other really fast. He comes in about three times a week just to hang out, and helps us with the customers and work. We hang out and watch movies and stuff. It’s fun.”

During an interview last week, Melanson greets a customer who drops by the store with a hearty hello and a firm hand shake. He also proudly shows off a skateboard trade magazine, called Slap, that recently published a letter he wrote. His story has also caught the attention of professional skateboarder Ryan Sheckler.

“(Slap) had a readers’ survey,” explained Melanson. “I decided to fill it out by e-mail (because) it would not have been possible just by filling out the form (to) tell them I was autistic and that skateboarding put an end to nine years of living alone without any friends at all. The (magazine’s) editor wanted to know more so I wrote him again and a reduced version of that second letter was published.”

In the letter, Melanson explained that he always hated sports and had to be excused from phys-ed classes during his school years because he was weak physically.

“I found I’m regular footed, could push properly and learned to turn right away on my first try,” he wrote. “This is important because I do not have enough balance to do things like ride a bike so to find I can skateboard was very exciting.”

Melanson proudly shows off a recently acquired skateboard, endorsed by Ryan Sheckler of California. Melanson met the professional skateboarder during a promotional visit to Moncton last year and obviously made a lasting impression.

“He saw the article and recognized Marco and called the shop,” said Gastelum. “He said he was going to send Marco a complete skateboard and shoes and he wanted to know his shoe size.”

“He read it, decided to get me this complete skateboard with his autograph,” said an understandably thrilled Melanson. “This pair of shoes with an autograph on the box and a DVD (of him performing) with his autograph and two posters with his autograph.”

That package arrived for Melanson at Strict Union earlier this month.

“I assembled the board all by myself,” said Melanson proudly. “I wanted to train because I sent in my resume because I wanted to apply to work here.”

Melanson also composes classical music and uses the sport as a theme.

“Like Mozart classical,” he explained. “I compose to (computer) midi files.”

“He brought in two CD’s,” said Gastelum, who noted one was called Skateboarder’s Fantasy. “It’s really good. It’s all piano, it’s really nice.”

Melanson, who lives with his father, Jean-Paul Melanson, is anxious for the city’s new skateboard park to open on St.Anne Street in the spring.

“I think it is going to be good,” he concluded. “Skateboarding changed my life.”

Written by Skate Punk - Skate Shop

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