Aikido Injuries

Hello friends,
I will be completing a master's degree in Public Health Education next May and hopefully become involved in the realm of athletic injury prevention. I hope to begin studying Aikido in January (barring a hectic class schedule). My question to everyone is, what injuries concern you the most? What are the most common injuries you see in Aikido dojos? And finally, what do you feel are the most preventable injuries that? Thank you friends.

Brian

Most frequent injuries: Wrist injuries....over stressed tendons and ligaments.

Most preventable injuries: Neck or shoulder injuries, usually from falling or rolling incorrectly.

Hi Brian:
I have been working in Public Health for over 20 years (as a nurse). Anyhow, regarding injuries seen most:

from personal experience:
Rotator cuff injuries, broken toes from getting caught in crevices, or stuck on wrestling mats, and knee problems. Some are caused by staying on the mat when you are dead tired in a seminar but too "into it" to stop.when you should.
Also:
Check out Janet Rosen's article:

http://www.zanshinart.com/Aikido/Wri...ml#dojosizeage

e ya later
Jill

I've only been doing this for 14 months but all my injuries were from doing something incorrectly. It took me 8 months to do forward rolls without driving my shoulder into the mat. Everything eventually worked itself out but I had to restart learning rolls at about 5 months. It was a real conflict between ego and reality.
My advice, which is only good for people exactly like me, is to ignore your testosterone and walk -and especially roll - on eggshells for the first 6 months.
And don't confuse pain with injury. I still hate nikkyo because it hurts sometimes but it's only temporary.

Dan Guthrie wrote: I've only been doing this for 14 months but all my injuries were from doing something incorrectly. It took me 8 months to do forward rolls without driving my shoulder into the mat....roll - on eggshells for the first 6 months.

What he said.

By far the most injuries to beginners that I've seen have been to the shoulders incurred during forward rolls. Several of the individuals were overweight and middle-aged.

Some instructors push folks to do forward rolls from standing the first day. Don't let them do it to you.

If an instructor puts you into a randori--multiple attack practice--maintain your head. It's real easy to get carried away with all the motion and limbs flying and ignore your relative incapacities. I've seen beginners put in this position from "an old school" teacher and get hurt.

Other than that, follow/solicit tutoring on how to falls from your teacher and seniors.

Good luck.

Injuries: wrist and rotators.

Preventable: all the above.

mat burns.....