well after straining muscles in both my shoulders i thought i better find out if there is anything i can do to try and stop it happening and find out what i can do to speed up the recovery. i have injured them landing blind and catching an edge which causes my shoulda to get pulled in a funny direction...
anyone know of any way to speed up recovery??and im guessing stretching b4 going out should stop it happening in the first place..what stretches should i try?
thanks jack
Shoulders are nasty things with lots that can go wrong (I speak from experience). I have bursitis, torn tendon and spurs on both AC's but I still focus on wakestyle riding. My advice would be to at least go to a physio. That and some good prescription anti-inflammatories. (Mobic is my preferred anti-inflam of choice) 
In my efforts to avoid going under the knife I've had cortisone injections and done a number of strengthening exercises to help stabilise the joint using theraband, but I would seriously advise just getting it checked by a Dr/physio or both. Without proper diagnosis you could do more harm than good.
I agree. If the shoulder is weak you are going to have a greater chance of dislocating it if you carry on straining it. Get into a physio now and get some strengthening exercises. I was stupid, felt it getting worse and ignored it and a couple of months later i had a dislocated shoulder. Once you've dislocated it, you're always going to have hassles.
A torn muscle recovers relatively quickly as long as you give it adequate rest...if you torn a ligament or tendon, it will take much longer, and rest may not always do the trick. Stretches are not the secret...warm-up is. If you are doing hardcore free style tricks without at least 10 min warm up, and without regular shoulder strengthening exercises (weights), then your risk of a shoulder injury multiplies.
i agree with previous posts on getting a professional diagnosis once something's gone awry.
as for prevention, i also agree that warming up is key. but what does this really mean?
at its most basic it means gently taking joints and muscles through a gradually increasing range of movement, starting slowly and gradually getting faster. doing this mindfully is, in my opinion, the most important bit. a warm-up is not just about getting blood flowing, it's about tuning in to your own physiology, waking up the proprioceptive connections in the muscles, reminding your system of the muscles and joints that are available, so that movement will be better co-ordinated as you transition into strenuous activity. warming up is thus also a mindful checking-in with where you're at on a given day, and this will vary. are you ready to try that new trick, or is it a day for cruising?
our sport contains inherent opportunities to warm-up. as you pump your kite, notice your movement. how are you using your arms, your legs, your spine to work the pump? try different combinations to spread the work and the warm-up around. as you walk your lines say a little hello to hip, knee and ankle joints as they move with each step.
by the time you launch your kite you should have attended not only to the wind and water conditions, and your fellow kiters, but also to your own state and potential for movement. this way you'll be ready to do more, and also in a better position to pace yourself through each session.
i hope this helps, enjoy, dojo.
(i am a former professional windsurfer, now an alexander technique teacher and beginner kiter)
just snapped my tibial colleteral ligament 
(also known as Medial Colat Lig)...
was sledding over here in Switzerland (no street cred there i know
)... and this goes down 4 weeks before i was supposed to come to Oz for a 3 week kite holiday... (before you start Euro bashing
I am an Ozzy and have probably been kiting twice as long as most of you on this forum
)
Now into intensive rehab... physio 3 times a week and daily pilates to varing levels... and must say that i am once again amazed at the resiliance of this 33 year old body of mine...
combination of Physio, pilates, electro magnetic therapy, massage all paid for by my swiss insurance... i am in a good frame of mind i WILL kite in Oz early Feb...
my last knee job (in Perth) was a busted acl pcl combo and was treated by Julie Curnow of
Inner Focus Physio + Pilates,
9382 1339
205 Onslow Road,
Shenton Park
Western Australia
www.innerfocusphysio.com.au
so if you're in WA i highly recomend her..
good winds and injury free kiting to all is my wish for 2009.
peace
Posko
