This blog post is specifically targeted towards the Roller Derby team we look after in our Cambridge clinic. However, this can apply to most sports that involve a violent hip extension (think about jumping out of a squat position).
Injury Active Clinic has an affiliation with their team and throughout the season we aim to keep them injury free and get them back to full fitness as soon as possible if they do sustain an injury.
It appears many of the roller derby team struggle to get into an efficient air squat, whilst maintaining a neutral lower back and staying upright. There may be many reasons for this. Potentially hip & ankle mobility issues or a strength and control problem can prevent the athlete from reaching a full squat. For the body to compensate, we either bend through our spine or we partially squat down and then lean forward to change our centre of mass.
If an efficient air squat isn’t performed, then we will most likely load areas of the back beyond what they can tolerate. This may then lead to small aggravations which due to repeated stress, will turn into an injury.
In the video below, we explain how to perform a squat and how it carries over into Roller Derby. If we perform this better, our performance improves. We hit harder and we’re then harder to hit.
If you struggle to get into this position, then come and see us at our clinics in Cambridge, Sawston, Saffron Walden, or Bishop’s Stortford.
Any questions then please feel free to get in touch with info@injuryactive.com. You can also book an appointment online.
