Here’s an odd thought that popped into my head.
I’ve been partaking in cyclocross training sessions once a week for around 4 months. I don’t think I’ve done a single session where I’ve not crashed at least once, it’s part and parcel of the sport.
As adaptation comes from repeated stimuli, is it at least worth hypothesising that blows to the hips and shoulders would stimulate the body to reinforce these areas? I.e. be making me more robust?
Meeehhh…perhaps? Don’t forget there’s also a bunch of soft tissue in both those areas & it does not enjoy blows.
Anecdotally, when I partook in kickboxing as a young lad, we very much did practice giving & taking blows to the shins & forearms (both mostly just bone) to do just what you’re after — conditioning & reinforcement…as well as getting (overly) familiar with how actual impacts feel.
Fun times.
What other sport practices crashing?!
It’s a crazy sport isn’t it?
I’ve actually put myself on a concussion protocol this weekend. Hit my head on Thursday. Was wearing a helmet and on grass, but have a stiff neck and slight headache so have decided to minimise risk and stay off the bike for a week.
I’d think it helps, though not sure if one crash a week is enough stimulus. More importantly, is that you instinctively learn how to crash more safely.
Contact sports are good for bone density too.
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I think after 20 years of mtb and 6 years of cross, I’m getting OK at crashing. I seem to instinctively go limp when it’s inevitable and wait for to be over.
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Basketball
Football
F1 if you drive for merc
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Years ago Jalabert crashed on a downhill switchback in the Tour. In the slo-mo playback, right before he goes down, his whole body goes rag doll. That’s definitely a learned skill.
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I don’t think you get any meaningful body adaptations from repeatedly crashing. There might be however a learning effect when it comes to technique. Like when you crash that often, your ultimately learn to avoid Crashes or soften the impact so you can turn a bad crash into a fairly light one.
Ummm…G. Thomas.
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I’m definitely so much better at saving crashes these days but do like to push the edge regularly to get the most speed I can. Am always experimenting with tyre pressures too.
Rolled a tub the other night. Was on the ground in a flash. Man that hurt!
As a physical therapist, I would frown heavily if a patient told me this was their training approach, and then explain what myositis ossificans is (you don’t want it). Repeated impacts to soft tissue (muscle, tendon, ligaments) does not stimulate anything good. Bone responds to mechanical force (but not heavy impacts). Lift weights and ride rollers if you want better crash survivability
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It’s not a training approach, it’s a consequence of training.
But I’ll note the advice.