# Crash training improves robustness? **URL:** \ **Category:** Training\ **Created:** [August 14, 2021, 5:20am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/crash-training-improves-robustness/61977 "2021-08-14T05:20:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![grawp](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/grawp/32/7721_2.png) [@grawp](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/grawp)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2021, 5:20am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/crash-training-improves-robustness/61977/1 "2021-08-14T05:20:03Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Doughnutman](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/captain_doughnutman/32/7694_2.png) [@Captain\_Doughnutman](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Captain_Doughnutman)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2021, 5:35am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/crash-training-improves-robustness/61977/2 "2021-08-14T05:35:07Z")
> [@grawp](#): > > blows to the hips and shoulders would stimulate the body to reinforce these areas? 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?! ---
**Author:** ![grawp](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/grawp/32/7721_2.png) [@grawp](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/grawp)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2021, 5:58am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/crash-training-improves-robustness/61977/3 "2021-08-14T05:58:59Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![splash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac8455/32.png) [@splash](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/splash)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2021, 7:24am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/crash-training-improves-robustness/61977/4 "2021-08-14T07:24:08Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![grawp](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/grawp/32/7721_2.png) [@grawp](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/grawp)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2021, 8:13am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/crash-training-improves-robustness/61977/5 "2021-08-14T08:13:02Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![ABG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@ABG](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/ABG)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2021, 10:06am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/crash-training-improves-robustness/61977/6 "2021-08-14T10:06:21Z")
Basketball ---
**Author:** ![ABG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@ABG](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/ABG)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2021, 10:06am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/crash-training-improves-robustness/61977/7 "2021-08-14T10:06:36Z")
Football ---
**Author:** ![ABG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@ABG](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/ABG)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2021, 10:07am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/crash-training-improves-robustness/61977/8 "2021-08-14T10:07:08Z")
F1 if you drive for merc ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Doughnutman](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/captain_doughnutman/32/7694_2.png) [@Captain\_Doughnutman](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Captain_Doughnutman)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2021, 1:42pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/crash-training-improves-robustness/61977/9 "2021-08-14T13:42:54Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Jvnnick](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/jvnnick/32/80309_2.png) [@Jvnnick](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Jvnnick)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2021, 2:53pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/crash-training-improves-robustness/61977/10 "2021-08-14T14:53:22Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Doughnutman](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/captain_doughnutman/32/7694_2.png) [@Captain\_Doughnutman](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Captain_Doughnutman)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2021, 4:07pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/crash-training-improves-robustness/61977/11 "2021-08-14T16:07:09Z")
> [@Jvnnick](#): > > when you crash that often, your ultimately learn to avoid Crashes Ummm…G. Thomas. ---
**Author:** ![grawp](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/grawp/32/7721_2.png) [@grawp](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/grawp)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2021, 5:58pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/crash-training-improves-robustness/61977/12 "2021-08-14T17:58:25Z")
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! ---
**Author:** ![AustinPT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ba9def/32.png) [@AustinPT](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/AustinPT)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2021, 7:08pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/crash-training-improves-robustness/61977/13 "2021-08-14T19:08:54Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![grawp](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/grawp/32/7721_2.png) [@grawp](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/grawp)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2021, 8:41pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/crash-training-improves-robustness/61977/14 "2021-08-14T20:41:07Z")
It’s not a training approach, it’s a consequence of training. ---
**Author:** ![grawp](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/grawp/32/7721_2.png) [@grawp](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/grawp)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2021, 8:41pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/crash-training-improves-robustness/61977/15 "2021-08-14T20:41:54Z")
But I’ll note the advice.