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Post by cahwoo on Aug 10, 2014 19:52:35 GMT
My grandson is going into 9th grade this year so therefore is in marching band now since he plays Saxophone.
This week has been non stop practice which they call camp LOL. He practices from 9 am to 9 pm. He loves it but is complaining of very sore calf muscles.
I know it probably is his shoes (he wears sneakers) but does anyone know how to help him get rid of the pain? He has 2 more full weeks of this.
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AmyS
Full Member
Enrich your life through crochet. (tm)
Posts: 178
Location: North Alabama
Jun 26, 2014 3:16:46 GMT
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Post by AmyS on Aug 10, 2014 20:05:53 GMT
Ibuprofen to help with pain and inflammation, but check with his pediatrician about good dosage levels.
Warm baths to soak the muscles.
The pain and discomfort will likely resolve themselves by the end of the 2nd week.
Band camp is very strenuous, especially if you live in an area of high heat and humidity. Our high school typically moved indoors for practice during the worse of the afternoon heat.
When my daughter was in band, most of them loved the social aspect of band camp, not so much the practicing long hours in the heat. She actually loved it enough to accept her band director's invitation to come back and lead the flute section during band camp following her freshman and sophomore years of college. Her schedule didn't let her do it this year due to a summer field research trip.
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Post by utmr on Aug 10, 2014 20:09:51 GMT
Hydration, good socks, Advil. It will get better after a week or two.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 8, 2024 16:46:16 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 10, 2014 20:18:09 GMT
It may not necessarily get better.
In the case of my DS, he was a "toe walker" until he was in probably 5th grade. His heels never came into contact with the ground.
Last summer in band camp he was having a terrible time.
I ended up taking him to the doctor and several weeks of physical therapy.
His issue was twofold. Not only was he using muscles he was not used to using...in a way that he was not used to using them. (in marching band, typically you march "heel first") He also had issue because the tendons in his calves never fully stretched like they should've because all the years where they were never completely stretched with normal walking.
If he has any history of toe walking, I would address this sooner vs. waiting. |
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luvnlifelady
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,428 
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Post by luvnlifelady on Aug 10, 2014 21:07:05 GMT
That is a grueling schedule. We practice 12-9 for two weeks before school starts (we are going into the 2nd week). The kids have a new coach that is former military and she is really working them this year. They are complaining of sore abs and such but the grumbling has decreased now that they are done with the first week.
Good luck to your DGS in figuring how to adjust. My DD is a senior and DS is a freshman (although did it last year too as an 8th grader). They love band!
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melissa
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,912
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Post by melissa on Aug 10, 2014 21:07:24 GMT
Stretching.
After all that marching and in the middle of all that marching, they should be stretching their calves out.
Ben-Gay, Icy-Hot, Tiger Balm... any of those massaged gently into the muscles will help. Just use at night. Soaking in Epsom salts is also helpful.
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pridemom
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,843
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Post by pridemom on Aug 10, 2014 21:16:58 GMT
Does his band not wear Drill Master shoes? My daughter loves how comfortable her marching band shoes are, especially with her bad knees due to juvenile arthritis. If he's wearing regular sneakers, get them fitted at a sporting goods store with good inserts.
After 8 hours of band camp, my daughter soaks in a hot bath, takes her anti-inflammatory, and applies Bio-Freeze to her sore joints.
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Post by hop2 on Aug 10, 2014 21:21:30 GMT
As previous posters have said advil, soaking, hydration all of that normal stuff will help. Bananas for extra potassium.
Really good stretching before hand. Seriously. Our band stretches together and it takes 15 minutes for stretches. Stretch every part of the leg, and re stretch after lunch break. He can try stretching his calves agains a step of curb.
Marching band is a serious leg work out. Forward 'marching' which is heel first, then roll forward. Backward marching which just on the balls of your feet. Side stepping. Etc. Oh and those visuals can be a pain sometimes too. It can get rough!!
I don't know if it's merely that they are used to it by then or if it really makes that much of a difference but the day the new marching shoes come in every year they are all very happy about it. LOL.
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