This weekend sees the start of the 2015 speedway season with the Grand Prix of Poland in Warsaw. The Stadion Narodowy will play host to the world's best as Tai Woffinden takes on the best.
This weekend sees the start of the 2015 speedway season with the Grand Prix of Poland in Warsaw. The Stadion Narodowy will play host to the world's best speedway riders.
Speedway is a fast paced, adrenaline filled sport with riders reaching some impressive speeds as they battle for glory.
Facts about Warsaw
The Stadion Narodowy is typically used as a football pitch so undergoes a transformation to turn it into the speedway course we will see this weekend by protecting the grass before adding 3,500 tonnes of shale to help build the circuit.
Other interesting facts include:
• The shale in question is brand new and originates from the same quarry as where the Cardiff and Stockholm track material is sourced • The delivery of shale will take 175 lorries in total • The track is 272 metres in length which is 6 metres shorter than the Cardiff track • The shale will be stored in Warsaw after the event and then reused again in 2016
The importance of a rigid knee brace
In any extreme sport wearing the right protective gear is important to help minimise the risk of serious injury. You would never take your bicycle out without wearing a helmet and extreme sports are no different, from wearing protecting clothing, helmets and body armour of which a knee brace is one of these options.
A rigid knee brace is essential in offering maximum protection following a fall or crash. With many manufacturers opting to utilise carbon fibre they can offer a lightweight yet extremely strong product which is designed to withstand impact and protect the knee.
There are a number of products on the market however you need a knee brace which can withstand heavy impact, with some products having more layers of carbon fibre in the manufacturing process than others. This basically means that the fewer the layers of carbon fibre the greater the chance of the brace splitting under stress, but these are typically at the cheaper end of the market.
The impact of ACL damage
The ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) is located at the front of the knee joint and is responsible for overall stabilisation of the joint, allowing you to walk, run and jump. Any damage here can affect your day to day mobility, let alone your ability to take your bike out and pull a few tricks.
There are varying degrees of damage which can be sustained to the ACL, from a minor injury requiring rest to a complete rupture or tear requiring surgery and up to 12 months out of action. Following recovery form a surgery an extensive period of physiotherapy is also required before you can even think about getting back on your bike.
Once you have suffered one ACL injury there is an increased risk of damaging the ligament again, not to mention a greater chance of osteoarthritis in the future, therefore protecting your knee from subsequent injury is essential if you want to continue being active.
The use of a rigid knee brace is now seen both as a prophylactic measure and a post injury one, with World Speedway Champion 2013 Tai Woffinden wearing a knee brace.
Managing Common Knee Injuries Ahead Of The Champions League Last 16
This week will see the second round of the last sixteen of the Champions League, with a number of crunch matches taking place and an exciting spectacle of football for the neutral. The biggest game of the tie from an English perspective has to be Manchester City taking on Barcelona, an opportunity for one of the wealthiest clubs in the world to book their place in history by knocking out one of the most successful.
Common Knee Injuries From Mountain Biking
Mountain bikers can suffer from a variety of injuries whether from overuse or following a crash or fall from your bike, all with varying degrees of severity. The more extreme the route, the bigger the adrenaline rush but also the bigger the injury should you come off your bike at speed. Luckily, the majority of injuries sustained are minor and self-limiting in that you should expect to recover following a few days of rest.
Elbow Injuries And The English National Badminton Championships
This weekend Milton Keynes will play host to the English National Badminton Championships, bringing together a host of Olympic and Commonwealth athletes in the prelim to the National Championships.
