Here are a few Questions that Clients have asked me recently inregards to what they have suffered. This may be of assistance to you !!

( I have tried to answer the Questions as simple as I can to make life easy for each and everyone !! )

1*Q* What is a " Knot " ??

A* A " Knot " or " Spasm " is a taut , palpable nodule that is easily found. It has a different texture than the surrounding Tissue and causes Pain. It is either found in the Belly of the Muscle or in the Attachment.

A Muscle can also be in contracture, meaning the entire Muscle is pulling in on itself, " Tight Muscles ".

They both indicate an area of Eschemic or Dehydrated Muscle Tissue or Muscle Tissue Fibre injury. These can be caused by sudden injury, over use, poor posture, poor diet, reptitive motion and activities of daily living.

Massage helps mostly by increasing circulation into the area therefore delivering Nutrients ( For example, Water and Oxygen ) and removing Toxins ( CO2, Cellular Debris, Metabolic Waste and other introduced Poisons ).

2*Q* I recently dislocated my Shoulder. Can you recommend some Exercises that will protect my Weak Shoulder when I return to Training ??

A* When a Shoulder pops out of its Joint, the Structures that normally hold the Bone in place are Stretched or Torn. This makes the Joint unstable, which is why the area feels weak and vulnerable. Your goal should be to Strengthen your Shoulder, but you also need to protect it from further damage. In other words, you need an Upper Body Routine that will safely repair the damage and restore the Strength.. Start by Strenthening the Muscles in your Rotator Cuff using external and internal rotations. Second, focus on restoring Strength to all Three Heads of the Deltoid Muscle.  Finally, remember to protect your unstable Shoulder at all times. The key is to avoid Overhead movements that place your Arm in the vulnerable " High - Five ",  position. Risky Exercises include behind the Neck Shoulder Presses, behind the Neck Lat Pulldowns, Incline Bench Press, Overhead Triceps Presses and Dumbell Pullovers. During your Back Workout, avoid full Stretches for Pulldowns and Rows as they can easily pull a loose Shoulder out of the Joint. Alternatively you might try these Shoulder friendly Exercises. Start with Front Shoulder Press followed by Decline Bench Press and finishing with Dips. Finally, you might consider using Machines instead of free weights until your Shoulder regains it full Strength.

Don't forget the most important thing to do is treat yourself to a Massage to keep you limber and loose and breakdown scar tissue !!

3*Q* I tore the Long Tendon of my Right Biceps Heads which attach to my Shoulder throwing a Javelin. Can it be repaired to restore Arm symmetry ??

A* Let's first review my favourite subject of Anatomy. The Biceps Muscle has Two Heads that attach to the Scapula Bone. The Long Head originates above the Scapula and the Short Head originates below the Shoulder Joint. These Two Heads, which extend down the Arm, merge into a single Tendon that attaches in front of the Elbow. Being quite thin, the Long Tendon is the most susceptible to injury. When torn the Tendon slides down the Arm so that it finds it hard to reconnect to its original bony attachment. The Bicep Muscle still works, because the Short Head is still intact. Functionally, the result is a minimal 10% decrease in Muscle Strength. If you could Curl a 25 kilo Dumbbell before the injury, you will have to downsize to a 20 kilogram Dumbbell. In reality that is no real big deal.

Cosmetically, the result is a shortened retracted  Muscle belly that makes your Biceps look smaller and asymmetrical. Surgical repair of the Long Head is primarily a Cosmetic procedure since the Strength loss is barely noticeable. In order to be successful, the Surgery should ideally be done within a few months of the Injury. The Longer you wait, the harder it becomes to reattach the Tendon.

4*Q* I've noticed a small lump in my Groin. My Doctor says I have a small Hernia that might require Surgery if it gets bigger. Will I cause more damage by continuing to train ? Is there any way I can prevent the Hernia from getting bigger ??

A* A Hernia bulges through a weak part of the Abdominal wall and is typically provoked by Coughing, Straining and of course lifting Weights. The Lump usually arises in the Groin ( Inguinal Hernia ), or near the Navel ( Umbilical Hernia ). When we train at the Gym, a Hernia is most likely to occur during Power Exercises like Squats, Deadlifts and Bench Presses. These Heavy lifts invlove a lot of Straining which increases the pressure in the Abdomen that literally forces the gut to burst through any weak spots in the Abdominal wall.

There are several things you can do to minimise your risk of developing a Hernia. First, do your Exercises in a sitting position. The weak spot in your Groin is protected when the Hip is bent forward at a 90 degree angle to the Body. Second, you should pat close attention to your Breathing technique. Breathe in and out slowly. Please try and avoid holding your Breath when you lift. Finally, probably the most effective way to keep a Hernia away is to maintain strong Abdominal Muscles. Make sure to exercise the lower Abdominal area. Don't forget the Oblique Muscles give the Groin Strength. Try combining the following Exercises: Leg raises and Crunches.

5*Q* My Knees and Shoulders click and pop when I lift Weights. Should I be worried ?? Also, is it bad to crack your Knuckles ??

A* To be honest with you, it is not as bad as what people think. It does not lead to Arthritis, but chronic cracking  can Stretch Ligaments and decrease grip Strength. The cracking sound is produced when bubbles burst in the Synovial Fluid within the Joint.

Clicking and popping Joints is a very common thing in almost everyone who Exercises and works, because their Joints are continually subjected to the trauma of Training and heavy lifting. In the Shoulder, popping is usually caused by the Rotator Cuff Tendons gliding over the Bones. You can minimise Shoulder popping by warming up adequately and by keeping your Rotator Cuff strong. The grinding noise in your Knees is caused by softening of the Cartilage under the Kneecap ( Patella ). You can help reduce Knee noise by sticking with short arc movements and most importantly by not bending your Knees beyond 90 degree during certain Exercises such as Squats and Leg Presses.

Generally speaking, clicking or popping in a Joint is not a cause for any great concern unless you feel any pain or you find that your range of motion or movement ( R.O.M ) is limited. I would strongly recommend that you go visit your Doctor if your Joints are painful or stiff. You may need to get an MRI  or an Xray  to investigate a more serious underlying problem , such as Joint damage, Tendon injury or Arthritis.

6*Q* I have been getting Cramps in my Legs. Usually the Cramps occur during a Leg Training session, but they also happen when I am at home and idle. My Calf Muscles are most often affected, but sometimes the Cramps occur in my Hamstrings or Quads. I have no idea what is causing this problem.

A* A Cramp is a painful Muscle spasm caused by a prolonged involuntary Muscle contraction. An imbalance of Salts in the Body causes a Cramp but a Cramp is more often a result of Fatigue, imperfect posture or stress. Cramps may also be linked to an underlying medical condition such as  Diabetes, Poor Circulation, Thyroid disorders and Low Calcium. Cramps in Athletes usually result from Muscle Fatigue, or from Dehydration during or after prolonged Exercise. Although their exact cause is poorly understood, most Cramps are self limiting and the painful Spasms resolves once Exercise is discontinued. The most effective and immediate treatment of a Cramp is to release the Knotted Muscle by passive Stretching.

Please try the following:

* STRETCH *
Static, i.e Nonballistic, Stretching before and after your Training will prevent or alleviate Muscle Spasms.

* DRINK *
Keep your Body Hydrated by drinking Water regularly throughout the day and during your Training. An Electrlyte drink or a glass of Fruit Juice will help maintain Sodium and Potassium levels. Milk is an excellent source of Calcium.

* DECAFFEINATE *
Since Caffeine is a stimulant that can make Cramps worse, you would best stick to Decaf if you drink Coffee or Tea.

* ABBREVIATE *
Prevent Dehydration or excessive Fatigue by keeping the length of your Training to less than an Hour.

* REST *
Muscles need rest to repair the damage inflicted by intense Training and your Body will perform better if you get adequate sleep.

* TAKE A HOT BATH *
Heat relaxes Muscles and eases Post Training Spasms. Go ahead and treat yourself !! Guess what ?? you deserve it !!

7*Q* I do M.M.A , Kickboxing and Dancing but I've got  really bad Knee Pain. My Doctor thinks I've torn a Meniscus. What should I do ??

A* The Meniscus is a soft Cartilage structure inside the Knee Joint and Leg Pressest as a cushion between the Bones of the Leg. A  torn Meniscus can cause a variety of symptoms, including Knee Pain, Swelling, Clicking and Locking. These symptoms are typically provoked by certain exercises when trying to strengthen the Muscles which are related to your sports when doing strength training. Squatting, Leg Presses  and Lunges especially  if the Knee bends more than 90 degrees ( With the Thigh Bone below parallel to the ground ). A Torn Meniscus may also give you Pain when you walk on uneven ground or as your Knee twists when you change direction. The Meniscus does not show up on an X-Ray, therefore an M.R.I Scan is usually required to confirm the diagnosis. The treatment depends on the severity of your symptoms and the extent of the Meniscus damage
.
Small Meniscus tears tend to cause minimal symptoms and should not prevent you from Training. Doing Leg Exercises is till possible but you should do short arc movements if you want to keep pain away. In other words avoid bending the Knee more than 90 degrees. Assessing each Exercise on a trial basis is also a good idea. If the Exercise causes Pain don't do it. Drop the Exercise from your routine and substitute it with another more cofortable Exercise. I do not anticipate you experiencing any difficulty ith Leg Extensions and Leg Curls or with Cardio on a stationary bike. However, doing deep Knee bends during Squats may irritate a torn Meniscus therefore causing more Pain and Swelling.

If your Meniscus tear is  large  and causes frequent, disabling symptoms such as Swelling, Catching ( The torn fragment gets caught between the Bones for a short time ) and locking in on your Knee ( Knee can't bend or straighten fully ). I would advise you to put your Training on hold. Go visit an Orthopedic Surgeon as soon as possible. The most reliable treatment for Symptomatic Meniscus tears is Arthroscopic Knee Surgery.

8*Q* In a well defined Muscular Leg there seems to be more going on than just the Quads in the front and the Hamstrings on the back. Am I correct ??

A* Guess what ?? You are right. There are some 15 separate Muscles in the upper Leg. So, lets go on a tour of the Muscles of the Quads.

The front of the Thigh consists of the Quadriceps Femoris, which is made up of Four separate Muscle heads. The outer Thigh sweep  is the Vastus Lateralis and the teardrop above the Knee ( Patella ) is the Vastus Medialis. Running down centre and front of the Quads is the Rectus Femoris. The fourth Quad is known as the Vastus Intermedius, it lies underneath the other three Muscle heads The fourth heads converge and attach  onto the Patella, and insert via a single Tendon onto the Tibia which is located just below the Knee Joint. The Quadriceps functions is to extend the Knee and therefore straighten  the Leg. Since the Rectus Femoris attaches onto the Pelvic Bone which also acts in Hip Flexion.

The inner Thigh consists of Three Adductor Muscles ( Longus, Magnus and Brevis ), the Gracilis  Muscle and the Sartorius ( Also known as Thigh Rod ). These Muscles sqeeze the Thigh Muscles together which is also known as Hip Adduction.

The back of the Thigh consists of three Hamstring Muscles. The outer Hamstring is the Biceps Femoris. The Semi Membranous and Semi Tendonosus make up the inner Hamstring. All three Hamstrings span both the Knee and Hip Joints. Therefore, they serve as dual functions which in turn causes both Knee Flexion and Hip Extension.

Above the Hamstrings is the Gluteus Maximus, a very powerful Muscle that causes Hip Extension. For Example, during the Squat and Dead Lift. Also in this region are the Tensor Fascia Latae, Gluteus Medius and Gluteus Minimus Muscles that move the Leg out sideways ( Hip Adduction ). This concludes your Tour!!

9*Q* I tore my Right Triceps Tendon earlier this year doing lying Overhead Triceps extensions. I underwent Surgery to repair the Tendon, now my Orthopedic Surgeon says its safe for me to gradually return to Training. I'm a little anxious about damaging the repaired Tendon. I would appreciate your advice on how to structure my Training and what Triceps exercises are suitable.

A* To be honest with you, it comes as no surprise that an overhead Triceps extension exercise caused you an injury. The seated overhead Triceps extension and the lying Triceps extension pose significant  safety concerns.

During these types of Triceps exercises, the position of your arm places the Long Head Triceps Tendon under excessive Stretch and also puts a great deal of stress on the Elbow and Shoulder Joints. What this means is that the Triceps Tendon is vulnerable to injury when lifting a weight with the arm in this overhead position.

If you wish to avoid any Triceps injury, the simple solution is to quit overhead Triceps extensions. Safer Triceps exercises include: Triceps pushdown using a Bar  or Rope, Dips, Triceps Kickbacks, Close Grip  Bench Press and Pushups. The common Biomechanical theme during these exercises is that your Arms are kept as close to the Body. This is much less stressful to  the Triceps Tendon than any overhead type extension movement.

When recovering from Triceps injury, remember to use caution during any Chest or Shoulder press. Furthermore, any Tendon injury responds best to slow controlled repetitions rather than fast jerky movements.

10*Q* What is Tennis Elbow ?

A* Today, nearly half of all Tennis players will suffer from this disorder at some point. The funny thing is that Tennis players  actually account for less than 5% of all reported  cases making the term for this condition something of a misnomer.

There are 2 additional Strain related conditions which are often mistaken for Tennis Elbow. These being Golfer's Elbow and Bursitis. Before we delve into the details of what Tennis Elbow actually is  and options that are available for relieving and preventing the pain. Let's look at the distinguishing characteristics of each of the 3 ailments.

* Tennis Elbow
( Laterial Epicondylitis ) Outside of the Elbow
The onset of Pain on the outside ( Laterial ) of the Elbow is usually gradual with Tenderness felt on or below the Joint's Bony prominence. Movements such as gripping, lifting and carrying tend to be troublesome.
* Golfer's Elbow
( Medial Epicondylitis ) Inside of the Elbow
The causes of Golfer's Elbow are similar to Tennis Elbow but Pain and tenderness are felt on the inside ( Medial ) of the Elbow, on or around the Joint's bony prominence.
* Bursitis
( Back of Elbow )
Often due to excessive leaning on the Joint or a direct blow or fall onto the tip of the Elbow. A lump can often be seen and the Elbow is Painful at the back of the Joint.

Symptoms of Tennis Elbow
# Recurring Pain on the outside of the upper Forearm just below the bend in the Elbow. Occasionally, Pain radiates down the Arm toward the Wrist.
# Pain caused by lifting or bending the Arm or grasping even light objects such as a coffee cup.
# Difficulty extending the Forearm fully ( Because of Inflamed Muscles, Tendons and Ligaments )
# Pain that typically  lasts for 6 to 12 weeks, the discomfort can continue for as little as 3 weeks or as long as several years.

The damage that Tennis Elbow incurs consists of tiny tears in a part of the Tendon and in Muscle coverings. After the intial  injury heals, these areas often tear again which leads to Hemorrhaging and the formation of rough, granulated Tissue and Calcium deposits within the surrounding Tissues. Collagen, a Protein, leaks out from around the Injured areas causing Inflammation. The resulting pressure can cut off the Blood flow and pinch the Radial Nerve which is one of the Major Nerves controlling Muscles in the Arm and the Hand.

Tendons which attach to the Bones, do not receive the same amount of Oxygen and Blood that Muscles do, so they heal more slowly. In fact, some cases of Tennis Elbow can last for years, though the Inflammation usually subsides in 6 to 12 weeks.

Many Medical Textbooks trat Tennis Elbow as a form of Tendonitis which is often the case but if the Muscles and the Bones of the Elbow Joint are also involved, then the condition is called Epicondylitis. However, if you feel Pain directly on the back of the Elbow Joint rather than down the outside of your Arm, you might have Bursitis. This is caused by when the Lubricating Sacs in the Joint become Inflamed. If you ever see swelling which is almost never a symptom of Tennis Elbow, you may want to investigate other possible conditions such as Arthritis, Infection and Gout.

The most effective conventional and alternative treatment for Tennis Elbow have the same basic premise. Rest the Arm until the Pain disappears, then Massage to relieve stress and tension in the Muscles. Exercise to strengthen the area and to prevent re- injury, we all know the old saying " Prevention is better than the cure ". If you must go back to whatever caused the problem in the first place, be sure to warm up your Arm for at least 5 to 10 minutes with gentle Stretching and movement before starting any activity. This is just a simple step for the weekend Tennis player but not as easy  for the office worker or manual laborer.

For most mild to moderate cases of Tennis Elbow, Aspirin or Ibuprofen will help address the Inflammation and the Pain while you are resting the Injury and then you can follow up with Massage to speed up the process.

For stubborn cases of Tennis Elbow your Doctor may advise Corticosteroid injections which dramatically  reduce Inflammation but they can not be used long term because of potentially  damaging side effects. If rest, Anti Inflammatory medications and a Stretching routine fail to cure your Tennis Elbow, you may have to consider surgery, though this form of tretament is rare. One procedure is for the Tendon to be cut loose from the Epicondyle, the rounded  bump at the end of the Bone which eliminates stress on the Tendon but renders the Muscle useless. Another surgical procedure technique involves removing so called Granulated Tissue in the Tendon and repairing Tears.

Always warm up your Arm for 5 to 10 minutes before starting any activity involving your Elbow. If you develop Severe Pain after use anyway, pack your Arm in Ice for 20 minutes and call your Doctor.

* PREVENTION *

* Lift Objects with your Palm facing your Body

* Try Strengthening Exercises with Hand Weights. With your Elbow cocked and your Palm down, repeatedly bend your Wrist. Stop if you feel Pain!!

* Stretch relevant Muscles before beginning a possibly stressful activity by grasping the top part of your Fingers and gently but firmly pulling them back toward your Body. Keep your Arm fully extended and your Palm facing outward.

* Always treat yourself to a Massage to keep your Muscles limber and loose but most of all prevention!!

11*Q* I usually Train in the Morning. What are your Views and Recommendations with respect to Training on an Empty Stomach ?

A* The Human Body , using a built in survival mechanism is designed to Exercise on an Empty Stomach. When you're hungry , Stress Hormones like Adrenaline are released and Blood is delivered to the Muscles in preparation to hunt for food. After the Meal, on the other hand, Anabolic Hormones like Insulin are secreted and Blood diverted from the Muscles into the Gut in order to digest Food. In the Fed state, the last thing your Body wants to do is participate in vigorous Exercise. So Exercising on an Empty Stomach makes perfect Physiological sense if you want to optimise Athletic performance. So my Recommendation is : Never Exercise on a Full Stomach. You should always wait One to Two Hours after a Meal before you Exercise.

Training first thing in the Morning on an Empty Stomach is the best time of day to burn Fat. After an Overnight Sleep, yourBody is essentially starved of Nutrients because you haven't eaten anything for Eight Hours or so. Your Bodies supply of Glucose Energy is low. As a result, you are more likely to tap into your Fat reserves for Energy. Infact, if you Train first thing in the Morning on anEmpty Stomach, you'll burn up to Three times more Fat. So if you are looking to improve Muscular Definition, Training before Breakfast is a great idea.

Whatever time of day you Train, you can still achieve a similar effect by not eating during the Two Hours prior to Exercise. If you have to eat within the Two Hours before you Train, remember to consume your Pre Training Meal at least One Hour before you Train. One way to ensure that your Stomach is Empty at Training is to make a Pre Workpout Meal a Liquid Meal Replacement drink. Liquid Nutrients are digested and Absorbed quicker than a meal of solid food.

Also worth remembering is the fact your Body continues to burn Fat stores after you have stopped Exercising. So to Maximize this delayed Fat Burning effect, wait for at least Thirty minutes after Training before you eat.

12*Q* Would you please give me some Advice about Muscle Recovery ? How long should I rest each Muscle Group before I Train them again ? Some say 48 Hours. Is it possible to shorten this Recovery time ?

A* If your Goal is Muscle Growth, the time Interbal between Training Sessions for a given Muscle group is critical. An intense Training session or Workout where Sets for a Bodypart are performed to the point of failure constitutes a massive assault to the Muscle. Going to failure depletes the Muscle energy stores and causes structual damage with Protein degradation ( Muscle Breakdown ) taking place inside the Muscle Tissue. These disrupted Muscle Fibres are what cause Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (  D.O.M.S ), the Muscular pain that peaks a Day or Two after Intense Exercise.

During the Recovery Phase, the Muscle's energy stores are restocked from Dietary Carbohydrate and Creatine. The damaged Muscle Fibres are repaired by Protein Synthesis which utilises Dietary Amino Acids. During recovery, an increased rate of Protein Synthesis ( Building up of Muscle Tissue ) occurs inside the Muscle Cells. The repair process regenerates a bigger Muscle Fibre and hnece this type of Fibre disruption is essential for the Muscle's growth.

Scientific Studies indicate that Five to Seven days are required to repair the Muscle damage induced by high intensity Weight Training. So if you want to build Muscle, an adequate period of Rest is essential. That's why the Mass Building Routines of most successful Athletes utilise a Split Training System where each Muscle group is Trained once every Five to Seven days. Training an individual Muscle group more frequently will work upto a point but this type of Training protocol is likely to lead to Overtraining, so your Size and Strength gains will quickly reach a Plateau or sticking point. Remember Mass Building is a different process than pre contest cutting up ( Where Fat Loss is at a Premium and the Muscle has already been Built ). If you want your Muscles to grow, you must provide them with adequate rest in order to recover from Intense Weight Training.

13*Q* During the past Two Years I've done Four Cycles of Anabolic Steroids. I went to see my Doctor  a few months after I quit using the Drugs and told him about my lack of Libido. Noticing my Small Balls, he then drew some Blood to check my Testosterone Levels. My level has a value of 93, which he said was the Lowest he's ever seen. He thinks I have Atrophic Testes and that I have permanently damaged my ability to produce Testosterone. This news concerns me greatly.

A* Sexual side effects resulting from Steroid use are very common. When you take Anabolic Steroids your Body senses the Extra Testosterene pumping through your System. By a process known as Negative Feedback, Testosterene production in the Testes is switched off and because those Testicles are not required to work, they shrink in size or in other words Atrophy.

Most Steroid induced Sexual problems occur when you finish a Steroid Cycle because when you discontinue using the Drugs, your Testosterene level drops to an almost undetectable amount. This Drug withdrawal effect can result in Impotence, loss of Libido and Infertility ( Low Sperm Count ).
The good news is these Complications are usually reversible. After you quit using Steroids your Testes slowly begin restoring Testosterene production and making Sperm. Gradually regaining Testicle size and rebooting the Sex drive. This restoration does not happen over night.

You have to stay Steroid free for upto Six Months sometimes more before your Testicles are back upto speed and your Sexual function is fully operational. Be warned that recovery is not always Guaranteed. If you've been absorbing Large doses of Steroids for many years, your own Testosterene production may be permanently damaged beyond repair. In many Steroid users Sexual restoration is complicated by the fact that the Testosterene levels starts to decline after the age of 30 with the Natural ageing process.

Given you've only taken Steroids for about Two years in your case, your Testes have an excellent chance of recovery and I doubt they have suffered permanent Steroid induced damage. Sit tight for Six months, give your Body a chance to recover to the best of its Natural ability and then get your Testosterene level checked. If the level is still low or your Libido is not to your satisfaction, work with your Doctor on the Treatment options. Many men these days are looking towards Testosterene Replacement Therapy ( TRT ) to minimise the midlife decline in Sexual function.

14*Q* I was diagnosed with Gynecomastia a couple of years ago, and at the time I was taking a lot of Depo- Testosterone and Anadrol - 50 both without the protection of an Antiestrogen. The lumps under my nipples are gone, what has happened to them ? Did they get absorbed ?

A* Gynecomastia, the development of Breast Tissue in Men is a very common side effect of Steroids that affects  about one in three Male users. Some of the excess Testosterone circulating through the user's  body converts to the Female Hormone Estrogen which can result in unwanted Breast enhancement. For many Steroid users this side effect is reversible. Estrogen levels fall when you quit using Steroids. Without Estrogen, the Breast Tissue gets absorbed and the Gyno disappears. Gynecomastia can be treated or prevented with the Antiestrogen drug Tamoxifen ( Brand name: Nolvadex ) by ingesting 20 mg daily.

Several factors can increase your risk of developing Gyno when using Anabolic Steroids. Taking large doses for long periods of time and using powerful Androgenic formulations containing Testosterone. The more Bodyfat you have, the more likely you will get Gyno because the conversion of Testosterone to Estrogen takes place in Fatty Tissue.

Assuming you are intent on breaking the Law again by using Anabolic Steroids for non Medicinal purposes, you have a One in Three chance of developing Gynecomastia. You could reduce that risk by choosing low doses, doing short cycles and using less Androgenic agents for example Nandrolone Decanoate. Keeping your Bodyfat level low will also deter the development of Gyno. An over the counter Antiestrogen supplement may work as a preventative but I am not aware of any Scientific data supporting such a product in this circumstance. You could of course stay drug free and say goodbye to Gynecomastia forever.
Assuming

15*Q* I'm suffering from Rotator Cuff Teninitis and the constant pain in my Shoulders ruins my Upper BVody Workouts. What, if anything could I use to help heal nagging Injuries such as mine ? I read that one can use Steroids to promote the rebuilding of Tissue. Are Anabolics being prescribed for Treatment purposes ?

A* Anabolic Steroids are Drug versions of Testosterone. Being Anabolic, these Drugs can promote Tissue Healing and Repair. Testosterone Replacement Therapy is gaining popularity as a Treatment to reverse the aging process in Men and research has shown older Men experience many benefits when their declining Testosterone level is restored.

Nevertheless, because Steroids are illegal renegade Drugs associated with cheating in most Sports, Physicians are reluctant to consider using these Drugs for the Treatment of Joint Pain or Injury. Scientific research investigating the positive benefits of Steroids is sparse but new data is emerging  slowly but surely. We know Anabolic Steroids stimulate Protein Synthesis, improve Nitrogen balance and promote Muscle growth.Steroids have also been shown to stimulate Syhthesis of Collagen the substance that gives Strength to most Body Tissues including Muscle, Tendon, Ligament and Bone. What's more, the Anabolic Steroid Nandrolone Decanoate has been shown to speed up the healing of Muscle Injury and to promote Healing and Strength in Rotator Cuff Tendons. The results of these studies must be interpreted with caution because these Drugs were tested in the Laboratory setting using artificial Tissues or rodents not Human subjects.

Thousands of Steroid users worldwide testify Steroids such as Deca Durabolin  ( Nandrolone )  work wonders for nagging Injuries and achy Joints. However, despite this word of mouth evidence, much more research will need to take place over many years before Anabolic Steroids are considered a Legitimate treatment for soft Tissue Injuries or Joint pains. In the meantime you'll have to choose from legal Medications such as Ibuprofen and Glucosamine. Oh, if you are suffering from ongoing pain, it makes sense, see your Doctor as there might be some other underlining issue.