While curling is often thought of as a sport with a low risk for injury, the lunge position used to throw the stone down the ice can lead to low back and knee pain. “This position requires a combination of core strength and hip range of motion,” says Dr. Bassett.
Results: 76 curlers (39%) participated; 79% of these reported curling related musculoskeletal pain, most commonly involving the knee (54%), back (33%), and shoulder (20%). Sweeping and delivering the stone were most likely to provoke symptoms.
Poor Posture: If you're leaning forward or arching your back while performing curls, it can strain your lower back. Using Too Much Weight: Lifting weights that are too heavy can lead to compensatory movements, straining your back.
Although research is limited, some studies have found that curling participants experience physical demands related to balance, coordination, strength, and endurance (both muscular and cardiovascular) (Auld & Kivi, 2010: Bradley, 2009; Willoughby & Kostuk, 2005).
The average Dumbbell Curl weight for a female lifter is 30 lb (1RM). This makes you Intermediate on Strength Level and is a very impressive lift.
Sweeping a curling stone can be highly physically demanding. Effective sweeping requires a combination of downward force and brush head speed, determined by the stone velocity.
While curling is often thought of as a sport with a low risk for injury, the lunge position used to throw the stone down the ice can lead to low back and knee pain. “This position requires a combination of core strength and hip range of motion,” says Dr. Bassett.
Both hammer curls and bicep curls isolate the biceps brachii muscle (biceps), which is a large muscle in the front of the upper arm.
There are many different causes of back pain when bending over. Stiffness and minor pain may be a sign of muscle strain, while severe shooting pains could indicate sciatica. A herniated disk can lead to weakness and numbness in one or both legs. Back pain when bending over is a common complaint of many American adults.
Most of the injuries reported were sprains to the knee, back and shoulder; none specifically reported head injuries. Curling uses sport-specific equipment to maximize performance and minimize injury risk.
Shoulder injuries: Shoulder injuries can occur due to repetitive sweeping motion. Back injuries: Back injuries can occur due to the need to maintain a low stance and balance on the ice. Knee injuries: Knee injuries can occur due to the need to shift weight from one leg to another while maintaining balance.
The curl up exercise works on the endurance of the abdominals, important in back support and core stability. Having abdominal muscles with high endurance helps prevent low-back pain.
Just as you would expect to feel a bicep curl in your bicep, you should expect to feel the muscles in your lower back during exercises that engage it. In fact, if you aren't feeling your exercises in your lower back, you might not be doing enough to strengthen it.
Curling provides some great exercise, particularly for the sweepers. The bursts of frantic movement with the broom serve to elevate the heart rate and provide an increased level of muscle activity. You are essentially working your whole body for cardiovascular stimulation.
A simple bicep curl will work your abs, gluts, triceps, shoulders and countless other muscles in the body.
If you overload your biceps by lifting more weight than you're ready for, the muscles of your chest and upper back will get involved, tensing up and potentially causing pain. You should never lift so much weight that it compromises your form in this way.
The Shrug Allows You to Slip Into Dangerous Positions
Spinal flexion becomes more of a concern than it should be as we may not be able to stabilize the spine correctly.
The back-friendliest biceps exercise may be the incline curl, either with dumbbells or machine. The bench expands your base, so the movement of the weight doesn't affect stability.
It can place a lot of strain on the hips, knees, ankles, and can also work the back. This can be especially pronounced in recreational curlers who may have a more difficult time maintaining regulated movement speed and balance control compared to competitive curlers.
It looks like pretty easy and not too hard on the body, right? Not so fast. It actually takes a lot of skill and there's definitely a learning curve that can lead to aches, pains, and unfortunately, injuries. It is actually rather easy to fall, especially when you are getting used to the sport.
Being a good curler requires skill, sound strategy, a lot of teamwork, and, most importantly, the ability to think on your feet. All of these elements layer together to make a sport that's surprisingly tense, complex, and addictive.