Bredin on Running & Training

66 RUNNING AND TRAINING. through the skin, owing to a small blood-vessel having broken in connection with the large muscles and tendons that run up the thigh; without .discoloration one of the latter is strained. Immediately bathing the leg in hot water-without rubbing or any massage treatment-and then a rest for some days should be followed by a return to easy track work as soon as it becomes possible to run without experiencing actual pain (a somewhat stiff and sore feeling in the limb may reasonably be expected). If an accident of this description occurs very shortly before the date of an important race, in which the athlete is particularly anxious to take part, the following treatment may be tried: Take a flannel bandage, after steeping it in boiling water, and wrap it as hot as can be borne round the part of the leg that is afflicted, then pass a well-heated iron-one of those used in laundry work– several times over the outside of the bandage. This method rnay be recommended as the quickest by which the inflammation can be brought out. A strain of this description will frequently stop all running for several weeks, and, having once occurred, is liable to return at any time, which can be guarded against to a certain extent by having the legs well rubbed before going on to the track, wearing extra clothing whilst training during cold weather, especially when east winds blow, and by strictly observing the rule of never to commence fast running without having previously taken a few easy canters. Strains both in the calf of the leg and ankle are less serious, although frequently very troublesome. Rub– bing two or three times a day with a little embrocation