Body Map of Aches: Soreness or Injury?
At the end of a demanding class, students do gentle mobility and mark on a body outline where they feel discomfort and what kind. With a simple chart they learn to tell soreness, fatigue and warning signs of injury apart, and decide what to do in each case.
How to play
- Gentle standing joint mobility, from feet to head, while each student pays attention to how they feel (3 min).
- Sitting on the mat, mark sore spots on the body outline card and rate them from 0 to 10 (2 min).
- Using the warning-sign chart (diffuse, symmetrical ache versus localized, sharp pain, swelling or pain that gets worse), classify each mark (2 min).
- Each student writes the action: gentle stretching, rest, apply ice or tell the teacher (1 min).
Rules
- Mobility work should never increase pain.
- The card is personal and only the teacher reviews it.
- Any warning sign is reported to the teacher before leaving class.
Variations
Easier
Only mark the spots, without classifying the type of discomfort.
Standard
Mark, classify with the chart and choose an action.
Harder
Repeat the map over three classes to track changes and link them to training load.
Adaptations
- Visual impairment: describe the aches to the teacher or a classmate who marks them.
- Limited mobility: adapt the mobility work to the joints the student can move.
- Autism or difficulty describing sensations: use a faces scale to rate pain.
Learning goals
- Tell muscle soreness, fatigue and injury warning signs apart.
- Make responsible decisions when in pain.
- Report any relevant discomfort to the teacher.
Equipment for a class of 25
- cards: 30
- mats: 30
Teacher tip
Collect the cards: they help you adjust load in upcoming classes and catch aches students don't mention out loud.
PatioLab has "Body Map of Aches: Soreness or Injury?" and 5176 more activities ready to drag into your lesson and run from your phone in the gym.
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