For my mutants, normals and steroidal amoeba followers out there.. here is a news flash:
Yoga and Antibiotics are not good friends. Yes, basically when your lymph system starts getting its little yoga inspired rush, it also makes the antibiotics go through fast. This became evident when the room got a little bit spinny, nothing major, and filled with some pretty colours at the edge of my perception.
Which leads into this confession... my thought while resting through it was, "what would that be like with a shot of morphine?" As many of you mutants may know certain chemicals given before, during or after surgery give you that warm happy feeling. Mine sadly, is morphine, or more-so pethedine. I have never used it outside of hospital administration, but, I will be honest where there is not a day once or twice a month, where you get that off day, no matter the cause be it pain/anger/sadness that you try and remember a good time. And sadly, once or twice a month, that goes not to one of the hottest girls I have ever dated/or the girls I would like to date, but back to good old morphine.
I know this is a fitness site, but, you also have to realize that as mutants, some of us are going to have a few points in our lives, where we struggle. Some of us may be angry, hurt, depressed or like me, continuously aware that we have a little friend in the closet, right at the back, who so badly wants to come out and play. Thankfully, through discipline, self-awareness and a joy of being fit and a role model to other mutants, I know that I won't let him out to play voluntarily.
Well folks, moral of the story is, don't yoga and be on drugs... good or bad.. And remember, anyone who says they have no demons that haunt them walk back 20 paces, get your mobile out and call the psyche ward of your nearest hospital. And don't say anything to upset them.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Disability and Fitness: How does it work?
Disability and fitness are generally two words that the majority of the disabled community can't see as being together. I am not sure if it is because they think it takes away from the plight of benefits cuts, or forces them to take account for their own lifestyle.
Now don't get me wrong, there are certain disabilities that fitness cannot be intrinsically connected with. These are the Motor Nuerone Disease, the ones that fully incapacitate you. But that being said, sufferers of MND who are given exercises, it increases flexibility in muscles affected by the disease and increases the strength of those that are not affected. Yet, after a period of a year, you don't go to someone with MND and then say "Oh you have been working out, therefore you no longer suffer it." Ok, maybe David Cameron, PM of the UK might try that, with his cuts to disability, but, generally no, you are still suffering. What you are doing is saving the economy an extra amount of money by doing something that decreases your dependancy on medication and therefore improves your quality of living for whatever time you can.
This was always my conundrum up until a few months ago. I am athletic, and technically I am disabled. I have only ever been on welfare for about 2 years. So out my entire working life, I have done my best to not be on benefits and provide some form of normality in my life.
I have just recently had the opportunity where I can apply to get my level 2 NVQ in personal training. If all goes well, I can start at the end of February. What my aim is here, other than to bring the gospel of fitness to the general community, and specifically the disabled community, is to eventually work my way into research of exercises for the disabled community. With this, I hope to get some sort of education around disability and its dependancy on pain medication and other chemicals to promote well being.
My only concern around this, is that of the feeling of butting heads with established disability groups who want to have the attention placed on their helplessness. In times of a hard economy, and dwindling of benefits, and a government hell bent on creating cuts for the poor so the rich can thrive, maybe the disabled community needs to start looking at how it needs to cut down dependancy on the system in times of crisis. I know a lot of cases it is hard to do, but, if the system is not protecting the most vulnerable in the community, then the vulnerable need to find a way to rework the system. I am all for grants to those disabled who want to get back to work, I am all for those who can't work to get their livelihoods looked after and have their living standards be on par with working society, but at the same time, we need to show that our disabilities are something that we can work with. For example, I know I can't sit down all day, also know I can't stand up all day. I also know that if I am doing something active, then my muscles don't bunch up. We need to start relying on the strengths of our disabilities not on what it won't allow us to do. I had a good mate back in Australia, who has MS. The guy was totally gimped when it came to anything physical, but his mind was wired like a super computer. He gets a job with the government as an IT consultant. I also have seen people who have mental disabilities doing physical tasks, just because their minds are not as capable as a scientist, they have more strength in their bodies than I do.
If we want the government to help us, what we need to do is show the government that we are wanting to do something in return. For those of us who are disabled, and can still do something, to sit and whither like grapes on a vine, receiving benefits to be locked up in an internal prison, is more of a crime still. All human beings have a role in this world, even the most disabled, crippled, mentally incapable person on earth, teaches us about compassion to others. They may not have a quality of life as we know it, but what do we know of the being that resides in the non-functioning shell. It reminds me of the first time I met someone, who all they could do was move their eyes. I had never felt so much compassion towards another person in my life. I knew I couldn't make that person's day, or make them better, but they made me a better person, because they showed a will to live, something in their eyes said that their was a whole universe of thought there that we have been deprived of, and that they relish in.
Now don't get me wrong, there are certain disabilities that fitness cannot be intrinsically connected with. These are the Motor Nuerone Disease, the ones that fully incapacitate you. But that being said, sufferers of MND who are given exercises, it increases flexibility in muscles affected by the disease and increases the strength of those that are not affected. Yet, after a period of a year, you don't go to someone with MND and then say "Oh you have been working out, therefore you no longer suffer it." Ok, maybe David Cameron, PM of the UK might try that, with his cuts to disability, but, generally no, you are still suffering. What you are doing is saving the economy an extra amount of money by doing something that decreases your dependancy on medication and therefore improves your quality of living for whatever time you can.
This was always my conundrum up until a few months ago. I am athletic, and technically I am disabled. I have only ever been on welfare for about 2 years. So out my entire working life, I have done my best to not be on benefits and provide some form of normality in my life.
I have just recently had the opportunity where I can apply to get my level 2 NVQ in personal training. If all goes well, I can start at the end of February. What my aim is here, other than to bring the gospel of fitness to the general community, and specifically the disabled community, is to eventually work my way into research of exercises for the disabled community. With this, I hope to get some sort of education around disability and its dependancy on pain medication and other chemicals to promote well being.
My only concern around this, is that of the feeling of butting heads with established disability groups who want to have the attention placed on their helplessness. In times of a hard economy, and dwindling of benefits, and a government hell bent on creating cuts for the poor so the rich can thrive, maybe the disabled community needs to start looking at how it needs to cut down dependancy on the system in times of crisis. I know a lot of cases it is hard to do, but, if the system is not protecting the most vulnerable in the community, then the vulnerable need to find a way to rework the system. I am all for grants to those disabled who want to get back to work, I am all for those who can't work to get their livelihoods looked after and have their living standards be on par with working society, but at the same time, we need to show that our disabilities are something that we can work with. For example, I know I can't sit down all day, also know I can't stand up all day. I also know that if I am doing something active, then my muscles don't bunch up. We need to start relying on the strengths of our disabilities not on what it won't allow us to do. I had a good mate back in Australia, who has MS. The guy was totally gimped when it came to anything physical, but his mind was wired like a super computer. He gets a job with the government as an IT consultant. I also have seen people who have mental disabilities doing physical tasks, just because their minds are not as capable as a scientist, they have more strength in their bodies than I do.
If we want the government to help us, what we need to do is show the government that we are wanting to do something in return. For those of us who are disabled, and can still do something, to sit and whither like grapes on a vine, receiving benefits to be locked up in an internal prison, is more of a crime still. All human beings have a role in this world, even the most disabled, crippled, mentally incapable person on earth, teaches us about compassion to others. They may not have a quality of life as we know it, but what do we know of the being that resides in the non-functioning shell. It reminds me of the first time I met someone, who all they could do was move their eyes. I had never felt so much compassion towards another person in my life. I knew I couldn't make that person's day, or make them better, but they made me a better person, because they showed a will to live, something in their eyes said that their was a whole universe of thought there that we have been deprived of, and that they relish in.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
A chat on Yoga...
So I was out with the awesome pretzel lady herself for a quick coffee. We had a great chat, and were talking about her business and how she is looking at expanding her Yoga empire.
Now I know most of you mutants, especially the male ones in the group, are thinking that yoga is for wusses. Well, to be honest, I thought so to a degree at one point. But having seen how fit a lot of these yoga practitioners are, male and female, I thought "well there has to be something to it, it can't just be all pretty poses and all". Now a good 10 years on, I have become an addict. I got addicted to yoga when back in Canada, when I went with Shannon and Paula. The two girls and I had a blast at our first class, and that was it, I was hooked and went back for more. Imagine my joy, when I found out that getting the gym membership meant that it had free yoga included!!
Now, back to Pretzel Lady. Susan has to be one of the most down to earth and probably the most industrious person I have met. She is intelligent and funny as she is stretchy! Any mutant would be glad to be acquainted with her and with good reason. She runs a multitude of classes during the week, she is doing her masters degree in Osteopathy, and she is also taking time to do her practicum work in as well as getting her web presence done. So please, do me a favour, if you are a Londoner, go to her classes and show some support. Also, mutants, she is cool with training us, as long as we are ok with adapting on our own in classes. She will keep an eye out for you, but remember, there are others. If she see's that you are struggling, she will be there to help out.
So go on, stretch some, who knows, you might increase your stature at the same time!!
So I was out with the awesome pretzel lady herself for a quick coffee. We had a great chat, and were talking about her business and how she is looking at expanding her Yoga empire.
Now I know most of you mutants, especially the male ones in the group, are thinking that yoga is for wusses. Well, to be honest, I thought so to a degree at one point. But having seen how fit a lot of these yoga practitioners are, male and female, I thought "well there has to be something to it, it can't just be all pretty poses and all". Now a good 10 years on, I have become an addict. I got addicted to yoga when back in Canada, when I went with Shannon and Paula. The two girls and I had a blast at our first class, and that was it, I was hooked and went back for more. Imagine my joy, when I found out that getting the gym membership meant that it had free yoga included!!
Now, back to Pretzel Lady. Susan has to be one of the most down to earth and probably the most industrious person I have met. She is intelligent and funny as she is stretchy! Any mutant would be glad to be acquainted with her and with good reason. She runs a multitude of classes during the week, she is doing her masters degree in Osteopathy, and she is also taking time to do her practicum work in as well as getting her web presence done. So please, do me a favour, if you are a Londoner, go to her classes and show some support. Also, mutants, she is cool with training us, as long as we are ok with adapting on our own in classes. She will keep an eye out for you, but remember, there are others. If she see's that you are struggling, she will be there to help out.
So go on, stretch some, who knows, you might increase your stature at the same time!!
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
OH Legs, you funny things you!
So, in the interest of all mutants and normals everywhere, I now will share with you the awesomeness that is knowing your body.
What you need to know to be awesome as a mutant, and heck, even as a normal, is that when you are into fitness, listening to your body is as tantamount and important as paying attention to the stop sign at a VERY busy intersection. You don't drive through a 4 way which is home to trucks and other heavy vehicles, and then complain that you got t-boned. Well it is the same as your body.
Today, while working out on the assisted rack today. I was doing my lunges, my regular squats and ballet squats. Around halfway through second set, I was starting to feel a nagging in my left knee. Now a majority of the people would say, work through the pain. But anyone with half a brain cell, be they mutant, normal or amoeba know, this is when you suck it up and STOP the exercise that you are doing. Being the smart thing that I am, I throw my towel over my shoulder, and walk to the stretching mat. I get into a good stretch pose for the legs I learned from my awesome Yoga instructor, Mistress Stretch and Pretzel, and sure enough, it stretches itself back out and moves slightly.
I dread to think of what would have happened as I have had a tonne of knee injuries in the past that I have played through. Oh, and also today, PB on the seated calf raises. 20 at 70, 20 at 80, 20 at 90 and 14 at 100. An increase of 1 plate at each level.
Be well and rest tomorrow. Until I go to Yoga that is lol.
What you need to know to be awesome as a mutant, and heck, even as a normal, is that when you are into fitness, listening to your body is as tantamount and important as paying attention to the stop sign at a VERY busy intersection. You don't drive through a 4 way which is home to trucks and other heavy vehicles, and then complain that you got t-boned. Well it is the same as your body.
Today, while working out on the assisted rack today. I was doing my lunges, my regular squats and ballet squats. Around halfway through second set, I was starting to feel a nagging in my left knee. Now a majority of the people would say, work through the pain. But anyone with half a brain cell, be they mutant, normal or amoeba know, this is when you suck it up and STOP the exercise that you are doing. Being the smart thing that I am, I throw my towel over my shoulder, and walk to the stretching mat. I get into a good stretch pose for the legs I learned from my awesome Yoga instructor, Mistress Stretch and Pretzel, and sure enough, it stretches itself back out and moves slightly.
I dread to think of what would have happened as I have had a tonne of knee injuries in the past that I have played through. Oh, and also today, PB on the seated calf raises. 20 at 70, 20 at 80, 20 at 90 and 14 at 100. An increase of 1 plate at each level.
Be well and rest tomorrow. Until I go to Yoga that is lol.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Is the spinal fusion the death of all fun?
Ok Mutants, here is an article that was inspired by a chat with one of my young mutant whelplings. She is a fantastic young lady, who just recently had spinal fusion (within the last year) and we met through a mutual friend.
Now, during the conversation, a question or idea was raised regarding the removal of a fusion. Now, generally, a fusion is done for following reasons:
Degenerative disk disease
Spondylolisthesis
Spinal stenosis
Scoliosis
Fracture
Infection
Tumor
Now, whilst these look all fun, and awesome scar showing off potential scenario's, they all require that the spine be set to as close a functional alignment of the spine as possible. For example, in my instance (Scoliosis/Kyphosis), having the spine fused halted the degeneration and curvature of the spine in its tracks. In this scenario, any form of continued movement would have me be the ideal change on the ground looking person in the pack. The question then stands, is not having a fusion better? Well, honestly, that would depend on the situation. Most doctors recommend fusion as an alternative to bracing. This creates what is called internal fixation, and leads to an obvious decrease in spinal mobility.
Now back to the original question, are there any instances where removing the fusion be good? Without knowing too much of the mechanics behind it, my answer still stands at a no, based on the following reasons:
Increased chance of infection: This is due to several factors. Firstly and most obvious is the re-opening of a surgical site, which by its very nature, is going to cause internal and external matter to come into contact. Secondly, the fact that the bones will have to be damaged to remove the fusion. As my surgeon told me a long time ago, that if a bone is broken internally, and there is a chance of infection externally, then you not only run the problem of blood infections, but marrow and spinal chord infections can occur. This is what nearly killed off this old mutant. And finally, as with all forms of surgery around the spine, the chance of paralysis occurring increases each time you go into a persons spine. This would be increased by the potential of dislodging internal matter into the spinal chord, and causing severing of the spinal chord through something much akin to having grenade fragments in your back.
A potential for relapse, or deterioration of the spine due to weakness in the core strength of the muscles surrounding the spine: Now, as well all know, not only is the back held up by pieces of scotch tape and duct tape, with a few bits of blutack thrown in for good measure, but we also know that there is bone, muscle, tendons and cartilage. These are all very dependent on being in harmony with each-other. Now, when these are cut into, scar tissue becomes a new factor thrown into place. Now internal adhesion, aka internal scar tissue, adds a new twist. By having to cut through already formed scar tissue, you actually create more scar tissue. Now, the original layer forms an adhesion between the two opposing sections, for example, skin. Now, opening this scar up again, or the internal scar tissue, can actually weaken the structure of the site, and make the internal areas around the site more painful. It has been known for internal scar tissue to fuse organs onto the surrounding structure and thus creating huge a mounts of pain, let alone a decrease in the functional output of the organ. Which for me is why any weight on pressing on the curvature of the spine decreases my breathing immensely, where going on a bike ride feels quite manageable. A lot of people, even flatbacks and normals, let alone us mutants, totally neglect the concept of core strength in their daily well being. For obvious reasons, having all of your abdominal muscles supporting your spine is going to go a long way to easing up the pain that many of us experience when we have had back trauma. There are many good exercises for this, but the oldest is still one of the best, and that is to lay on your back, and suck your stomach in and try to engage all of your muscles around your stomach. Sure this exercise isn't going to get you the abs where old Russian peasant women will come flocking to wash their laundry on, but it will stop your back from becoming weaker and making you look like the letter L trying to look at the ground.
Loss of feeling, sensation: If you have ever cut your finger deep enough with a kitchen knife, and you are all healed up, and notice that your finger tip is numb, that is because you have severed, or severely impaired the wiring from your brain to your finger. Ok, so now picture that on your spine. Sure, having a dead spot on your body can make for great party talk and even a few dares, but, honestly, you would like to feel that the water is too hot before you become lobster red from the burning. And seeing that the human body is still a marvel of regenerative power, the nerve endings never seem to reconnect just right. Imagine that happening two or three more times in a row.
So my little mutant friend, and for my general readership as a whole, I hope that this has answered a lot of your questions? Now, I know you have more, so I will give the answers to you briefly. No, getting a fusion removed will not instantly heal your pain or appearance. If life is anything to be learned from, you may just end up making the problem worse than it was originally. Yes, doing all of those tedious little exercises the physio people do have a purpose other than trying to drive you insane. A lot of the exercises are designed to re-introduce movement into the spine by activating the muscles around it, and to activate the spine as little as possible. This also increases the healing rate and chances of nerve regrowth by using pathways that are commonly engaged on a daily basis, and re-establishing a link that is already there.
Be well my dear friends, remember, we are all a community of people trying to make ourselves feel better! So remember, that showing someone else that there is a benifit to healthy choices, is just as much a reward unto itself as the as making a living doing it.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Am I a sadist?
We all have those parts of the body that we love or hate to train. Me personally, I hate training the upper body. Nothing honestly to do with the the old fuel cell that is my back, but more of the fact that no matter what I do, I find it hard to bulk up in the upper body.
Now, I have always hoped that I would look something along the lines of one of the best known male gymnastic greats Mr Nikolai Andrianov who unfortunately passed away last year. To top it all off, I always wanted to do gymnastics after watching him compete in the Olympics as a youngster. But not matter what I do, I tend to tone moreso than bulk. The main problem with this is, because of my back being operated on, and having high possibilities of rotator cuff injuries, I can't do the big gun creating weights.
On the other hand though, I love doing legs. Even with a temporary hip socket and joint, I used to love doing anything that got the legs moving, cycling, track and field, soccer(football), field hockey and did I mention cycling? No, ok and cycling. No matter what I do with legs, they just bulk up in no time. Once a week, I do a leg workout comprising of Lunge Squats, Regular Squats, Ballet Squats, Adductor and Abductor sets, Leg Extensions and seated calf raises. If it wasn't for the fact that pants are hard enough to find that fit cyclist legs, I would do this 2 times a week!
What is your favourite area to work, and what exercises do you find gets the look you want? If you want to throw in any ideas, feel free. An old mutant never learns new tricks by sticking his head inside a hole in the ground after all.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
What I do with a bad back...
Mutants, whelps and any normal folk that stumble upon this blog.. Are you tired of your back giving you curry/chili peppers and other forms of high heat food type feelings?
Ok, walk to a mirror, stand side on and see how your back looks. Now, Mutants and whelps, this may shock you, but the normals want to look like us. Have you seen the posture that the average desk jockeying normal has at work. This is not a good feeling my friends. The primary cause of poor posture, other than a lack of discipline and poor ergonomically designed work stations, is lack of core and back/shoulder strength.
I am not going to go into the core today, because, well I am tired, and it is a very particular subject best left for when you are alert. As for the upper body and back injuries, you have to be very careful when training. For example I will share one of my stupid moments. Now as I have mentioned before, the TRX is an awesome piece of kit. Great for working out backs, even if they are mutated. Now, when you are doing it 5 days a week, it does lead to some pain. At one point, I was certain I had partially dislodged the fusion point in my back. The reason behind this, was I was working the Lats and Traps a little too much. Now as you can see, when your back is originally straight, your muscles when exercised will try and tighten back into their regular position. What this does, ESPECIALLY in Kyphotic backs, is that it will try and straighten your back. Now, this is going somewhere. IF you know a youngster who is requiring back surgery, ask your doctor to see if the condition will respond to a coached and strictly monitored workout regimen targeting the lats and traps, as well as the deltoids, shoulders, chest and core.
Now, one of my favourite exercises for areas of the body around the spine include the following. Lat Pull-downs behind the neck, standing military press with light weight. An exercise I have developed (unless someone has done it outside of an archery range) which I call the archer pull. I should put a vid of that up sometime. Standing tricep lifts using the assisted machine, both front and back, and a bunch of others. Now the main scenario most of these all have in common, is not a row or pull motion at chest height. Having learned my lesson the hard way, I have become even more back conscious. I did not know it was possible to be honest, but yes, you can be paranoid on just about anything.
Ok, now enough of my saged wisdom, and mutanty nuggets of wisdom. Remember, Banana's and Caramal soy yoghurt = freaking good snack! This could be used as a form of bribery, or if you are more honest, a form of tribute. Go, do something fitness related, even if it is just a brisk walk to get your snack, or my tribute!
That freaking thing can hurt.
Having the good ol' Kyphosis thing going on, brought about a few interesting points. First thing that came to mind, was an interesting article by a good friend, and probably one of the best rehabilitation/athletic personal trainers I have met. Dean Somerset, you can find him here wrote this little gem on Scapular Stability. Now, don't hate him for the little picture of the banjo boy from Deliverance, I think he has a fetish of finding terrifying images, but the article that can be found here is awesome. Why I link this, is for several reasons:
A: With spinal injuries/deformations, it changes the position of your scapula which then changes how your muscles direct your scapula across the range of motion of a regular shoulder movement. The main problem here, is that with either the injury or a deformation, certain movements if not supported correctly can actually lead to a worse injury, then you just snowball downhill from there.
B: A lot of people these days tend to do the whole desk jockey thing. Now, I know some good desk jockey's and Paula, who is a prime example here. Before working out, I think she had around 7 visits to the chiro. It helped to a certain degree, but just wasn't helping enough. She had a few years of competitive rythmic gymnastics under her belt, or scapula to be more precise, and had a terrible weakness in it. As Dean would say, she had, if she wanted to do it, winged shoulder blades. This is where the muscle is weak enough, that your scapula move to the absolute bottom of their range of motion, and "wing". Now, when Paula started at the gym, and actually started using TRX FORCE PACK, she had a rapid gain in muscle tone over about 5 weeks or so, and started noticing a significant increase in her posture as well as her shoulder strength.
So, my theory is, that because of the scapular placement due to the scoliosis, which is the same reason I can no longer swim freestyle, that my rotator cuff is going to be the thing to watch.. my next article, I will tell you about other parts of the back and how the function/dysfunction with scoliosis/kyphosis can be assisted with a good series of workouts.
Having the good ol' Kyphosis thing going on, brought about a few interesting points. First thing that came to mind, was an interesting article by a good friend, and probably one of the best rehabilitation/athletic personal trainers I have met. Dean Somerset, you can find him here wrote this little gem on Scapular Stability. Now, don't hate him for the little picture of the banjo boy from Deliverance, I think he has a fetish of finding terrifying images, but the article that can be found here is awesome. Why I link this, is for several reasons:
A: With spinal injuries/deformations, it changes the position of your scapula which then changes how your muscles direct your scapula across the range of motion of a regular shoulder movement. The main problem here, is that with either the injury or a deformation, certain movements if not supported correctly can actually lead to a worse injury, then you just snowball downhill from there.
B: A lot of people these days tend to do the whole desk jockey thing. Now, I know some good desk jockey's and Paula, who is a prime example here. Before working out, I think she had around 7 visits to the chiro. It helped to a certain degree, but just wasn't helping enough. She had a few years of competitive rythmic gymnastics under her belt, or scapula to be more precise, and had a terrible weakness in it. As Dean would say, she had, if she wanted to do it, winged shoulder blades. This is where the muscle is weak enough, that your scapula move to the absolute bottom of their range of motion, and "wing". Now, when Paula started at the gym, and actually started using TRX FORCE PACK, she had a rapid gain in muscle tone over about 5 weeks or so, and started noticing a significant increase in her posture as well as her shoulder strength.
So, my theory is, that because of the scapular placement due to the scoliosis, which is the same reason I can no longer swim freestyle, that my rotator cuff is going to be the thing to watch.. my next article, I will tell you about other parts of the back and how the function/dysfunction with scoliosis/kyphosis can be assisted with a good series of workouts.
TRX: A repost from my other blog.
Okay folks,
Today we are going to talk about a very simple yet effective piece of fitness equipment. It is called TRX which can be found here.
It is quite a well designed piece of kit, able to carry heavy loads (afterall, the straps it is made from are designed for use on airdrop pallets and holding tanks in big planes after all), and is more importantly VERSATILE!
You can use this thing anywhere. From your hallway door, to the nearest soccer/football goal post, to a tank somewhere in the middle of Iraq. Pretty much nearly every exercise in the gym, can be adapted to the TRX. Things requiring barbells, dumbells or free weights generally don't carry over exactly, but instead of doing a bench press, you can do a horizontal pull up. Squats, curls, stretches, lunges etc all cross over nicely.
Now, for those of us with non-normal structures, the system is an excellent vessel for adaptation. It is also starting to get a good reputation from trainers who work with rehab patients. If used in the gym when the doctor gives permission, you can generally find a more rapid increase in ROM from pre to post surgery. A few accounts I have read that knee's thoroughly benefit with an almost full recovery of ROM. Hips, well from personal experience, they do well, but I think requires a bit more work.
Backs on the other hand, benefit greatly! On sore days, it can be used to crucifix stretch, squat stretch, over the head stretch, front incline stretch, shoulder pull stretch and many other forms. The nice thing about it is, because it is not technically an assisted machine (ie assisted squat machines, press machines etc) it still relies on stability during strength training, and for backs, as Stuart McGill pointed out in his opus Ultimate Back Fitness and Performance, Exercise Science and the Back: Removing the confusion page 43 "performance cannot be trained in a sitting posture". He does state the benefit of machines in that they "can regulate the magnitude of the resistance, the speed of joint motion and the motion of adjacent joints" with back stiffness or deformity, this in personal experience, is not necessarily a good thing. Machines are desgined for a straight line of motion. When you have upper kyphosis for example, you will only get half a press before your shoulders need to move around the kyphotic structure and then continue to press. This can lead to a scapula displacement, which in laymans terms means, shitloads of pain!
Scapula displacement, hyper-extension or tightening in back diseases, is usually a major cause of back pain. The spinal column itself can generally put up with a very small degree of malignment without the need of major pain medication, but when the Scapula, the AC Joint which joins the Acromion and the Clavicle together and the three tendons encapsulating the Rotator Cuff are damaged or displaced, physio and high end anti-inflammatories are required, as well as a period of rest and thinking about what stupid thing that you did caused it to be the whinging demon from hell it is being.
Now, where does the TRX fit into this you ask? Well, because it is a resistance and bodyweight training device, the chances of you overstacking and heavy things crusing your sternum to your thoracic vertebrae and making you look like a letter S or a tapeworm, are minimized. Yes, you can still injure yourself, and nastily, but under proper guidance, and COMMON SENSE, you can generally exercise in safety. Usually starting off with stretches, squats, lunges and runner starts, as well as curls, extensions and more stretches should ensure that you are on the road to good back health. Do no do more Atomic Crunches than you can handle, and also make sure you don't hyper extend your scapulae if you are doing suspended planks!
Hope you liked my first "real sounding" article. Tell me what you think.
Today we are going to talk about a very simple yet effective piece of fitness equipment. It is called TRX which can be found here.
It is quite a well designed piece of kit, able to carry heavy loads (afterall, the straps it is made from are designed for use on airdrop pallets and holding tanks in big planes after all), and is more importantly VERSATILE!
You can use this thing anywhere. From your hallway door, to the nearest soccer/football goal post, to a tank somewhere in the middle of Iraq. Pretty much nearly every exercise in the gym, can be adapted to the TRX. Things requiring barbells, dumbells or free weights generally don't carry over exactly, but instead of doing a bench press, you can do a horizontal pull up. Squats, curls, stretches, lunges etc all cross over nicely.
Now, for those of us with non-normal structures, the system is an excellent vessel for adaptation. It is also starting to get a good reputation from trainers who work with rehab patients. If used in the gym when the doctor gives permission, you can generally find a more rapid increase in ROM from pre to post surgery. A few accounts I have read that knee's thoroughly benefit with an almost full recovery of ROM. Hips, well from personal experience, they do well, but I think requires a bit more work.
Backs on the other hand, benefit greatly! On sore days, it can be used to crucifix stretch, squat stretch, over the head stretch, front incline stretch, shoulder pull stretch and many other forms. The nice thing about it is, because it is not technically an assisted machine (ie assisted squat machines, press machines etc) it still relies on stability during strength training, and for backs, as Stuart McGill pointed out in his opus Ultimate Back Fitness and Performance, Exercise Science and the Back: Removing the confusion page 43 "performance cannot be trained in a sitting posture". He does state the benefit of machines in that they "can regulate the magnitude of the resistance, the speed of joint motion and the motion of adjacent joints" with back stiffness or deformity, this in personal experience, is not necessarily a good thing. Machines are desgined for a straight line of motion. When you have upper kyphosis for example, you will only get half a press before your shoulders need to move around the kyphotic structure and then continue to press. This can lead to a scapula displacement, which in laymans terms means, shitloads of pain!
Scapula displacement, hyper-extension or tightening in back diseases, is usually a major cause of back pain. The spinal column itself can generally put up with a very small degree of malignment without the need of major pain medication, but when the Scapula, the AC Joint which joins the Acromion and the Clavicle together and the three tendons encapsulating the Rotator Cuff are damaged or displaced, physio and high end anti-inflammatories are required, as well as a period of rest and thinking about what stupid thing that you did caused it to be the whinging demon from hell it is being.
Now, where does the TRX fit into this you ask? Well, because it is a resistance and bodyweight training device, the chances of you overstacking and heavy things crusing your sternum to your thoracic vertebrae and making you look like a letter S or a tapeworm, are minimized. Yes, you can still injure yourself, and nastily, but under proper guidance, and COMMON SENSE, you can generally exercise in safety. Usually starting off with stretches, squats, lunges and runner starts, as well as curls, extensions and more stretches should ensure that you are on the road to good back health. Do no do more Atomic Crunches than you can handle, and also make sure you don't hyper extend your scapulae if you are doing suspended planks!
Hope you liked my first "real sounding" article. Tell me what you think.
Super Mutant Post #1
To Yoga, or Not To Yoga?
As a SuperMutant, I had this question run through my head for years. I had heard about all the great things it does to your body, but, then you have the doctor who has seen more of you than anyone else will have, tell you it is not a good idea. This, was also from the same doctor that told dear old me, that I was too competitive to do any form of contact sport or winter sport.
Anyways, I digress. But as I said, you have to question quite legitimately the benefits of Yoga on the SuperMutant body. Remember, depending on your level of mutation, things may or may not be there, could also be in slightly different locations, or only partially there.
Now as those of us who have beaten around the world of flatbacks and normals, we kinda know what we can and can't do, but for you aspiring and younger Mutants, what is some good advice? Firstly, gauge how long you have lived with your mutation. If you are say 20 years old, and your mutation occurred at 15, therefore you get 5 years. Now, if you can say that you have been active for those 5 years, then I would say sure, give it a shot with your doctors consent, but you MUST ask the instructor if they are willing to work with you.
For us SuperMutants, those of us who have been around a while, or have had a longer mutation cycle than the whelps, then we can do it only if we can be sure that we have that extra awesome ability that mutation teaches us, ADAPTABILITY! Yes, I know it is a tough word to use, but, if you can't adapt to your mutation, then Yoga is not your best friend, I would probably downsize to middle aged Pilates Class, Tai Chi! Actually, Tai Chi is great for Mutants of all classification!
Now personally, I love my Yoga. Also keep in mind, you will have to mix with normals. Now, if you are like me, and are able to interact with Flatbacks and other classes of Normals, then you should be good. Best thing about doing Normal and Flatback activities, is when one of them come up to you and say good on you. It does put them at ease. Now also, if you are like me, and have grown a very warped and twisted sense of humour, which is about as twisted as my back, then chuckle just loud enough for the instructor to hear when they say, "I want to see a good strong back, take the dome out of your back!". When you get to know the instructor, throw in the response "well, I was hoping Yoga would fix that! or, Well, can you tell the others to take the flat out of their backs, I am mortified at all this normal".
Overall though, and in all seriousness, Supermutants, ask your Instructor if they feel they are qualified, or at least trained long enough to handle your mutation.
Now off with you all, I need my sleep, and feel the urge to throw heavy objects at people who leave their smelly shoes in the window while the wind blows in from outside.. And Normal's think we have barbaric manners!
As a SuperMutant, I had this question run through my head for years. I had heard about all the great things it does to your body, but, then you have the doctor who has seen more of you than anyone else will have, tell you it is not a good idea. This, was also from the same doctor that told dear old me, that I was too competitive to do any form of contact sport or winter sport.
Anyways, I digress. But as I said, you have to question quite legitimately the benefits of Yoga on the SuperMutant body. Remember, depending on your level of mutation, things may or may not be there, could also be in slightly different locations, or only partially there.
Now as those of us who have beaten around the world of flatbacks and normals, we kinda know what we can and can't do, but for you aspiring and younger Mutants, what is some good advice? Firstly, gauge how long you have lived with your mutation. If you are say 20 years old, and your mutation occurred at 15, therefore you get 5 years. Now, if you can say that you have been active for those 5 years, then I would say sure, give it a shot with your doctors consent, but you MUST ask the instructor if they are willing to work with you.
For us SuperMutants, those of us who have been around a while, or have had a longer mutation cycle than the whelps, then we can do it only if we can be sure that we have that extra awesome ability that mutation teaches us, ADAPTABILITY! Yes, I know it is a tough word to use, but, if you can't adapt to your mutation, then Yoga is not your best friend, I would probably downsize to middle aged Pilates Class, Tai Chi! Actually, Tai Chi is great for Mutants of all classification!
Now personally, I love my Yoga. Also keep in mind, you will have to mix with normals. Now, if you are like me, and are able to interact with Flatbacks and other classes of Normals, then you should be good. Best thing about doing Normal and Flatback activities, is when one of them come up to you and say good on you. It does put them at ease. Now also, if you are like me, and have grown a very warped and twisted sense of humour, which is about as twisted as my back, then chuckle just loud enough for the instructor to hear when they say, "I want to see a good strong back, take the dome out of your back!". When you get to know the instructor, throw in the response "well, I was hoping Yoga would fix that! or, Well, can you tell the others to take the flat out of their backs, I am mortified at all this normal".
Overall though, and in all seriousness, Supermutants, ask your Instructor if they feel they are qualified, or at least trained long enough to handle your mutation.
Now off with you all, I need my sleep, and feel the urge to throw heavy objects at people who leave their smelly shoes in the window while the wind blows in from outside.. And Normal's think we have barbaric manners!
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