Avoiding Injuries with Strength Training page

[Al_Kavadlo]

Hey Gang-

I just posted a new article on my blog about avoiding injuries from strength training. As always, comments on the blog are encouraged!

-Al

[bookstorecowboy]

Wow, avoiding injuries by doing deadlifts. I wonder how many people that will work out for?

[Coach Palfrey]

Good advice Al - and yes, I agree that the deadlift should be a mainstay exercise. Not really sure what bookstorecowboy is on about.

[Al_Kavadlo]

Wow, avoiding injuries by doing deadlifts. I wonder how many people that will work out for?

It will work for anyone who does their deadlifts with proper form. Sure, you can injure yourself by deadlifting with poor technique, but that's true for pretty much any exercise.

Good advice Al - and yes, I agree that the deadlift should be a mainstay exercise. Not really sure what bookstorecowboy is on about.

Thanks, Coach!

[IcarianVX]

Great stuff Al, as usual. Bookmarked.
I am getting my 12 year old son into a steady routine and the master list of exercises is perfect for getting him stronger and faster.

[Glockin Grok]

Nice Al,

I have always followed the "for every push do a pull" and never had anything worse than a minor strain or shin splint..

Cheers

[BR1986FB]

Good stuff. Deadlifts are a must ! If you asked any 'Average Joe' lifter "what will build massive arms quicker, barbell curls or deadlifts?" I bet 9 out of 10 will say the curls.

[bookstorecowboy]

Deadlifts and squats both produce frequent injuries compared to other exercises. The people who recommend them are typically fanatical gym rats who rarely suffer injuries. (In fact, they will typically say that they never had a major injury as proof of their natural superiority and proof of their knowledge of what does or does not produce injury. It is never genetics. No.) They will also say that oh yeah, squats and deadlifts are dangerous, sure, if you do not have the correct technique, but safe with the right technique. Then they will admit that 90% of the people in the gym if not 98% are using poor technique. They cannot put these two facts together. I don't know why. But I can. The conclusion is that more than 90% of the population should not be using these dangerous free weight exercises to failure.

The idea that the average person can safely train to failure on a deadlift or a squat is laughable. Someone who recommends exercises like this to people who are not training under their supervision, who probably have poor technique, and who are concerned about injury is giving rash advice. The last rep will be in a condition where the person can barely perform it (or may be unable to perform it -- often it it hard to tell, esp. for people who have not been training very long). That is what training to failure means. Under those conditions, the likelihood of injury rises dramatically, and the injuries can be terrible.

Oh, but don't worry. It's just a back injury. It will probably go away within two or three months. Besides, you can say that some guy on the internet told you it was safe, and he has big arms and great abs. You will be just like him if you follow his advice.

[Coach Palfrey]

Deadlifts and squats both produce frequent injuries compared to other exercises. The people who recommend them are typically fanatical gym rats who rarely suffer injuries. (In fact, they will typically say that they never had a major injury as proof of their natural superiority and proof of their knowledge of what does or does not produce injury. It is never genetics. No.) They will also say that oh yeah, squats and deadlifts are dangerous, sure, if you do not have the correct technique, but safe with the right technique. Then they will admit that 90% of the people in the gym if not 98% are using poor technique. They cannot put these two facts together. I don't know why. But I can. The conclusion is that more than 90% of the population should not be using these dangerous free weight exercises to failure.

The idea that the average person can safely train to failure on a deadlift or a squat is laughable. Someone who recommends exercises like this to people who are not training under their supervision, who probably have poor technique, and who are concerned about injury is giving rash advice. The last rep will be in a condition where the person can barely perform it (or may be unable to perform it -- often it it hard to tell, esp. for people who have not been training very long). That is what training to failure means. Under those conditions, the likelihood of injury rises dramatically, and the injuries can be terrible.

Oh, but don't worry. It's just a back injury. It will probably go away within two or three months. Besides, you can say that some guy on the internet told you it was safe, and he has big arms and great abs. You will be just like him if you follow his advice.

I'm guessing your deadlift sucks?

[Longquan]

The idea that the average person can safely train to failure on a deadlift or a squat is laughable.

so, who said you have to train deads and squats (or any other exercise) to failure to produce results, especially if the goal is injury prevention, strength or even hypertrophy? Just because you don't know more than training to failure doesn't mean it's the only way...