Spinal flexion during lifting?

[Guest guest]

wrote:

Yes I did mean loaded hyperextensions using the standard hyper bench

seen in most gyms and holding a dumbell to my chest. From what you

stated you think I should be using the valsalver maneuver to raise

IAP during this movement even with the spine flexed (and its not to

a great degree).

Casler writes:

Hi Ian,

Actually if you examine the action, you will see the spinal extensors are

tensioned at the top of the action, as well as the gluteals, and if you are

holding a DB, the lats, traps, and scapular adductors.

All of these create a multi-layered muscular support to:

1) Keeping the posterior disc slightly compressed and

2) Form the spine/torso into a rigid unit

3) Create somewhat of a suspension system, that would require a detailed

diagram to be fully explained

Now a little IAP will not hurt, but the most important support mechanism is

the " supra " musculature that creates the protective posterior disc

compression, but as well causes the load to actually be more equally

distributed to the total disc body(s) (again a diagram would be needed to

totally explain) much like the cable systems of old style cranes.

Now the forces are not " fixed " during the action, and you will see that as

the torso is " lowered " that compressive loads to the " anterior " disc reduce

substantially due to the physics involved. In fact, at the very bottom, the

discs my experience de-loading of a sort.

That is why I suggest looking at all the various positions and forces in

those positions. And maybe even more important is the " transitionings " of

those forces. For example, if you go from deloaded discs to loaded discs

rapidly without the Torso Stabilizing needed for that variant, you may

experience problems.

Spinal Flexion at the bottom position would not necessarily be dangerous to

a healthy spine, since it is under reduced load and low compression.

However those with symptoms or history of disc pathologies should be

cautious.

The first things to always look for are the primary forces, and how they

will load the spine. Then you must look at the Torso in total, and how the

various muscles, pressures, and structures, can contribute (in a natural

way) to manage the loads safely and effectively.

Regards,

Casler

TRI-VECTOR 3-D Force Systems

Century City, CA

[Guest guest]

,

Very nice explication of the loaded hyper extension.

Ian,

It's VALSALVA. Right church, wrong pew, and it is quite necessary and

beneficial while doing hyper extensions. I've found holding a plate

behind by head makes it easier to execute the hyper part of the

extension, one of my favorite exercises.

W.G.

Ubermensch Sports Consultancy

San Diego CA

>

> Yes I did mean loaded hyperextensions using the standard hyper bench

> seen in most gyms and holding a dumbell to my chest. From what you

> stated you think I should be using the valsalver maneuver to raise

> IAP during this movement even with the spine flexed (and its not to

> a great degree).

>

> Casler writes:

>

> Hi Ian,

>

> Actually if you examine the action, you will see the spinal

extensors are

> tensioned at the top of the action, as well as the gluteals, and if

you are

> holding a DB, the lats, traps, and scapular adductors.

>

> All of these create a multi-layered muscular support to:

>

> 1) Keeping the posterior disc slightly compressed and

> 2) Form the spine/torso into a rigid unit

> 3) Create somewhat of a suspension system, that would require a

detailed

> diagram to be fully explained

>

> Now a little IAP will not hurt, but the most important support

mechanism is

> the " supra " musculature that creates the protective posterior disc

> compression, but as well causes the load to actually be more equally

> distributed to the total disc body(s) (again a diagram would be

needed to

> totally explain) much like the cable systems of old style cranes.

>

> Now the forces are not " fixed " during the action, and you will see

that as

> the torso is " lowered " that compressive loads to the " anterior " disc

reduce

> substantially due to the physics involved. In fact, at the very

bottom, the

> discs my experience de-loading of a sort.

>

> That is why I suggest looking at all the various positions and

forces in

> those positions. And maybe even more important is the

" transitionings " of

> those forces. For example, if you go from deloaded discs to loaded

discs

> rapidly without the Torso Stabilizing needed for that variant, you may

> experience problems.

>

> Spinal Flexion at the bottom position would not necessarily be

dangerous to

> a healthy spine, since it is under reduced load and low compression.

> However those with symptoms or history of disc pathologies should be

> cautious.

>

> The first things to always look for are the primary forces, and how

they

> will load the spine. Then you must look at the Torso in total, and

how the

> various muscles, pressures, and structures, can contribute (in a

natural

> way) to manage the loads safely and effectively.

>

> Regards,

>

> Casler

> TRI-VECTOR 3-D Force Systems

> Century City, CA

>