Over 600% increase in back strength after 10 sessions, how is that possible?

As we age we increasingly confine our movement to the mid-range of motion of our lumbar muscles; basically we become less limber. The fully extended and flexed positions of the lumbar become very weak and prone to injury. Avid exercisers including those who lift heavy weights often have pronounced weakness in the flexed and extended positions.  This is because those positions are seldom adequately exercised during a routine workout. These positions are in such a weakened state that it does not take much to produce dramatic strength increases, but it has to be the right exercise on equipment that will safely accommodate a full range of motion.

In an exercise study measuring improvements in back strength, subjects performed one back exercise of six to 15 repetitions once a week for ten weeks using the MedX lumbar exercise machine. Before and after the ten week training period, subjects were tested for isometric strength at seven angles through a 72° range of motion of the lumbar. The study recorded the largest increases in back strength at the fully flexed and extended positions and much less in the median point. The results1:

·        At the fully extension position strength increases ranged from 180% to 364%

·        At fully flexed position strength increases ranged from 427% to 607%

The design features of the MedX lumbar exercise machine  accommodate safe and effective exercise of the lumbar from the fully flexed to fully extended positions; no other exercise equipment can do that. We have that machine along with full lines of MedX strength and rehabilitative exercise equipment at our Austin Fitness Training and New Orleans Fitness Training locations. More back strength through a full range of motion results in greater movement, increased circulation, better lubrication of the vertebral discs, and less likelihood of pain and injury.

Exercise should prevent injuries, not cause them

 “I have a fake knee, I have a fake hip, I’ve got a lot of metal in my back – it’s a field day at the airport. My body hurts almost all the time.” ~ Jane Fonda. Jane, longtime aerobic exercise innovator, finds it hard to do yoga.1 

While heredity is a factor, years of repetitive use from aerobic exercise will eventually wear out your joints, regardless of your genes. The key is to not overdo it. As a preventative measure it would help to safely strengthen those joints that are prone to injury; one day a week substitute low-impact circuit strength training instead of high-impact aerobics. It’s more cardiovascularly demanding than most aerobic exercise, and your aches and pains will subside.

At our Austin Personal Training and New Orleans Personal Training  locations we have clients who can no longer do aerobics, but they have no problem strength training using our protocol. 

With our protocol we:

·      Eliminate high-impact jerking movements that create forces that lead to injuries.

·      Limit movement to a pain-free range of motion.

·      Sufficiently work muscles to a deep fatigue to stimulate a positive adaptation with one exercise set instead of multiple sets.  We seek to determine, no how much exercise you can withstand, but the least amount you need to continuously improve.  This lowers the probability of repetitive-use injuries.

·      Use MedX equipment with medical rehab features that are more easily tolerated by the joints.

Done correctly, low-impact circuit strength training will give you a measure of protection from injuries and bring relief from chronic pain.  Your body doesn’t have to “hurt almost all the time”.

Golfers driving for greater distance

Golfers with more strength and flexibility will increase their club head speed and hit the ball farther. Increasing only strength produces marginal improvement; the same goes for increasing just flexibility.  However, increasing both strength and flexibility produces far greater results.  From a study of golfers using MedX circuit strength training and MedX stretch flexibility exercises: 

 Reporting in the December 1997 industry journal Fitness Management, researchers Wayne Westcott, Ph.D., and John R. Parziale, MD

At  Austin Personal Training and New Orleans Personal Training  we use MedX stretch machines and MedX strength training equipment  to focus on strength and flexibility improvements.  One of our clients, a club golf pro, told me he was hitting the ball farther.  I asked him, “Are you sure?”  He said, “Yes I am sure. I use a GPS system to measure the distance”.  He does once-a-week 30-minute training sessions with us.  

With our program golfers can:

·       Increase strength and flexibility

·       Address muscle imbalances and decrease the likelihood of injuries that often resulting from repetitively swinging the club in one direction.

·       Have improved energy and stamina to finish strong on the back nine.

·       Spend minimal time in the gym and have more time available to play golf.

·       Play and enjoy golf more often which will positively affect your health.

Decreasing scoliosis curvature without surgery or braces

Researchers found that for adolescents with scoliosis there exists an imbalance of the muscles used for truck rotation that can be addressed with a certain type of rotational exercise.   In this study, The role of measured resistance exercises in adolescent scoliosis, 20 patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis performed resistance training on the MedX rotary torso – one set twice a week for four months.  The results:

“Sixteen of the 20 experienced a curvature reduction and no patient showed an increase in curve. “

It can be difficult to isolate and safely work the rotational muscles of the torso. When exercising with the MedX rotary torso machine you are firmly secured in the machine in an upright position.  This secured position prevents cheating thereby more effectively targets the intended muscles.  The range of motion can be finely adjusted to accommodate those with limitations.  These features make for effective safe targeting of the hard-to-isolate trunk rotation muscles.

Carol, one of our clients with scoliosis, suffered from persistent back pain for years.  Past attempts at strength training exercise resulted in more pain.  Her back pain disappeared when she started training with us.  She has remained pain-free for 11 years now.

Anyone can benefit from this exercise.  Golf, tennis, and sports involving throwing predominantly use one side of the body.  This can create muscles imbalances that lead to back injuries.   With proper use of the MedX rotary torso imbalances are reduced.   At Austin strength training and New Orleans strength training we have the MedX rotary torso along with all the other MedX Core equipment and full line of MedX strength equipment.