Squatter's Journal-The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

[BendtheBar]

Rehab and beyond!

[ravimolasaria]

Originally Posted by Squatter

***UPDATE***

I had my appointment with the Doc at Alberta Back & Neck Rehab this morning. This is the place where they have a spinal decompression machine. After a long consultation, It was the opinion of the Doc that I take a lower back strength test. The test is done on a high tech device that isolates the lower back in order to test it's strength. It's called a Med-X. Once strapped into it, it calibrates your upper and lower limits of back motion. After it is all calibrated and set up by the Doc, it then lowers my upper body so that my chest is almost right up against my quads. Then, I have to push against the backpad with all my might. After a few seconds, it gets a reading. Then, it is raised back a bit, then I have to push again, and it gets another reading. It takes about 6 readings at varying range of motions up until I am fully hyperextended.

Well, I ended up scoring very poorly on the test - way below the average dude walking on the street who has never evn lifted before. All my other muscles like glutes, quads, upper back, etc scored very well above average.

The Doc is saying that the main culprit behind me "crapping out" (Yes, his words lol) on squats above 405 is precisely my very weak lower back, which is giving out long before my other muscles and thus causing the lean coming out of the hole.

Very interesting. He said a healthy back is a strong back. (Yes-Off Road - your wisdom was backed up by this doc) This same device used to test my strength is also the same device used to strengthen it. It precisely isolates the lower back. No other muscles can be used to assist.

I have 8 workouts on the device scheduled now over the next month. After the last session, they will retest. He pretty much guaranteed me my squatting and deadlifting will take off and said there is no reason why I cannot squat 450+ and pull 500, especially considering how strong the rest of my body is, and despite having the other issues in my lower back.

After the strengthening treatments, they will then start decompression sessions. I will go thru 20 of them.

All of this is going to cost me about $4000.00.

But you know what - I don't care. The ability to pull and squat again and reach my goals is worth it.

So, whaddaya all think about this? Does it make sense that poor lower back strength, especially in relation to really strong everything else, is the cause of me crapping out everytime I work my way up to a 410 and up squat?

That's some super news super Jim ... The Doc is right ... A weak lower back can't be substituted with other strong muscle when you are squatting or deadlifting. I'm just thinking that when you can pull 400+ with weak lower back, what will be the numbers when your lower back will be as strong as your other muscles ...

Originally Posted by Squatter

DEADLIFT TEST SESSION

Squat Warm Up
Bar X5 95 X5 115 X5 135 X5 Felt Heavy

Deadlifts
115 X5 Felt good 135 X5 Also good 155 X3 OK
185 X1 Felt heavy, but lower back OK
205 X1 Lower back not happy with this Vid
135 X5 OK! Vid

Great work super Jim ... Waiting to see you amongst heavy ass wt. again ... keep pushing your limits brother ...

[J_Byrd]

Did you ask him about any other movements you can do on your own that might help isolate the spot?

[Squatter]

Originally Posted by Hunterace

Great work Super Jim! Soooooo happy for you bud! Keep up the good work!

Thanks Jay!! It sure is a relief to know I have a good chance at achieving my goals and dreams again. I simply cannot ask for more than that.

Originally Posted by BendtheBar

Rehab and beyond!

Indeed Captain Shaw!

Originally Posted by ravimolasaria

That's some super news super Jim ... The Doc is right ... A weak lower back can't be substituted with other strong muscle when you are squatting or deadlifting. I'm just thinking that when you can pull 400+ with weak lower back, what will be the numbers when your lower back will be as strong as your other muscles ...



Great work super Jim ... Waiting to see you amongst heavy ass wt. again ... keep pushing your limits brother ...

Thanks Ravi - apparently, other muscles have been compensating as well for the weak lower back. You have agreat point - with a ne wand improved stronger low back, my pulls and squats could very well progress beyond my wildest dreams. I will work damn hard to make it happen.

Originally Posted by J_Byrd

Did you ask him about any other movements you can do on your own that might help isolate the spot?

Actually - I did JB! Before I knew this same machine that I tested on would also be used to strengthen the low back, I asked him for a list of exercises to do at home. He smiled and said - oh no, you will be exclusively training on this machine. They want to isolate the lower back completely, and apparently no other exercise can do that. All other exercises the body will use other muscles to assist. Additionally, he told me these other muscles also tend to compensate for the weak lower back.

This combined with regular chiropractic, which I am also doing, and massage, and then next month the decompression of the disks, will be the total rehab.

In a few months, I should be lifting like a champ - according to them. I have faith that this will all work.

[J_Byrd]

O yeah, dont feel bad about the 4k price tag....I dont even want to tell you what it cost to put my pec back together!

[markievicz]

Sorry Jim only catching up on your log, Ben a busy few days........
Great news on the lower back, JB is right, 4k isn't a lot when your investing in a rehab program to have that back in proper working order, a decent holiday would cost that.

Also did I miss a birthday?
35 again I assume!!!


Sent from my LT30p using Tapatalk 2

[Squatter]

Originally Posted by J_Byrd

O yeah, dont feel bad about the 4k price tag....I dont even want to tell you what it cost to put my pec back together!

Haha -OK, won't ask, but I assume it was alot more because that pec is so damn big!

Originally Posted by markievicz

Sorry Jim only catching up on your log, Ben a busy few days........
Great news on the lower back, JB is right, 4k isn't a lot when your investing in a rehab program to have that back in proper working order, a decent holiday would cost that.

Also did I miss a birthday?
35 again I assume!!!


Sent from my LT30p using Tapatalk 2

Thanks Alan!! Mrs Squatter was leaning towards the holiday thing!Haha. Yep, when it's put into perspective, it's not much a shealth is priceless. It just better damn work!!

Yep, turned 49 on Wednesday. This year can go nice and slow - no rush to turn 50, but I plan on being one of the strongest and fittest 50 year olds around.

[ravimolasaria]

Originally Posted by J_Byrd

O yeah, dont feel bad about the 4k price tag....I dont even want to tell you what it cost to put my pec back together!

[CLEEPER]

Damn glad to hear the good news Jim
. You will be breaking that 500 mark soon

[Squatter]

Originally Posted by ravimolasaria

Originally Posted by CLEEPER

Damn glad to hear the good news Jim
. You will be breaking that 500 mark soon

Maybe this summer! Like Ravi said, if I can do what I have done so far with a weak lower back, there is reason for optimism what I can do with a strong lower back and a healthier one at that.