Most injuries that occur during exercise happen for the following reasons:
- too many sets and repetitions that create an over-use injury
- too much weight being used
- insufficient warm-up
- improper technique or form during the exercise in question
- doing an exercise before possessing the necessary strength and flexibility needed for strict form or in other words the Specific Adaptation to Imposed Demands hasn’t occurred through smart progression.
Personally speaking, at one time or another, I've fall prey to all 5; yes, youth is wasted on the young and ignorant. Any of The Five can happen while using a machine or free weights, but certain pieces of…err…equipment are inherently dangerous, because they don't train the body for everyday function. How to Get Hamstrung
An example of a well known machine designed for isolation and not function is the hamstring curl machine; both the horizontal (laying) and vertical (standing) variations. These machines isolate the hamstring at the knee joint, while ignoring the proximal attachment at the hip. Furthermore, often overlooked is the main function of the hamstrings is to decelerate, slow down, the upper and lower leg in the swing phase of walking/running. At heel contact and through mid-stance the hamstring and glute max (i.e., your butt muscles) extend the hip in a pullback manner and assist in stabilizing the knee. In this transitory position of dynamic motion the hamstring is eccentrically elongated over the hip and knee joints and is at its greatest mechanical disadvantage or in other words how you also need to train it to minimize the risk of injury. You can be the judge to how concentric or shortening muscle action at the knee joint, performed at slow speeds, and without the foot contacting the ground can be considered very functional for your lifestyle. While every machine has its purpose, not every machine serves a purpose!
Does The P.A.S.T.® Corrective Exercise Program Help?
YES! We've personally seen it works over and over again. Also, the testimonials from both "regular folks" and professionals in the field are unanimous - it works!
Last modified 3/11/08 |
