yeah you could do something similar with that - good idea

It's definitely not a triceps problem. Actually right around when I started working out trigger points in my triceps is when it went from annoying but manageable to completely unmanageable. If I had to guess I would say it is adhesions on the brachioradialis near its origination on the humerus, but I'm not confident in that. It could also be some sort of tendon problem.

I am suuuuper diligent on mobility and soft tissue work. I spend about 30 mins to an hour every day a work messing with a golf ball on my arms. When I get home I do lower body mobility work probably 3-4 days a work, sometimes for up to an hour.

yeah you probably do need a pro to look at it.

I think I had Mr. Burns syndrome, where my various ailments were actually fighting each other off, and once I treated one of them the balance was gone.

10-26

Squat- 45x5x2, 135x5, 185x4, 235x3, 285x2, 315x1, 350x1, 355x1, 360x1, 365x1, 370x1
Deadlift- 154x5, 242x3, 296x5, 336x3, 375x4
Hanging Leg Raises superset with Swiss Ball Situps

Kind of meh workout. Didn't have much intensity but squats went ok. Might have been able to force 375x5 but back lost extension on the fourth rep so I stopped. Will probably pull a fresh max (not after squatting) next week, and will hopefully get something in the 430-450 range.

IMO mobility work and foam rolling can be dangerous. It gives the false impression that you can treat yourself. Getting manual work done from a GOOD PHYSICAL THERAPIST (impossible to find) is a completely different game from rolling on balls.

Its not completely different. Doing mobility & rolling is all some people need. Seeing a pro is helpful, but doing stuff yourself between appointments is quite helpful, and can lessen the need to see the pro as frequently. I dont think its dangerous.

Did this for the first time today after watching the MOB WOD on it. F'in miracle cure for my rack position!

Bruiser, I went to this guy yesterday. He seemed very good and knowledgeable. The receptionist said that he treats weightlifters all the time but that was not the impression that I got from the visit; it seemed like he treated a lot of football and soccer players though.

Wat? Obviously doing it wrong imo.

Oh, if this is what you mean by dangerous, ummm, maybe. I don't really know anyone who is doing a bunch of SMR/mobility stuff and has issues and is unwilling to see a Chiro about things. I do know a lot of people who don't do SMR or very good mobility stuff at all, see chiros/PTs, and have all sorts of problems that don't get too much worse due to this work but never get better.

Ahhh, I see your point. There has to be a better way to say what you're trying to say. Something like "In many cases SMR/mobility can't do what a great PT or Chiro can do in terms of fixing problems" that doesn't make it sound like SMR sucks or is bad or something.

In some ways, I think "rolling on balls" is helping me make faster progress than ART from an extremely qualified Chiro. Notice I did say "in some ways", I obv am still shelling our $ after $ to keep seeing the Chiro.

I also know Cha59 feels a lot of his progress (and his Chiro has told him point-blank) is b/c of how diligent he is in what he does outside of the Chiro's office. It'd be cool if we each had a Chiro who could see us for 30-90mins every day, and then yeah, who needs SMR, but I'm not that rich.

I am using the term "dangerous" loosely here. But when you say most people don't need soft tissue work from a professional, who are you referring to? Professional athletes? Serious powerlifters like Nathan? Amaeturs that jog once a week?

IMO the first two NEED soft tissue work while the third group can get by without it without getting injured, some of the time, but it doesn't mean it's ideal for performence.

I said exactly what I wanted to say. You say you don't know of a situation where what I say is true... Yet I believe Nathan is a perfect example of someone who has had pain issues for a while now and has tried treating himself through huge amounts of foam rolling which was a failure, or limited success depending on how you want to look at it.

Nathan, what did that PT do with you?

Read what I said again. I didnt say most people dont need soft tissue work from a pro.

When I'm referring to pros in the context of what I was talking about, I'm talking about a pro being a professional like a chiropractor, physical therapist, MD, massage therapist, whatever.... Someone who does that type of work as their profession.

Basically everyone who posts here and lifts can benefit from soft tissue work. Everyone can do SMR. Many who post here cant afford to see a professional who does soft tissue work (ART, Graston, etc.). Some dont have providers near them. I think anyone with muscle adhesions (any level athletes and also non-athletes) would be better off if they saw someone who is good at ART on a regular basis, but it isnt always feasible for everyone.

fyi - I asked Nathan to tell you about his chiropractor - he sounds better than the two you've been to imo.

Lol. Yeah, I'm sure you said exactly what you wanted to say. I'm just suggesting that perhaps there are even better ways to get your point across than the way you want to do it. Ultimately though, it's probably not too much of an issue and I normally don't care when I read your posts. But I guess I just finally got a bit tilty from this one. Sorry 'bout that. Carry on bruisin' it up.

Also, I know you actually know Mr. Funnie in person so he can filter your online persona better than we can. And I'm sure it's also obvious to you that Cha & I get your fundamental point to begin with - we both already see a Chiro and don't just do SMR.

"Dangerous" is pretty ****ty word choice, but I know what you mean and I agree completely. Pretty much regardless of experience, all that SMR does is increase the period between necessary trips to see a specialist. Without SMR I'd probably need to see a specialist 3 times a week to keep lifting. SMR might limit that frequency to once a week or biweekly. Problems arise when you treat SMR as if it is an adequate replacement for the specialist all together, which is basically what I've been doing for a couple years.

I described my symptoms and explained under what circumstances they occur as detailed as possible (pain originating near the brachioradialis radiating up the biceps and sometimes into the shoulder when the elbow is significantly loaded and near maximum flexion. Prone grip appears to make it worse.

He started by palpating my forearms and biceps and said he could feel tightness/scar tissue pretty much throughout and that the radial nerve was being impinged upon near the elbow. He then did ART on the forearm and biceps for about 5 minutes, and then 5 minutes of ART on the triceps. Then he did some cold laser therapy for a few minutes. Feeling like he was trying to wrap the appointment up early I mentioned my scoliosis and he took a look, adjusted my neck, and told me to work on my QL muscle.

I have another appointment today, and if he tries to wrap up early I will ask him if he has any tips/ advice on how to improve throacic spine mobility and increase the load I can handle while remaining in extension.

10-28

Shrugs- 225x8, 315x8, 405x8, 455x5x2, 405x12, 315x20
Lateral Raises- 5 sets
Middle Back Shrugs- 3 sets

10-30

Squats- 45x5x2, 135x5, 185x4, 235x3, 280x2, 315x1, 335x3, 345x3, 350x3, 335x4, 315x5
RDLs- 155x8x3
Good Mornings- 143x8x3
Crunches / Side Bends

I guess an acceptable volume day. Will be testing my DL and squat in the next week.

11-3

Deadlift- 154x3x2, 264x3, 331x1, 375x1, 419x1, 463xfx2, 419x1, 444xf
Plate Holds / Fat Bar Holds

First 419 went up really fast. Thought for sure I could make 463, but both times I stalled around my knee caps. I think 441 would've been a make, so when I test again at the end of the year I'll use that as a benchmark.

Easy 419
1st Fail at 463
2nd Fail at 463
Fail at 444

Doug what were those cool things you taught me to do? I remember the static RDL with a small weight for hamstring stretch, but I forgot what you said, especially for hip flexorz

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZX1Q...ature=youtu.be

relevant part starts at around the 2 minute mark.

Do you think you would benefit from a more "grip, dip & rip" approach? Just seems like you take a while to get set up.

Potentially. I've been trying to follow KStar's deadlift setup advice, which is more ratchety. When I grip and rip I tend to have poor hamstring activation off the floor; it's definitely something I need to work on.

11-8

Squats- 45x5x2, 135x5, 184x4, 235x3, 285x2, 315x1, 345x1, 365xf, 315x1, 345x1
Good Mornings- 135x8, 185x8x3
Reverse Grip Bench- 45x10, 95x5, 135x5, 145x5, 155x5

My erectors were tight until yesterday from the deadlifts last week, and I didn't really realize I wasn't fully recovered until the first single at 345. W/e even if I had waited until Thursday I don't think I was squatting much more than 375. There was no radial pain in the reverse grip benches, so I guess that's good.

I may not squat again in 2011.