[Al Myers]

Thanks!!!!! Steve is an amazing strongman and lifter! I’m glad that I have had the opportunity to share the platform with him in the past. Al

[Al Myers]

Thanks!!!!! Steve is an amazing strongman and lifter! I’m glad that I have had the opportunity to share the platform with him in the past. Al

[Al Myers]

I was VERY PLEASED how the dragster turned out. The shoulder pads allow for it to be pushed like a blocking sled. And YES – the front ring is for pulling it if you would like. The seat is removable (lifts off easily) so weight can be added to the vertical bars.

A big difference between the dragster and prowlers is the front wheel on the dragster. This allows ALL of the friction resistance to be located near the rear, eliminating the “front catches” that often occur with prowlers. The dragsters push is very smooth and solid.

Another feature that the dragster has is that the rear upright handles actually fold down and lock in place, allowing it become a wheelbarrow!!! This also allows easy movement of the dragster, like when it needs to be turned at the end of a straight run. Al

[Al Myers]

Thanks guys!!! I need a “pat on the back” every now and then!!!

[Al Myers]

Dan – GREAT POST!!! Love the pics!

Chad, Scott and myself got the postal done on Sat (we really pushed the deadline!). Nothing too great on my part with the lifts – but had fun doing it. Al

[Al Myers]

Chad and I are doing our postal lifts this Saturday afternoon if anyone wants to join us. Just let me know. Al

[Al Myers]

James, did you get my email yesterday??? Al

[Al Myers]

Dan – GREAT STORY on Joe Weider!!

When I really got going in lifting (early 80’s), Muscle and Fitness was the only easily available choice for training information for a young kid. I was a big fan of Weider and this magazine. He was very influential in the lifting world, and will be missed by many. Now I’m trying to remember just one of the “Weider Principles” and I can’t come up with anything!!! Dinoman

[Al Myers]

Dan,

I may be taking too much of an mathematical engineering approach to this when thinking of shear forces. Determining a shear force on a certain metal is easy to measure as its uniform throughout – however metal is not soft tissue. Also, fatique factors come “into play” with soft tissue (like the ligaments, discs, and supporting vertebral muscles of the lower back) way more than with metal. The critical shearing force threshold of a persons back would be very variable, depending on several factors, and would vary greatly from lifter to lifter depending of anatomical structure.

Again, my argument is simply that I DO NOT think the SL deadlift causes excessive damaging forces to the back compared to other exercises and that it is a beneficial accessory exercise to enhance someones max deadlift.

Poor lifting technique is also hard to access between individuals. Poor technique for one lifter may be good technique for another. But my definition of “good technique” is the techique used to lift maximum poundages (not injury prevention) on an individual basis. The Vince Anello example illustrates this. So I don’t agree with you when you throw out “poor lifting technique” as a generality to all. But that’s because my definition of it seems to be different than yours.

I have done several all round lifts where I felt WAY MORE shearing force on my lower back than Stiff Legs have ever felt. When I did my 1000 pound Roman Chair Situp I felt more pressure on my lower vertebrae than anything I’ve ever done. In fact, I know if something “went wrong” it could have been catastrophic. But then again, if you are an All Rounder lifting safety is not on the top of your list of concerns. LOL

Al

[Al Myers]

Dan, So are you standing behind this statement you made in the previous post?

Although there’s no data on the extent of increase in the shearing forces going from conventional deadlift to SLDL (I actually have a hard time believing that any institutional review board would sign off on research that would purposely place subjects at such grave risk of injury via performing a SLDL), I can easily imagine it being in excess of 30%.

I can easily do a mathematical calculation of the maximum shearing forces of a 600 pound deadlift being higher than the shearing forces of a 400 pound stifflegged deadlift with only a 30% fractional increase. This assumption of yours (the 30% increas) would disprove what you have been saying, assuming of course that shearing force of the lower lumbar is the primary factor that relates to injury risk of the lower back. Dinoman

[Al Myers]

Dan, I do agree with what you say about the “risk factors” associated with the SLDL, and how the unnatural body positions put the lifter at higher risks for back injuries. That’s not my argument.

I’m glad to see Vince Anello mentioned here, because he is the perfect example of a lifter that appeared to deadlift in an “unnatural position”, yet still lifted world class poundages in the deadlift. I wish I could post a picture of him deadlifting here from the side, because his form always had his back “rounded”. Add in the close position of his feet and close to stiff-legged lifting style, one could easily criticize his deadlifting technique (if he was not SO GOOD AT IT!!). Why did he lift like this? I say it was because that form ENHANCED him to lift maximum poundages. Otherwise he would have trained to keep his back in that neutal plan that most advocate. I only do SLDL to help my max deadlift, otherwise I would not do them. That’s my point – Stifflegged deadlifts are VERY BENEFICIAL to enhancing ones max pull as that is very close to the actual position you end up in when doing a regular deadlift. As for that impossible shear force to calculate – the amount of weight on the bar is a big factor in this calculation. I always keep my SLDL reps at not over 70% of my max deadlift and I feel that at the lower weight it offsets the poor body position of the SL to keep the shear forces the same (or less) than a regular deadlift on the lower lumbar area. But that is just the way it FEELS to me when doing them and not a scientific assessment. Dinoman

[Al Myers]

Dan,
First of all, I want to thank you for your response to my blog story on stiff legged deadlifts. That’s the reason for this discussion forum – to stimulate discussion over matters that may help inform/educate.

However, I do not agree with you entirely. I do agree that SL DL’s are an exercise that have the potential to be injury provoking due to the very reasons you gave, and I mentioned those concerns in my story. What I don’t agree with is saying that the SL DL is such a bad choice for an exercise that it should not be done at all by anyone. I will try to convince you and others on this.

You mention excessive shear forces are being the most damaging issue with SL DL’s. But doesn’t the standard deadlift (regular stance) provide nearly the same type of forces on the back? Most lifters will have a slight shoulder round (or convex shape) of the back during part of the pull from the floor. For some this is much more pronounced than others. I remember Gary Heisey’s DL technique when he was the World record holder in the deadlift and his shoulders were always rounded over when the bar was just above the knee. And this was with over 900 pounds!!!! Granted he could probably do reps with over 600 hundred in the SL DL – but is the shear forces actually greater with a SL of 600, or a regular DL of 900??? The same would apply to a 600 deadlifter doing SL’s with 400 pounds. I would say not much different. The increased weight on the bar is the biggest factor in figuring a shear force. A lot of great deadlifters pull with that type of technique, which I say is due to body shape and natural leverages.

Isn’t it important to build round back strength? Look at the strongmen and stone loading. Talk about a movement that puts the back in a terrible position for injury risk. Yet, more strongmen get hurt dropping stones on themselves than injuring their back loading stones. I have this question for you – if you NEVER train your back in a “round back” fashion is your injury risk less when you are forced into this position during a lift? I think not. Training causes adaptation (which you know) to not only the muscles but other supportive tissues (tendons, ligaments, and even bones). My feeling is exercises like SL DL’s prepare you physically for the time when you might end up in that position (like a max deadlift in a meet!). LONG LIVE THE STIFF LEGGED DEADLIFT!!!!! Dinoman

[Al Myers]

I will pass along more information as it comes. I have visited with Dales’ daughter Pam on the phone, and she said she will let me know when the date/time of the funeral takes place, as well as details of the funeral home.

Today is a sad day with the loss of Dale. Please keep his family in your prayers. Al

[Al Myers]

Timo –

OUCH! The good news is it will grow back with time. However, if it is a deep tissue loss it may not be stronger and/or tougher. Calluses form after tissue trauma to the outer epidermal layer only. Al

[Al Myers]

Thanks for sharing that video!!!

It looks like the record day was a great success, and Frank has found a NEW FAVORITE lift for him in the Reeves Lift. He looks like a natural with it. Also, Jeff’s big Fulton DB deadlifts looked impressive, as well as several things you did James!!!! Was that a York Deep Dish 45 you were cleaning and pressing???? Also, what type of plates did you use as the “grip plates” for the Reeves? They looked like York 45’s as well. Al

[Author]

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