& Core Stability, Pilates, WeightTraining, ...

[Guest guest]

,

I do not mind that you sent it to the group. One important point, I never said

that this needs to be a part of the regular strength program nor did I say that

Pilates absolutely accomplished the ability to selectively activate. It may

serve a " purpose " . Also, the main reason I did my reserach with the reformer

(Pilates apparatus) was because my friend thought the requirement of having

dancers participate in Pilates, to include the reformer, was overtraining them.

I appreciate your further discussion on this topic. My next couple of comments

will mostly refer to the portions of the your message that I bolded and

underlined. Having not been there when you experienced you personal difficulty,

I can not be completely aware of the situation. However, Swiss Balls & sucking

your navel towards the spine is not how I would approach it.

Your reference to Mel's comment is on target, the movements mentioned are

sequential in nature and to focus on an aspect may disrupt the flow or

patterning. No question or argument.

The part below which I underlined, bolded, and italicized where you say all you

needed to do was stay as tight as possible, that is selectively activating to

stabilize. Stay tight/stabilize what do you think?

Some folks are not able to do this.

Commenting on the volleyball issue for a moment. What if you notice that the

athlete has significant anterior tilt of the pelvis upon forceful jumping?

Let's say they are involved in strenuous abdominal program along with a well

plan strength program. As I said earlier regarding Newton's Laws, if propulsive

force is lost due to the anterior tilt (movement in the unwanted direction),

what do you do? I have been involved with strength training of volleyball and

basketball players. An article came out a couple of years ago in " Women's

Basketball Coaching " or something like that. They eluded to this. This

comment of mine is neither supporting or refuting Pilates.

The problem with communicating by email is that it is difficult to communicate

fully and accurately.

In my opinion this topic has run its course on this list serve; If someone has

the need to go on with this or has a specific question, just look up my phone

number and call me.

Dave

PS

, thank you for the reference.

,

Research Coordinator

University of North Texas Health Science Center

Fort Worth, Texas

>>> " Burkhardt " <emburkha@...> 08/16 4:36 PM >>>

Dave, I'm sending this to the group too. Hope you don't mind

ERic...

What is the purpose of learning to " selectively activate (recruit) the

muscles or muscle groups " ? Isn't this a waste of time since this ability to

" selectively activate " a muscle probably won't transfer over to skills where

that muscle is just one contributor during the skill (see Zatsiorsky's

Science and Practice of Strength Training and the definition of intra vs.

inter-muscular coordination? If this was worthwhile, I'd suspect more

Olympic weightlifters would use leg extensions to increase their squat

strength.

Dave...

I am a little lost with this question of yours, . I think your above

example is not quite related to what I am saying. I am not familiar with

that particular writing of Zatsiorsky (Would you please provide me with more

info about that reference? I would like to read it.). The example of leg

extension (knee extension) as a replacement for squats seems to be a

different concept or principle than what I have been discussing, core

stability or stabilization in general.

...

Rephrased, What useful movement is performed by " selectively activating a

muscle " ? I think Mel mentioned earlier that attempts to do this during a

gross motor skill (i.e. snatch, vertical jump, javelin throw) will only

serve to interfere with normal movement. Not only do I agree with this

100%, I've experienced it. Several years back, as much as I hate to admit

it, I was heavily influenced by certain fitness guru who likes to squats on

Swiss Balls. Through some reading, and communicating on lists like this

one, I was convinced by this person that part of the reason I was having

back pain and wasn't progressing in my clean and jerk was that I had poor

" core stability " , and that I could improve this by learning to selectively

recruit my transverse abdominis (TA) muscle during heavy lifts. What I

found was that deliberate attempts to " suck my naval in toward my spine "

during the jerk caused my performance to decrease. I learned the hard way

that the only thing I ever needed to think about during heavy jerks was to

stay as tight as possible - DIP - AND EXPLODE!! I'm now certain that

without ever thinking of what my TA muscle is doing, as long as I just focus

on jerking the weight overhead the appropriate level and timing of TA muscle

activation will simply just happen.

Aside from very fine, small muscle mass motor skills (i.e. playing a violin)

I can't think of too many movements (especially sporting movements) where it

would be desirable to learn to skillfully and selectively activate a muscle.

I think some earlier statements were made in regards to Pilates training and

how certain Pilates exercises are unique in that they " teach " one to

" selectively " activate specific core or abdominal muscles. An argument was

then made; something to the effect of how this skill developed through

Pilates training could enhance a volleyball player's vertical jump because

they would now be more " aware " of their " core " . [please jump in Josh Katz

if I'm off base with any of these comments]. My argument was that this is

unnecessary, and uses valuable time that could be used for more productive

exercises that do the same thing (optimally strengthen " the core " ) and more

(increase total body power - a quality that can not be achieved through

Pilates). Let me know if this makes sense. This is a good topic.

Science and Practice of Strength Training, Vladimir M. Zatsiorsky, Human

Kinetics

ISBN # 0-87322-474-4

Good book!