Weak Links enhance Strength?

[Guest guest]

Mel Siff writes:

<< The saying that a " chain is only as strong as its weakest link "

certainly appears to be true in all rigid systems, but does it have to be

qualified or re-stated if it contains a sequence of links some of which are

rigid, non-rigid and fluidic? In such a case, the rigid elements are

stronger than the non-rigid elements and much 'stronger' than the fluidic

elements, so we are now compelled to examine how strength is defined in a

" linked " system. >>

Too much time and too many thoughts in your life?

Mel - PLEASE start on that definitions book!

Humbly, as always,

Jerry Telle

lakewood CO USA

[Guest guest]

Casler writes:

<< Most of that awareness is triggered by being able to understand and

visualize the functions and forces at play in the body. Perhaps as

Jerry says I have developed a " keener " sense of certain concepts, but

keeping them to myself will do no one but myself any good.

If someone finds a concept or idea " enhancing " and another finds it

" confusing " what should one do? Well either allow yourself to " absorb "

the greater understanding and eliminate the confusion, or disregard it

and remain " content " with what you already understand.

Jerry--

Yes ,....... why do think Im so desperate to see

those pictures or even better have someone shoot a video and send me the

tape. I have about every format known to man. What may be the case, that I

have so poorly chosen words for --is we might have more of an idea of your

projections than any of us can express--If a picture is worth a thousand

words a video s worth a million. Telle law 398?

Casler--

I remember when I was a young kid in HS throwing the discus. I was

strong and lifted weights with all the intensity I could muster. My

coach kept demanding " put your hip into your throw " . I had absolutely

NO IDEA what the heck he was talking about. What did my " hip " have to

do with the discus I was throwing out of my hand?

Telle--

If you threw 185' in 8th grade, you were using your hip--maybe in high school

your " inner wisdom " pronounced that your newly acquired immense strength

didnt require the old ways. I threw the 8 lb shot 51 " in the 9th grade--and

48 in the 10th and had increased my strength by at least 70% over the

previous year. When at my last high school reunion I saw a picture of myself

doing something to the discus, under which the caption read--nice form

jerry--where my chest was so far in front of my hips it looked like I was

trying to unscrew my self!!

Sometimes we get ahead of our selves! The lesson, dont lead with your

head(ideas) lead with your hips(proof) the center of your strength(sounds

like a new telleism)--

Casler--

If I only knew then, what I know now.

[if I only knew how little I knew then and how much more that I don't

yet know!! Mel Siff]

Telle--

Well you two have come to the right person-- " I know " this for sure--you both

have too much time on your hands.

Jerry Telle

Lakewwod CO USA

[Guest guest]

Casler wrote:

There is no way allowing a link to not be conditioned to its strongest

potential will result in an equally strong

chain. Period.>

Mel Siff:

<< I am only asking that people question the unconditional application

of the aphorism that a " chain is only as strong as its weakest link " and

thereby come to a better understanding of its relevance in biological systems.>>

Casler writes:

Nothing wrong with pointing out that tissues have varying strength in

" specific " applications and under varying conditions, but to make it

sound like the " weaker " tissues actually contribute to " overall "

strength is not true. A tissue can only be classified as " weaker " if, in

fact, it IS weaker in that application. The weaker tissues in a

specific application or under specific conditions are always the

limiting factor in a kinetic chain by defining them as weaker.

Mel Siff wrote:

<<Each type of tissue in the body may be increased in strength to a

certain extent and the " weaker " elements will always be proportionately weaker

than the stronger elements. Another complicating factor is that the strength

of many tissues changes with loading or load rate, so that it is misleading

and inaccurate to make any universal claims about a given structure always

being stronger in the body under all conditions.>>

Casler writes:

That is an excellent point. A good example is the spinal disc. When it

is loaded with equal distribution of force over its structure, it can,

in many cases, be stronger than the vertebrae. In fact, it has been

said that the vertebrae will fail, before the disc under some loading

conditions.

Mel Siff wrote:

<<In other words, it is more accurate to state that " chain is only as

strong as its weakest link at a given moment under given conditions " and that

this

might not be true under other conditions. In this regard, it might also

be relevant to point out that a link which is 'strongest' under certain

conditions and at certain times is not the strongest under different

conditions and at different times. >>

Casler writes:

I totally agree!!

Casler wrote:

<So I stand firmly on my original statement of, " the transmission of

force through the kinetic chain can only be as efficient as the weakest link

in that chain. " >

Mel Siff wrote:

<< A major problem still remains: Why then is it not at all uncommon

for some of the apparently strongest components in the limbs to be injured

before the weaker components? For example, tendons or ligaments should not

rupture because they are mechanical much stronger than muscle tissue - and at

certain loading rates they are even stronger than bone. Every orthopaedic

clinic is filled with patients whose 'stronger' links have failed before their

'weaker' links. Explain.>>

Casler writes:

I think we made the point above (and agree) that " each " chain has links

where the structural integrity is dependant on the load application and

" function " of the tissue under that load.

This type of analysis is one of the reasons I advocate examining the

" chain " (s) under question and seeing where and how all the forces are

directed and experienced. The creation and application of force through

a complex body like our own, is a terribly complicated matrix of

transient force studies.

There is not just a " single chain " , there are not just single forces.

There is a structured framework of thousands of

parts, playing roles of creators, transmitters, and stabilizers that

change on second by second basis.

The ability to recognize this and how it either affects the body itself

or the local environment it acts on, is a wondrous awareness.

A. Casler

Century City, CA

TRI-VECTOR 3-D Force Systems

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