Lifting and Detached Retina

April 6, 2006

Perhaps The United States Association of Blind Atheletes website can help

with finding answers for the gentleman with the retinal detachment.

www.USaba.org.

Carson Wood

Westbrook, Maine, USA.

April 6, 2006

ALL:

I am recovering from the same condition from an injury to my retina while

lifting. I have lifted weights since I was 12 years old and I am now 59 years of

age. I was using a Trap Bar doing heavy Deadlifts (My Favorite Exercise!) It was

not more than I usually do - 450 pounds.

That night I noticed flashing lights and my left eye was full of " Floaters " -

Needless to say, I was very alarmed since this had never happened before.

I rushed to a Retina Specialist and he gave me the bad news. This guy is also a

lifter and owns a gym, in addition to his medical practice. He advised me to

CEASE lifting such heavy weights and gave me the reasons why. He explained the

biology of my eye tissue at my age and since I am a Biologist, I understood very

well. He told me the " Floaters " would take up to a year to go away and that I

had been very lucky since the retina was not detached, but had bled a great

deal.

It was a " Wake-up " call for a former Recon Marine that refuses to age

gracefully! LOL

Please see a Retina Specialist ASAP - You are dealing with a dangerous condition

at your age. I am still lifting, but as we say in Marine Recon, " Adapt,

Improvise and Overcome! " - Lift Smart!

I wish you well.

Pat Dugan

Del Rio, Texas

April 7, 2006

All:

Like Pat Dugan I'm 59 and up until reading his post on this subject my

favorite exercise was the conventional deadlift. At 5'9 " 155 lb I can

pull 400 on a good day, barefoot and raw. I've valsalva'd myself onto

the floor a couple times doing this. I'm now doing hacks with similar

results to take some strain off my back. At my last check up my

optometrist noted that I have thin spots on my retinas from extreme

myopia and needed to be vigilant about light flashes and floaters. She

didn't mention lifting, but neither did I.

My questions are 1. Is it the increase in bloodpressure during a max

lift that is the culprit for intra-ocular bleeding and retinal

detachment? And 2. Primarily for Pat, what are you doing now that is

protective? Less weight? What rep range and % of Max? Body weight

stuff? Notifying next of Kin? Are we that near death?

Thanks for any help,

Joe Sacco

Stony Point, NY

>

> ALL:

> I am recovering from the same condition from an injury to my retina

while lifting. I have lifted weights since I was 12 years old and I am

now 59 years of age. I was using a Trap Bar doing heavy Deadlifts (My

Favorite Exercise!) It was not more than I usually do - 450 pounds.

> That night I noticed flashing lights and my left eye was full of

" Floaters " - Needless to say, I was very alarmed since this had never

happened before.

> I rushed to a Retina Specialist and he gave me the bad news. This

guy is also a lifter and owns a gym, in addition to his medical

practice. He advised me to CEASE lifting such heavy weights and gave

me the reasons why. He explained the biology of my eye tissue at my

age and since I am a Biologist, I understood very well. He told me the

" Floaters " would take up to a year to go away and that I had been very

lucky since the retina was not detached, but had bled a great deal.

> It was a " Wake-up " call for a former Recon Marine that refuses to

age gracefully! LOL

> Please see a Retina Specialist ASAP - You are dealing with a

dangerous condition at your age. I am still lifting, but as we say in

Marine Recon, " Adapt, Improvise and Overcome! " - Lift Smart!

>

> I wish you well.

>

> Pat Dugan

> Del Rio, Texas

>

April 7, 2006

Joe,

It was explained to me by Dr. Singer that as we age (Over 50) that our eye

tissue loses a great deal of its elasticity and therefore the eye (Retina) is

more prone to tears and detachment. He sat down and looked over my work-out

exercises with me and offered sound advice to help me to reduce the risks.

My father was my coach when I was a young man and he was lucky enough to have

trained with the likes of Bob Hoffman and Gremik. Needless to say, my

training is " Old School " and I have always trained using tried and proven lifts

that involve total body training and have shunned isolation exercises. The

Deadlift was and is at the core of all my training. It has given me tremendous

strength and enabled me to surpass most of my peers in the Marine Corps during

my career.

Dr. Singer asked me to shun extreme weight in my exercises until my eyes can

heal. He also cautioned me of any bent over type exercises that involve heavy

weight. Yes, increased blood pressure during lifting will expose any weakness in

the eye tissue. There are many medical doctors on this site and I am sure they

will support what I say, or what was told to me by Dr. Singer.

So, with that said, here is the new, improved plan for an " Older but Much Wiser "

Recon Marine.

1. Reduced Weights

2. More recovery time between sets

3. Reduce training to 2 days a week until I get a clean bill of health (vision

wise.)

4. Increased Reps and Sets to compensate for the reduction in weight on the bar.

5. Using more Body Weight exercises in my workout. Large Rope Work is

wonderful.

6. Using a Cambered Bar and Squat Box for my Squat work. It makes a big

difference.

Here are just some of what I have changed in my workout. I feel just as strong

and I must say, even stronger with the Short Rope and Chain work added. As Clint

Eastwood said, " A man must know his limitations " - I never had to adhere to this

concept in my life. I have always been strong as an Ox and I attribute that to

the old workout methods. I have not, nor will not compromise the concept of

total body workout because it has served me so well over the years. I am not

Poo-pooing the isolation school of thought, but it does not work for me. I've

served with too many guys that " Looked Strong " but sure weren't when it counted.

I make all my muscles work together for maximum results.

We are not near death, but we sure as heck can see it from here (If we protect

our eyes)! LOL As my Dad used to say, " Do the math! " )

Best of luck to you Joe and a pleasure to meet you. Please mention your workout

habits to your eye doctor. They cannot help and advise unless we give them the

whole story. As we say in Recon, " You are only as good as your Intel. "

PLEASE do NOT take the " Flashing Lights " and " Floaters " lightly. It can lead to

non-reversible eye damage. I want to be able to see during my " End Game " of this

wonderful life!

If I can help in any other way, please let me know.

Semper Fidelis,