Sunday Story…Strength, continued

There are a couple areas of strength that are often overlooked or under-emphasized. They are stability, balance, and coordination. Those last 2 count as one by the way!

 Stability is the ability to prevent movement in one part of the body while creating movement in another, thus protecting vulnerable areas from injury.

Balance and coordination are the ability to perform movements with precision and grace.

As we age these become more and more important. The statistics that show end-of-life outcomes after a fall are frightening. If you lose your balance your core strength is what protects you from falling. Stability allows me to protect my back when I bend over to pick something up.

So now we need to add some work every week that will keep those things healthy as well. Luckily, many of the usual strength suspects can do double duty. A simple deadlift not only helps maintain strength in the posterior chain (glutes and hamstrings), but it will also increase grip strength as well as stability under load. When you warm up you can hang from the bar for some seconds and then do your pull-up. Jumping rope will help with balance and coordination.

Can you hang for a bar for 1 minute? There’s your first goal. Can you pick up ½ your body weight and carry it for 1 minute? Can you stand on 1 foot for 20 seconds? How about with your eyes closed? These are all objective tests that will indicate your readiness for your marginal decade! If you can do all of them…good on you! Now increase the time and weight! Get better, get stronger, and be intentional about being fitter than the average (insert age) year old!

Next week nutrition!

John Mariotti

www.crossfitodyssey.com

www.sunday-stories.blogspot.com

775-338-2412