What happens when you miss a lift?

When you can’t quite get that bar over your head?

When it’s just….too damn heavy!?

Believe it or not, this isn’t an issue of actual muscle strength. Nope……….It’s your joints

You’ve all heard the many stories about people exhibiting super-human strength in extreme situations……The mother lifting a car off her child, the firefighter lifting a 500lb. log off himself to escape to freedom.

These stories are true…..But what you don’t usually hear is the after effects.  The aftermath typically involves multiple bone fractures, ligament tears, and muscle strains that come along with the intense stress that the body has endured.

Nonetheless……The muscles have the capacity for this kind of lifting.

We can’t utilize this kind of strength in normal life because the body has millions of little sensors in every joint that tell the brain exactly where the joint is in space, and whether it’s safe or not.  If the joint isn’t safe under the load, then the brain won’t divert the muscle power, avoiding a potentially dangerous situation.

However, if the brain DOES find that the joint is stable, then the brain will let the muscle system carry through with it’s intended task.  It’s simply a matter of priority.  In a life or death situation, the body will probably choose life in general over a joint or two.  If you’re in the gym and the brain finds a weak link in the chain, then you won’t be gettin’ that weight off the ground…….simple as that.

The point here is that a stronger joint allows the muscles to utilize their full capacity.

If you strengthen and coordinate a joint, you’ll get stronger without getting bigger! Unless you’re a linebacker or sumo wrestler, this is good news for you.  Factor in stabilization activities into your workout program and you’ll unfold a lot more potential out of your body.

Test it out;

Try a shoulder press while sitting on a swiss ball with your feet off the ground.  The reduced base of support will reduce the force of the prime movers.  A lot of people who try this can’t lift the weight at all!

When you get stronger without gettin bigger, you’re using a smaller percentage of energy to move yourself around in general……translating to more energy throughout the day.  Having a streamlined body has it’s benefits, looks aside.

This……..for me……is the most fun part of training.  Use whatever you want, just make sure your challenge your joints to stayed balanced, and you’ll reap the benefits;

It’s playtime folks….Get creative;

Prone Jacknife on the swiss ball

Pistols; Single Legged Squats

Slackline city in the park