Thursday, March 8, 2012

Research That Doesn't Suck: Heavy Weight is Bad for Your Back

... Only if you think having a weak/hurt back is good for you. A recent study in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research looked at two elite level, female powerlifters in order to determine if their bone mineral density levels were higher than that of the rest of the awful, weak, piss poor excuse for a human being population. Both women have more than 30 years of competitive powerlifting experience, are lifetime drug free athletes, and are apparently two of the most bad ass middle aged women on the planet.

Lumbar spine, femoral, and various other hip measurements were taken and compared to previously established norms

The first women, 48 years old, showed bone mineral significantly higher than the average for both men and women at her age. The second women, 54 years old, registered the highest bone mineral density ever recorded for a female regardless of age.

Why are their bones so much stronger than the porous little toothpicks keeping your body upright? The answer is an awesome principle called Wolffs Law. This states that any force that causes a bone to go under tension or bend, like when you are underneath world record squats all the time, osteoblasts (cells that are responsible for new bone formation) are stimulated and new bone grows in order to adapt.

Let me recap: these two women have been lifting heavy weights and winning trophies for the majority of their lives. Osteoporosis and lower back problems are a non-issue if your bones are thicker than Redwoods.

For all of you research nerds out there saying how this doesn't mean anything because it is only a Case Study and only involved two subjects, stop being such a butt-head. Somewhere out there, a 54 year old women will kick your ass for questioning these findings.

Stop screwing around. Go lift something heavy. Your bones are begging for it.

Solum Per Exitum... and it's easier when your bones are break-proof.

2 comments:

  1. Do you happen to know when this was published? I'm trying to track down the study and then I'm going to post it in my medical schools gym.

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  2. It's in the newest (March 2012) Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. Here is the abstract:

    http://journals.lww.com/nsca-jscr/Abstract/2012/03000/Case_Study__Bone_Mineral_Density_of_Two_Elite.38.aspx

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