Thursday O-Lifting
I really enjoy the Thursday workouts, usually it is myself and the instructor. This really gives me an excellent opportunity to work on proper form with one on one attention.
Prior to the workout session I went to the orthotist to pick up my brand new, custom made knee braces. After learning how to properly put the braces on I was excited to try them out in a workout setting. It is too soon to tell but my initial feeling is that I am going to like this brand of brace better than my previous model. There are support pads on both sides of the knee providing a greater sense of security. The pressure is coming from the lateral side and pushing inward towards the medial side therefore providing a gap where cartilage should be.
This is one of my favorite warm-ups, rowing really loosens me up and the PVC rollouts warm up the shoulders nicely. A PVC rollout is performed using a five foot piece of PVC and holding it at the ends with elbows straight you bring the pipe from the stomach-overhead to your back in a slow controlled motion and repeat. As I perform these I slowly inch my hands inward to improve the stretch.
It has been some time since I did the three exercises, over head squats (OHS), front squats and cleans. After a brief tutorial from Instructor M I was ready to go. This is another thing I really enjoy about our instructors, they don't assume we know how to do the exercise and demonstrate the proper technique before they cut us loose. I know I'm getting stronger, since the 80% I did for the over head and front squats today was equal to my previous maximum.
Tags:cartilage,exercises,front squats,knee braces,orthotist,workout
