HEADS, SHOULDERS, KNEES AND TOES, KNEES AND TOES!

Here is an interesting article by Alwyn Cosgrove regarding the "Knees Over Toes" theory that's been around for a while.

If you don't know who he is . . . you should be ashamed. (www.alwyncosgrove.com)

Check it out below!

The "Knees Passing The Toes" Myth
by Alwyn Cosgrove

Have you ever heard someone warn you, "Don't let your knee pass your foot during lunges?" Well, as you might've guessed, it's a load of crap. What about the other knee? In a lunge, it's supposedly "too dangerous" for the knee of the front leg to extend past the toes. Meanwhile, the knee of the back leg is past the toes the whole time.

I've had people respond to that by saying there's no load on the back leg during a lunge. Okay then... put 135 pounds on your back and go down to the bottom of a lunge. Now lift your back foot off the floor. I rest my case.

When we look at the science regarding the knees going forward, one study jumps out. Fry, Smith, and Schilling (2003) examined joint kinetics during back squats under two conditions.

The first condition placed a board in front of the participants' shins, which restricted forward displacement of the knee. In the second condition, movement wasn't restricted at all. They squatted normally and the knees were allowed to pass the toes.

The researchers found that restricting the forward excursion of the knees during the squat increased anterior lean of the trunk and promoted an increased "internal angle at the knees and ankles."

The results showed a 22% decrease in knee torque and a 1070% increase in hip torque! That stress has to go somewhere. Keeping the knees behind the toes definitely reduces the forces on the knee, but those forces were transferred more than tenfold to the hips and lower back.

Obviously this study was in regard to squatting. However, the knee angle in a lunge is similar and we could expect similar findings. So, intentionally keeping your knees behind your toes during squats or lunges might be a little better for your knees, but it's much, much worse for your lower back and hips.

Very interesting huh? Hmmm...

It just goes to show just because somebody has a PhD in something does not make them an expert in every single thing.

RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH.

OH by the way, new program from coach. Looks really, really tough. Just the way i like it.

Rotator cuff is better. Did chest yesturday, shoulders are hurting a bit today but it's good pain.

Still doing specific exercises for it to prevent further injury.

Hope all is well.

Rest day today, no carbs. Feeling good, feeling strong.

“If you only do what you know you can do- you never do very much.”
- Tom Krause

References:
http://www.alwyncosgrove.com/leg-training-myths.html