33
votes
Why is exercise good for you?
You hit on some common misconceptions, but you also hit on some truths. For instance, you compare the human body to inanimate objects with respect to damage, but you also accurately point out that
...
- 17.9k
25
votes
Is it okay to swim in the middle of a lake?
Although swimming alone in the middle of Lake Michigan sounds wonderful and has its benefits to you, swimming alone has life altering/ending risks. The chances may be minimal that something dangerous ...
- 11k
11
votes
Is it okay to swim in the middle of a lake?
I've done a lot of offshore sailing and sometimes you'll get totally becalmed. Hot muggy conditions and the water is so flat you can literally shave in the reflection. It's hard not to jump in with ...
- 14.8k
10
votes
Do explosive movements necessarily lead to injury over time?
No, explosive movements do not necessarily lead to injury. Performed correctly after a period of acclimatization, explosive movements are quite safe. The recommendation to be slow, deliberate, and ...
- 24.8k
10
votes
risks of running a marathon without adequate preparation
5km or 7km mileage once a week is nowhere close to proper preparation for a marathon. You greatly increase risk of injury by running a marathon unprepared.
Go see a doctor about your knee pain from ...
- 273
9
votes
Should seated leg press be avoided?
No, it should not be avoided. Like any machine, it's a tool, and it has a purpose.
The article seems to refer to the fact that during a seated leg press, the weight presses down on your feet, and ...
- 17.9k
9
votes
Why is exercise good for you?
This is an interesting question that had me thinking for a while. It's difficult to answer "why" exactly, other than saying "it is that way", so I'll try to describe the need for ...
8
votes
climbing 8 floor stairs daily is it a good practice
Until elevators and steel girder construction around the turn of the 19th century, the tallest buildings were usually five stories. People worked in those fifth stories for years.
Also, plenty of ...
- 14.8k
8
votes
risks of running a marathon without adequate preparation
If you were to decide to attempt a marathon given the training level you've described, there's an interesting academic article that may be helpful in estimating your likelihood of finishing without ...
- 387
7
votes
Accepted
Are sit-ups actually harmful?
As a preface, although your concerns about the validity of the field of chiropractic are entirely warranted, it appears that Dr. Stuart M. McGill is indeed qualified. He was a former professor at the ...
- 6,141
6
votes
How to avoid back pain when you are older?
It is smart to look at fitness when you are young with an eye on preventing problems as you age.
Back pain can have multiple causes. Some of the causes stem from degenerative changes of the joints,...
- 11k
6
votes
Is it okay to swim in the middle of a lake?
It depends what you mean by okay.
If you mean "is it safe?" then the answer is simple: No, it is not safe.
If you get into trouble you stand a high risk of death. No-one will be able to rescue you.
...
- 161
6
votes
Accepted
Scapular contraction: should I always do it?
The bottom line is you want your shoulder in a neutral position. That doesn't necessarily mean full scapular retraction, but it's a cue that helps a lot of people.
Considering your level of ...
- 42.5k
6
votes
migraine after work out
Most of the migranes are hereditary. Biological states may cause
increases in free fatty acids and blood lipids, increased platelet aggregation, decreased serotonin levels and increased prostaglandin ...
- 802
6
votes
Accepted
Asking for a spot checklist?
I've never had this problem, but I definitely recognize that it IS a problem.
I think the best solution is for you to ask someone who is clearly more experienced. It might seem shallow of me to say, ...
- 17.9k
6
votes
Is it ok to arch one's back when performing lat pulldowns?
Not only is it OK, it's something you SHOULD do.
Pull your shoulders down and back. It pushes your chest out, and engages your lats, which is the entire point of the exercise.
- 17.9k
6
votes
Preparing for moving to new house
With only one week before the move, you don't have enough time to develop significantly more strength.
Instead, focus on these tips for safely moving things:
Before lifting an object, take a big ...
- 1,801
6
votes
Accepted
When and how often should I train my core/abs?
The amount of (appropriate intensity) training volume necessary to maintain Ab Hypertrophy is typically going to be zero sets per week. The minimum volume required to make progress is also typically ...
- 4,412
6
votes
How to benefit from exercise without any lasting damage?
Consider a knee:
The meniscus absorbs much of the shock of jumps and landings.
Tears in the meniscus is a common cause of surgery.
Sports with high risk of meniscus tear include american football, ...
- 3,685
5
votes
Accepted
Bench press grip, thumb placement
This topic can be as divisive as whether training deadlifts with straps is effective or not. Since powerlifting is my background, and powerlifters tend to be the biggest proponents of the false grip (...
- 42.5k
5
votes
Should I grind or should I fail?
Injuries will hinder your progress more than lifting lighter.
Focus on technique if you want long term gains.
- 63
5
votes
Accepted
Should I grind or should I fail?
There's acceptable "grind" and unacceptable grind, and I don't trust novices to tell the difference. Someone in your position--which I assume means, a beginner doing a novice program with an ...
- 24.8k
5
votes
Accepted
Avoid tennis elbow when squatting
I used to get elbow problems from back squatting, and what helped was
increasing range of motion in my shoulders
a two-phase approach to the elbow: first rest until the acute problem was over, then ...
- 24.8k
5
votes
Accepted
How to do the Sphinx Pose for men
When doing a pose like this, there are three main areas of potential groin discomfort for me.
Discomfort from the upper pubic area pressing against the ground: This area typically has a layer of fat, ...
- 8,913
5
votes
Accepted
Can bench pressing an unevenly loaded bar lead to injury?
Given that the one arm dumbbell bench press is a reasonably common exercise that puts all of the load on one arm and yet doesn't seem to have any elevated risk associated with it, it seems extremely ...
- 13.4k
4
votes
How to prevent immune system from weakening if you are training multiple hours a day all week?
I'll be honest, there are some people who spend 2 hours in the gym and they accomplish less than others who spend only 45 minutes. Keep in mind that is a huge investment in time and energy, and ...
- 42.5k
4
votes
What is a muscle knot?
What is referred to as a "muscle knot" is also known as a "trigger point" or "myofascial trigger point". They are medically controversial little things, because despite being talked about so much and ...
- 2,510
4
votes
Accepted
one arm dumbell bent over row - is it a complete exercise for the back?
would this cause injury?
No more than any other exercise. This all depends on your form. If you are relentlessly contorting your back in order to pull 60kg, then yes, it probably will cause injury.
...
- 17.9k
4
votes
Accepted
What can a labourer do?
Unfortunately, I'm not an expert, just someone who's gotten good at using Google to quote other experts. More unfortunately, the majority of posts I've found are from physical trainers extolling the "...
- 8,913
4
votes
Accepted
How do you relieve a cramp in an awkward part of your body?
There's (almost) always a stretch. Stretching is most effective against cramp if you can get in early before the muscle is fully cramped, but be careful getting into position.
A Cossack squat as a ...
- 188
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible