What would you do? Serious Q?

[Scotsman]

So there is a strongman show on Oct 22. It's the Denver/Colorado's strongest man contest that I did last year. I really want to do the show and think I can beat my 3rd place finish from a year ago. Problem is I am trying to correct a pevlic tilt problem. I am trying to re-align my pelvis to the more normal horizontal position from the forward tilt I have now. This involves a lot of ab strengthening and tendon stretching in my back. Since I started I am in constant pain from the tendons/back muscles fighting to keep for being stretched out. I know I can't finish the re-alignment by then and don't know yet what my possible strength decrease is going to be.

So I ask what would you do? Do the show or work on core strength and sit this one out.

Cheers,
Scotsman

 

[MattTheSkywalker]

health > show.

easy one.

 

[chefbone]

How old are you bro???? If you're still pretty young I would sit this one out. There's always next year!!!!

 

[hamstershaver]

sit it out, there will always be another show

 

[Lestat]

think of your long term health first bro

 

[Scotsman]

How old are you bro???? If you're still pretty young I would sit this one out. There's always next year!!!!

28 so really young for the sport. My problem is they don't do very many shows in Colorado and I need all the experience I can get. I know it seems like there will always be next year but lots of things can happen in that time.

Thanks for the answers everyone, this is something I have to mill over a lot more.

Cheers,
Scotsman

 

[jenscats5]

Was this issue one that has held you back before?? Do you know how it's affected you in the past?

 

[KillahBee]

This is a tough one bro. I know how much competing means to people. And we both know that there are many times guys compete while injured. I don't know much about your current injury - what are possible issues if you compete?

 

[Scotsman]

For Jens and KB-

It's not really an injury per se. I have been lazy over the past few years with my ab training and have allowed my back to become dominant in my core. This has caused a slight forward tilt to my pelvis. This is actually pretty common in powerlifters as many of us don't do nearly enough ab training. The tilt causes a general misalignment of the entire body. Your body compensates by slackening the knees and spine in order to make a verticle profile of your body. The shortening of your lowerback muscles, tendons, and ligaments must be reversed in order to correct this. Rigorous ab training and complimentary back stretching must be done. As the pelvis re-aligns it pulls the low back out and allows the body to return to it's neutral position of a horizontal pelvis. Well as I am trying to do this as quickly as possible I forgo the slight alterations recommended and therefore must bear the burden of the pain it entails. For now it keeps me fairly sick to my stomach nearly all day and makes the first few minutes upon standing from a lying position a most uncomfortable proposition. Usually a doc would take 6-7 months for a corrective program for my slight <1" tilt but I am fairly impatient and have my own agenda to follow.

As for performance issues, I know it is holding me back from deadlifting and squatting more. By now I should be farther ahead in those two lifts than I already am. I know that my back has been feeling better since I started training abs regularly again but now that I am focusing on the lower abs in a tightening/vast strengthening program and allowing the back to stretch I am incuring the wrath of bad planning on my part. I know when this is complete I will be much stronger and my core strength will be greatly increased.

As far as risk of injury it is pretty low in the competition sense, since I can only push so far right now anyway and am not at all in favor or serious injury although that can sometimes be unavoidable in the competitive arena. I am not sure as to whether or not I will be able to gain any strength between now and then. Although it is unlikely due to the short time I have left until the comp date. My gut impulse is to do the show and bear the pain like I normally would, but there's a nagging voice in my head telling me to think better of it.

Cheers,
Scotsman

 

[KillahBee]

Let me ask you this - will there ever be 6 months (or whatever it takes) in a row where you can really dedicate yourself to this? Or will there always be a hurdle like this? I ask that, cause I am not so quick to nix the comp, cause I know its important to you. On the other hand, if it is important to you and you plan on competing for a while, will this small step back help you take a huge leap forward in time? I assume it will, but I don't know enough about the condition to be certain.

 

[eat big]

Since you've already tried to fix the problem don't do the show.

 

[Scotsman]

Let me ask you this - will there ever be 6 months (or whatever it takes) in a row where you can really dedicate yourself to this? Or will there always be a hurdle like this? I ask that, cause I am not so quick to nix the comp, cause I know its important to you. On the other hand, if it is important to you and you plan on competing for a while, will this small step back help you take a huge leap forward in time? I assume it will, but I don't know enough about the condition to be certain.

No I don't forsee a 6mo time ever that I can do this, unless I switch jobs. So this is going to be a quick re-align with lot's of tweeks and maintenance for the rest of my life. Good spine health is something that has to be maintained and the only way to do that is to keep the body in balance. I used to do this and got lazy about it and am now paying the price. I don't really think that I run any higher risk of injuring myself in this show as any other. The deal is that I know my strength levels should rapidly increase as I rectify this matter and due to the general fatigue I am experiencing now may not perform to my personal standards. As I do plan on competing for hopefully a long time missing this show won't be the end of the world, but will certainly be a dissappointment.

Cheers,
Scotsman

Cheers,
Scotsman

 

[Scotsman]

Since you've already tried to fix the problem don't do the show.

Actually I am in the process of fixing it, I've been focusing on it for about three weeks now and am just now seeing the first results.

Cheers,
Scotsman

 

[eat big]

Actually I am in the process of fixing it, I've been focusing on it for about three weeks now and am just now seeing the first results.

Cheers,
Scotsman

Easy, sit it out. Seems to be the general consensus. Good luck with it.

 

[KillahBee]

No I don't forsee a 6mo time ever that I can do this, unless I switch jobs. So this is going to be a quick re-align with lot's of tweeks and maintenance for the rest of my life. Good spine health is something that has to be maintained and the only way to do that is to keep the body in balance. I used to do this and got lazy about it and am now paying the price. I don't really think that I run any higher risk of injuring myself in this show as any other. The deal is that I know my strength levels should rapidly increase as I rectify this matter and due to the general fatigue I am experiencing now may not perform to my personal standards. As I do plan on competing for hopefully a long time missing this show won't be the end of the world, but will certainly be a dissappointment.

Cheers,
Scotsman

Cheers,
Scotsman

Sit it out. It won't be easy and you will be bummed for a bit, but that should help to fuel your recovery and piss you off even more so you can get your sour ass back into gear and tear it up at the next comp.

 

[Scotsman]

Sit it out. It won't be easy and you will be bummed for a bit, but that should help to fuel your recovery and piss you off even more so you can get your sour ass back into gear and tear it up at the next comp.

I definitely see your point, but to add one more point to the pro-contest view. They usually have an attendance/participation problem around here and the guys who are sponsoring the show lose money almost everytime, so they need all the entry fee's they can get. They were supposed to do four shows in Co this year but have cut it back to two due to disinterest and I'd hate to think that if only I had gone it would have kept them from canceling the rest of the shows for next year too.

Stuck between the proverbial rock and hard place in this one.

Cheers,
Scotsman

 

[KillahBee]

I definitely see your point, but to add one more point to the pro-contest view. They usually have an attendance/participation problem around here and the guys who are sponsoring the show lose money almost everytime, so they need all the entry fee's they can get. They were supposed to do four shows in Co this year but have cut it back to two due to disinterest and I'd hate to think that if only I had gone it would have kept them from canceling the rest of the shows for next year too.

Stuck between the proverbial rock and hard place in this one.

Cheers,
Scotsman

While I definitely hear you on the sponsor support, you know that you can support them in other ways. Show up and buy some gear from them - hell, give em the reg check if you want. And you not competing will hurt their field a bit, it happens. Especially in that sport

 

[Scotsman]

While I definitely hear you on the sponsor support, you know that you can support them in other ways. Show up and buy some gear from them - hell, give em the reg check if you want. And you not competing will hurt their field a bit, it happens. Especially in that sport

My only counter thought to what you just posted is that if they get more outside sponsors and have a low turn out they may not get those sponsors to help again. This happened last year two when a bunch of people had to cancell a couple of the sponsors backed out. I'm thinking that I could do the show and just take it a bit easy. Of course my nature wouldn't let me not give it my all, so this decision sucks ass.

Thanks a lot for you input, I value your opinion highly and will definitely take it into consideration for my final decision.

Cheers,
Scotsman

 

[KillahBee]

My only counter thought to what you just posted is that if they get more outside sponsors and have a low turn out they may not get those sponsors to help again. This happened last year two when a bunch of people had to cancell a couple of the sponsors backed out. I'm thinking that I could do the show and just take it a bit easy. Of course my nature wouldn't let me not give it my all, so this decision sucks ass.

Thanks a lot for you input, I value your opinion highly and will definitely take it into consideration for my final decision.

Cheers,
Scotsman

No problem my man. This can't be easy for you. And we both know that there is NO WAY IN HELL you will enter a comp and take it easy.

 

[jenscats5]

I definitely see your point, but to add one more point to the pro-contest view. They usually have an attendance/participation problem around here and the guys who are sponsoring the show lose money almost everytime, so they need all the entry fee's they can get. They were supposed to do four shows in Co this year but have cut it back to two due to disinterest and I'd hate to think that if only I had gone it would have kept them from canceling the rest of the shows for next year too.

Stuck between the proverbial rock and hard place in this one.

Cheers,
Scotsman

How about paying the entry fee but NOT doing the show?

 

[Scotsman]

How about paying the entry fee but NOT doing the show?

Jeeze that's like paying the hooker for conversation. If your gonna spend the cash you might as well dance. Plus they would then make plans for the extra person and possibly screw over someone else if they were to make changes to the scheme of the show.

I may contact a friend who is a regional head of advertising for a supplement company and see if I can pull any strings as far as sponsorship goes.

Of course I could be thinking this through entirely too much.

Cheers,
Scotsman

 

[KillahBee]

Jeeze that's like paying the hooker for conversation.

lmfao!! sig worthy

 

[Scotsman]

lmfao!! sig worthy

Once in a while I come up with something worthwhile.

Cheers,
Scotsman

 

[jenscats5]

Jeeze that's like paying the hooker for conversation. If your gonna spend the cash you might as well dance. Plus they would then make plans for the extra person and possibly screw over someone else if they were to make changes to the scheme of the show.

I may contact a friend who is a regional head of advertising for a supplement company and see if I can pull any strings as far as sponsorship goes.

Of course I could be thinking this through entirely too much.

Cheers,
Scotsman

Well I was thinking that they'd get your monetary support. Make a donation then??

 

[Scotsman]

Well I was thinking that they'd get your monetary support. Make a donation then??

Yeah I know, I just had to be a smartass for a little bit. If I don't do the the show I may send them a cheque for the entry fee amount to help out with the show.

Cheers,
Scotsman

 

[mountain muscle]

Scots, you know the answer to this one. Take care of yourself first. No need to be in pain or risk injury for being overly competative. Think of it this way, you wait get healthy and even stronger for the next comp, then crush all those little boys.

 

[jenscats5]

Yeah I know, I just had to be a smartass for a little bit. If I don't do the the show I may send them a cheque for the entry fee amount to help out with the show.

Cheers,
Scotsman

You could hold a bake sale. I've heard a rumor you make pretty good brownies.

 

[blut wump]

From what you've written I don't really see the downside to doing the show. It'll hurt but Ibuprofen and endorphins will take care of that. You're no more likely to hurt yourself than at any other competition as you go all out to win within the limits your body allows.

Do you think you can put in a decent showing even if your strength and conditioning can't be improved further over the next month? You sound very much as though you want to do the show and, physically, it might interfere with your rehab but you can work the two together. Worst case is that your rehab takes a little longer than planned. The intended rehab timescale isn't guaranteed, anyway.

 

[thelion2005]

So there is a strongman show on Oct 22. It's the Denver/Colorado's strongest man contest that I did last year. I really want to do the show and think I can beat my 3rd place finish from a year ago. Problem is I am trying to correct a pevlic tilt problem. I am trying to re-align my pelvis to the more normal horizontal position from the forward tilt I have now. This involves a lot of ab strengthening and tendon stretching in my back. Since I started I am in constant pain from the tendons/back muscles fighting to keep for being stretched out. I know I can't finish the re-alignment by then and don't know yet what my possible strength decrease is going to be.

So I ask what would you do? Do the show or work on core strength and sit this one out.

Cheers,
Scotsman

Do the show, if for nothing else, the experience and camaraderie.

 

[Scotsman]

MM- yeah I know but I've got that competing itch right now.

Blut and Lion thanks guys this is along the lines I am thinking. As far as effecting my rehab I don't know what the outcome would be.

Jens- Is that a hint to send some brownies out east?

Cheers,
Scotsman

 

[jenscats5]

Jens- Is that a hint to send some brownies out east?

Cheers,
Scotsman

Maybe in NOvember - I've eaten myself sick over the past 2 days.

 

[Scotsman]

Maybe in NOvember - I've eaten myself sick over the past 2 days.

Well you've certainly earned the gorging.

Cheers,
Scotsman