This isn't my usual blog. My usual blog is actually the weekly newspaper column that I've written for 39 years. After it is published in the newspaper, I copy and paste it here. Someone once estimated that I have published over 2 million words.
Oh, every once in a while I have a thought that I want to share that isn't really appropriate for the newspaper. Not that it's inappropriate material, it just doesn't seem targeted for that audience.
This is one of those. And this one will be short and sweet. It's really just a question (or an opening for dialogue).
Why do people drop weights?
I'm sitting here now in my clinic listening to three really fit females dropping weights. Every. Single. Rep.
It's been going on for about 45 minutes now. The problem is, this is what they do every single day. There is never a workout where some (or all) of it does not involve dropping weights.
You've seen it. Pick it up. Drop it. Repeat. Incessantly.
Why?
I admit some bias here, but my bias is based on muscle physiology, 55 years of strength training, and three college degrees (including a doctorate) in areas related to exercise science.
Why not set the weight down? The eccentric loading that you get from doing setting the weight down can be as important if not more so than dropping it.
Although I can tell you that always looking at your single rep max is a guarantee of an injury, I can sort of understand it if you are looking to compete and always working toward a max lift.
But for those pursuing good health and fitness, I just don't get it.
Somebody explain it to me. I've asked the question of several of the leading strength and conditioning specialists in the country and no one (absolutely no one) has been able to offer a plausible explanation.
It's not called weight dropping. It's called weight lifting!
So, there you have it. Explain it to me please. Because my blood pressure and stress levels need to understand why it is OK.
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