A competition dilemma...

[TheProject]

I've been planning on competing in Omaha in November.

I also started going to a chiropractor, and have gotten some custom orthotics that have helped with my collapsed arches. However, the orthotics have had an impact on my squat and deadlift. I feel a lot more stable, but the movements themselves still feel a little different, and I don't feel as strong at either. I know that I'm working in a different ROM because of the orthotics, and that I'm taking a step backward to take a leap forward, but I haven't hit that leaping point yet.

The reason I mention all this is that I'm now thinking about not competing. I'm worried that my comp lifts in November could be less than my last comp in February, and I don't know that I want to go in and total less overall.

So, yeah, it's ego, and it's pride, but do you all think there's still value in going ahead with the comp?

 

[rjl296]

i would

 

[spatts]

I'd go bench only.

 

[BigWh1tey]

fuck the orthotics .. do the meet

 

[TheProject]

Bench only is an option, and one I hadn't really thought about.

The orthotics I have are custom molded to my feet, and I wear them in any pair of shoes I have, including my chucks. They've made a world of difference in terms of my stability, my knees don't cave as badly, and I have zero foot pain now. The only thing is, the way I squat and deadlift just feels different, and I have NO idea what I can really do in either lift.

I really do think that the changes are a small step backward in exchange for a leap forward.

I think I'm going to do some high box squats for my ME work tonight, and work up some afterward, just to see how it goes, and then evaluate from there.

 

[AnimalMass1]

I have $400 orthodics I have to wear as well, but I take them out when I squat and deadlift. It just defeats the purpose of getting your feet as flat as possible when you lift. I actually don't even deadlift in shoes anymore.

Try taking them out for your squatting and deadlifting. It makes a huge difference. Your arches will still heal, because you'll be wearing them 24/7 anyway.

AnimalMass

 

[flapwrlftr]

Here is what you do:

1) Take right hand and insert down front of underwear.

2) Feel to see if there is anything down there.

3) Do the fucking meet!

 

[spatts]

Animalmass, your logic is backwards, IMO. Custom orthotics should be customized to your foot, brining your foot flush against the flat shoe. If you are not flush, and you bear a load, you must first transfer that energy into disbursement around the foot, THEN into the shoe. There was a very extensive study done on cyclist that showed that the amount of force generated from an orthotic implanted shoe was much greater than in a regular shoe, and improved overall speed and performance by making each push more productive; the force transfered directly into the pedal, as opposed to transfering.

I have orthotics and don't remember how I squatted without them. Instead of my feet pressing flat against the floor first, and THEN accomodating the load, I am instantly stable. It does NO good for your shoe to be flat on the outside if it's not flat on the inside. Think about it; it must compress before achieving stability. I even sent my chucks in to the manufacturer to have them custom installed for the shoe. Cup your right hand and place it on top of your flat left hand. Without an orthotic, this is your foot position. THAT defeats the purpose of a flat shoe.

Project has a whole bunch of issues surrounding this that aren't here. He is working in a different plane, and different ROM, he will be learning to re-recruit muscles and use small muscles, that are stabalizers, and are weak because they've not been used in that plane before.

That's not a big deal with 50% of your max, but with 110% of it, it's a different story.

 

[Screwball]

Do the meet! You need to set new competition PR's with your "NEW" equipment. I think that once you start training with your orthotics then you will adjust quickly. Good luck!

 

[spatts]

The orthotics aren't the problem! He got used to those in 8 hours. The small, stabalizing muscles he has that are VERY weak and cause his form to break at very low weights, are the problem. They will take more than 2 weeks to adjust.

You guys need all the fact for this one, but I'm gonna guess posting medical records isn't going to be realistic.