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.

 

[TheProject]

I have been training with the orthotics, and I'm making improvements. As spatts said, they're not a problem I'm looking to get rid of or work around. I'm not about to take them out, because I know my knees are going to cave again, my stance will not be as straight, and that I would be simply avoiding the issue by going back to a stance where I'm currently stronger. By training with them, I believe I will be stronger in the long run, and reduce my risk for injury.

I did high box squats last night, 18", and was able to hit 243 before my form deteriorated, and I hit 275 basically as a combo/squat GM. I know I could nail at least that fully equipped...getting back to 325 and beyond could take more time.

Unfortunately, I managed to "pop" something last night while I was squatting. I was pushing my air out, got down to the bottom, flexed to come up, and something on my right side, just below my rib cage, popped. I belted up and finished the work, but it hurts. I may be making a trip to the doc if this doesn't heal up in a couple of days.

The question boils down to this: if you were prepping for a meet, and for whatever reason, your numbers might not be as good as your last meet, would you do it, or wait until your next scheduled meet?

I don't have a problem taking a step or two backward, weight-wise, in my training to improve my form, and that's what I've done....but do I want to take a step backward in a meet too?

 

[dg21]

I don't know all the details, but I say do the meet. I would anyway.

 

[thebrute]

i agree. tb