Re:Ask HN: What do you regret in life?
by StavrosK on Monday October 31, 2016 @10:19AM
(#12836884)
I lifted for a few months two years ago, but stopped because of various factors. My physical therapist friend doesn't like weightlifting, though, she says the risk of injury is too high. I'd like to start exercising again, but I don't know what would be effective enough without as much risk of injury as weightlifting...
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Re:Ask HN: What do you regret in life?
by chrischattin on Monday October 31, 2016 @10:44AM
(#12837138)
In an athletic context, one of the key benefits from weight training is injury prevention.
Yeah, I'm not sure about that. Like your sibling comment, I also injured my back while deadlifting (with proper form and everything) years ago and it's been very tender and ever since. I also get back cramps in that spot around once a year, making me unable to move for about a day.
Same. I crushed my L5 L6 disc and was in pain for 2 years. But fortunately with care it eventually recovered to 100% and I don't feel it at all anymore. However deadlifting is something I would never ever try again, and when I see people doing it I often tell them my story. It's one of the best lifts, but one of the most punishing. I wish I knew how dangerous it was.
That aside, most other lifts are fine. The only other one I would suggest people avoid is bench pressing with the smith rack (that's the rack where the bar is fixed and only moves on the vertical dimension). You'll get weightlifter's shoulder from doing that. Stick to dumbbells.
Re:Ask HN: What do you regret in life?
by imsofuture on Monday October 31, 2016 @11:17AM
(#12837500)
Weightlifting is definitely injurious -- but also provides you with a lot of strength and physical fortitude that prevents injury doing other random things/sports. Like other physically taxing activities, it's a bit of a double edged sword.
Strength training with free weights actually has one of the lowest injury rates for a form of exercise around. Much lower than soccer or running or pretty much anything else you can think of.
Re:Ask HN: What do you regret in life?
by ZeroFries on Wednesday November 02, 2016 @03:10PM
(#12858248)
Your friend is probably wrong. Check out the chart listing injury rates by sport. Notice weightlifting has a lower rate than just about any other form of exercise. I'd only consider swimming safer. Start slow and build up strength over a long period of time, like 5 years.
I loved weightlifting, but you're right. Currently recovering from a nasty back injury despite doing all the right things, and having a dedicated trainer. You'll never do it all correctly every single time.
I'd love to do it again, but I can't see how I'd ever justify the decision. Luckily swimming, running, yoga are all just as fun.