Postural Distortions Linked to Compromised Performance in Sports

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Nearly 15 years ago, on this forum, I opened a discussion on the link between gravity drive pronation (and the resulting postural distortions) and the diminution in performance. Specifically I described several personal anecdotal (but still significant) studies I conducted at Gold's Gym in Florida.

Several aspiring weight (power) lifters were chosen for this study. Their maximum lift weight was determined, with and without proprioceptive insoles (used to improve their linear mechanics). The results were astonishing, an increase in performance (nearly 10% increase in weight lift).

The responses by my esteemed colleagues were surprising. No interest was demonstrated. Instead, they simply doubted such an increase in performance could occur by simply using the appropriate insoles. If I remember correctly, several made very boorish and churlish remarks.

Fast foward 15 years or so.

November 2021 A research team at the University of Lisbon published their results, evaluating the impact mouth guards have on performance. They reported that "Controlled mouthguards enhance peak force and peak acceleration in the ballistic bench press exercise without negatively affecting any other measure assessed in this study. We speculate that this is possibly due to an increased stability of temporomandibular joint" (paper attached)

As I stated 15 years ago, improved body mechanics dramatically improves performance! (whether it is done through the teeth or the feet)

Amândio Dias, Luís Redinha, Francisco Tavares, Luís Silva, Frederico Malaquias. 2021 The effect of a controlled mandible position mouthguard on upper body strength and power in trained rugby athletes –A randomized within subject study

 

Reducing Gravity Drive Pronation not only improves performance in sports, but also prevents muscle injuries.

An interesting dynamic study published in Anatomy and Cell Biology by Rachmawati et al 2016 using blood creatine kinase – MM as a marker, demonstrated diminished CK-MM enzyme concentrations using insoles vs a control group, not using insoles.

CK-MM concentrations are elevated in the presence of muscle injury.

Maria Regina Rachmawati, Angela B. M. Tulaar, Suzana Immanuel, et al 2016. Correcting of pronated feet reduce skeletal muscle injury in young women with biomechanical abnormalities. Anat Cell Biol. 2016 Mar; 49(1): 15–20.
Published online 2016 Mar 28. doi: 10.5115/acb.2016.49.1.15

 

When did a "workshop" ,which is how you have previously described your visit to Golds Gym, become a "study" with chosen subjects?

I would be less skeptical if you published the piece of paper you wrote all this down on on the day .

 

The workshop I conducted at Gold’s Gym was just a workshop, nothing more, nothing less. However what we observed during that workshop astounded the weight lifters and their coaches. They found it almost incredulous that by simply placing a thin insole underneath the feet would enhance performance by 10%. In fact, if they had not seen it with their own eyes, they most likely would not have believed it possible.

At that time, I presented my observations on this forum. You can go back and read the dismissive and skeptical comments (as apparently you are now).

Fast forward 15 years, other researchers are investigating what I observed at Gold’s Gym. There are now a plethora of studies being published on this subject. Read Dias' paper.

Notice I used the term “personal anecdotal studies” in describing my observations at Gold’s Gym.

• Call it a study, call it a workshop, that is not the point.
• What was considered “snake oil” or aporetic on this forum 15 years ago, is being published on today.

That is the point!

 

Your Gold's Gym story seems to have become confused, flitting between "several personal anecdotal (but still significant) studies" with "Several aspiring weight (power) lifters were chosen for this study" and a workshop, which was presumably just a walk in on the day.

Could you provide a link to your first comments on the subject on this forum ?

Also, and obviously, studies with gumshields and bench press are not the same as studies with orthotics and squats .

 

I will leave that exercise to you.

But the point of this discussion is that body mechanics has a dramatic impact on performance. If you have any comments to make on this subject, I would be happy to reply.

 

Did you arrange the workshop in advance or pop in unannounced ?
I find that doing deadlift and squat in my socks is easier than doing these lifts in running shoes but I think you might be exaggerating a bit .

 

Your comment – I think you might be exaggerating a bit – is not surprising. It is almost past belief that the level of performance could be enhanced by 10%. However, is it not equally hard to believe that gravity drive pronation can change the frontal position of the cranial bones and beta wave activity. Yet published studies have demonstrated that to be true.

Plantargrade feet experience little or no enhancement in performance. PreClinical Clubfoot Deformity – those people experience a significant gain in performance using the appropriate insole.

Do you have a PreClinical Clubfoot Deformity?

 

I was being polite. Frankly no one sets PBs without a full warm up . I not convinced your Golds Gym story holds much truth at all . Sorry !

My understanding is that only you or someone trained by you, in the ways of your system, can make the diagnosis . Is that correct ?

 

No need to apologize. Your opinion, is your opinion. It is not my intent to convince you of anything, only to present my research. I appreciate your politeness.

Regarding training. It has been nearly 35 years since I started publishing on my research. At this time, there are many clinics using my research and training practitioners. Does that answer your question?

 

Do Universities teach your foot classification system ? If not ,what do they call "PreClinical Clubfoot Deformity"?

 

My genetic classification system is currently not used by any of the Colleges of Podiatric Medicine. In fact, if you do a Google search on gCS, your first hit is Syndactyly.

The etiology of the flexible flatfoot is the PreClinical Clubfoot Deformity.

Bottom line, many Podiatrists disregard my research. Researchgate, on the other hand, finds my research thought-provoking. Posterity will determine if I was ahead of my time or not.