Comments on: Eric Cressey is Unbalanced http://experiencelifemag.com/blogs/survival-of-the-fittest/2008/05/21/eric-cressey-is-unbalanced/ Jen Sinkler, Experience Life senior editor, compiles a hodgepodge of fitness information, including perspectives on sports-oriented training, random fitness trivia and tales from the gym. Wed, 20 Aug 2008 23:34:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Jen Sinkler http://experiencelifemag.com/blogs/survival-of-the-fittest/2008/05/21/eric-cressey-is-unbalanced/#comment-251 Jen Sinkler Thu, 22 May 2008 22:49:02 +0000 http://experiencelifemag.com/blogs/survival-of-the-fittest/2008/05/21/eric-cressey-is-unbalanced/#comment-251 <strong>Darren's question:</strong> "What about using a swiss ball, balance board, etc. as training for sports like skiing (snow and water), skating, and board sports to help with balance? Is this bad also? <strong>EC's response:</strong> These would be the unique circumstances to which I was alluding. There MAY be some benefit in these situations, but there just isn't any research out there to support it. That said, regardless, it's extremely important for these individual to master stable-surface training before they jump into UST. Unfortunately, that's not how many personal trainers introduce these initiatives; rather, they throw untrained people on these implements. <em>Thanks, Eric!</em> Darren’s question: “What about using a swiss ball, balance board, etc. as training for sports like skiing (snow and water), skating, and board sports to help with balance? Is this bad also?

EC’s response: These would be the unique circumstances to which I was alluding. There MAY be some benefit in these situations, but there just isn’t any research out there to support it. That said, regardless, it’s extremely important for these individual to master stable-surface training before they jump into UST. Unfortunately, that’s not how many personal trainers introduce these initiatives; rather, they throw untrained people on these implements.

Thanks, Eric!

]]> By: Jen Sinkler http://experiencelifemag.com/blogs/survival-of-the-fittest/2008/05/21/eric-cressey-is-unbalanced/#comment-250 Jen Sinkler Thu, 22 May 2008 18:57:26 +0000 http://experiencelifemag.com/blogs/survival-of-the-fittest/2008/05/21/eric-cressey-is-unbalanced/#comment-250 Mike, I found the clarification about upper-body vs. lower-body UST enlightening, as well. I really like doing core work on unstable surfaces (log rolls, anyone?), so it's nice to know I've actually been doing myself some good on that front. Wendy, You should have SEEN all the videos I came across -- I found it difficult to choose just a few... (p.s. Love what you're rolling out with your rugby blog.) Mike,
I found the clarification about upper-body vs. lower-body UST enlightening, as well. I really like doing core work on unstable surfaces (log rolls, anyone?), so it’s nice to know I’ve actually been doing myself some good on that front.

Wendy,
You should have SEEN all the videos I came across — I found it difficult to choose just a few… (p.s. Love what you’re rolling out with your rugby blog.)

]]> By: Wendy http://experiencelifemag.com/blogs/survival-of-the-fittest/2008/05/21/eric-cressey-is-unbalanced/#comment-249 Wendy Thu, 22 May 2008 17:46:17 +0000 http://experiencelifemag.com/blogs/survival-of-the-fittest/2008/05/21/eric-cressey-is-unbalanced/#comment-249 Those Youtube videos were hilarious! I have not seen this activity at my gym...and would probably stare with mouth open if I did see it. More power to them for developing excellent balance, but that does look like it would lead to injury! Yikes! Those Youtube videos were hilarious! I have not seen this activity at my gym…and would probably stare with mouth open if I did see it. More power to them for developing excellent balance, but that does look like it would lead to injury!

Yikes!

]]> By: Mike http://experiencelifemag.com/blogs/survival-of-the-fittest/2008/05/21/eric-cressey-is-unbalanced/#comment-248 Mike Thu, 22 May 2008 16:10:50 +0000 http://experiencelifemag.com/blogs/survival-of-the-fittest/2008/05/21/eric-cressey-is-unbalanced/#comment-248 Eric knows what he's talking about. When I started training with him I had a severely sprained ankle - he worked around the injury while giving me some targeted unstable surface training and exercises for home. His philosophy is simple but effective: get stronger and all your performance markers will improve. Unstable surface training never made sense to me - why would you want to hinder your performance of whole body movements by reducing the amount of weight and increasing the risk of injury? As he said, outside of working through a proprioceptive deficit, it has no use for a healthy individual. I was particularly interested by his clarification of lower body vs. upper body instability training...thanks for the great interview. Eric knows what he’s talking about. When I started training with him I had a severely sprained ankle - he worked around the injury while giving me some targeted unstable surface training and exercises for home. His philosophy is simple but effective: get stronger and all your performance markers will improve. Unstable surface training never made sense to me - why would you want to hinder your performance of whole body movements by reducing the amount of weight and increasing the risk of injury? As he said, outside of working through a proprioceptive deficit, it has no use for a healthy individual.

I was particularly interested by his clarification of lower body vs. upper body instability training…thanks for the great interview.

]]> By: Jen Sinkler http://experiencelifemag.com/blogs/survival-of-the-fittest/2008/05/21/eric-cressey-is-unbalanced/#comment-247 Jen Sinkler Thu, 22 May 2008 15:37:26 +0000 http://experiencelifemag.com/blogs/survival-of-the-fittest/2008/05/21/eric-cressey-is-unbalanced/#comment-247 Darren, Great question -- I'll contact Eric to get his opinion on that. Stay tuned.... MizFit, I would love to see a video demo of how to monkey foot with your hands full! Darren,
Great question — I’ll contact Eric to get his opinion on that. Stay tuned….

MizFit,
I would love to see a video demo of how to monkey foot with your hands full!

]]> By: MizFit http://experiencelifemag.com/blogs/survival-of-the-fittest/2008/05/21/eric-cressey-is-unbalanced/#comment-245 MizFit Thu, 22 May 2008 10:11:11 +0000 http://experiencelifemag.com/blogs/survival-of-the-fittest/2008/05/21/eric-cressey-is-unbalanced/#comment-245 Ill let Jen answer, Darren, but I use the BOSU to practice for holding Toddler in one arm, snacks in the other and standing on one foot & MONKEY FOOTING (the technical term) various & sundry objects off the floor with other foot. it has helped my balance tremendously (no joke)! Ill let Jen answer, Darren, but I use the BOSU to practice for holding Toddler in one arm, snacks in the other and standing on one foot & MONKEY FOOTING (the technical term) various & sundry objects off the floor with other foot.

it has helped my balance tremendously (no joke)!

]]> By: Darren http://experiencelifemag.com/blogs/survival-of-the-fittest/2008/05/21/eric-cressey-is-unbalanced/#comment-244 Darren Thu, 22 May 2008 02:20:40 +0000 http://experiencelifemag.com/blogs/survival-of-the-fittest/2008/05/21/eric-cressey-is-unbalanced/#comment-244 I have a question.What about using a swiss ball,balance board,etc. as training for sports like skiing (snow and water),skating,and board sports to help with balance?Is this bad also? I have a question.What about using a swiss ball,balance board,etc. as training for sports like skiing (snow and water),skating,and board sports to help with balance?Is this bad also?

]]> By: Kate http://experiencelifemag.com/blogs/survival-of-the-fittest/2008/05/21/eric-cressey-is-unbalanced/#comment-242 Kate Wed, 21 May 2008 19:46:40 +0000 http://experiencelifemag.com/blogs/survival-of-the-fittest/2008/05/21/eric-cressey-is-unbalanced/#comment-242 I, for one, am glad that I no longer have to feel impressed by (and somewhat of a failure next to) the guy at the gym doing squats while standing on a stability ball. Turns out I was doing the right thing when I (was so bad at it that I) refused to do it anymore. I, for one, am glad that I no longer have to feel impressed by (and somewhat of a failure next to) the guy at the gym doing squats while standing on a stability ball. Turns out I was doing the right thing when I (was so bad at it that I) refused to do it anymore.

]]> By: Jen Sinkler http://experiencelifemag.com/blogs/survival-of-the-fittest/2008/05/21/eric-cressey-is-unbalanced/#comment-241 Jen Sinkler Wed, 21 May 2008 18:30:51 +0000 http://experiencelifemag.com/blogs/survival-of-the-fittest/2008/05/21/eric-cressey-is-unbalanced/#comment-241 p.s. Kim, as always, excellent feedback. p.s. Kim, as always, excellent feedback.

]]> By: Jen Sinkler http://experiencelifemag.com/blogs/survival-of-the-fittest/2008/05/21/eric-cressey-is-unbalanced/#comment-240 Jen Sinkler Wed, 21 May 2008 18:29:40 +0000 http://experiencelifemag.com/blogs/survival-of-the-fittest/2008/05/21/eric-cressey-is-unbalanced/#comment-240 Happily, the standing biceps curl on the ball is rare. Count yourselves lucky you haven't witnessed it in person yet. But it does exist -- there always seems to be one acrobat/meathead at my gym of choice. Check dis guy out, for example: www.youtube.com/watch?v=A42YdU2fpxo. Notice how filming stops before he gets down? I'm imagining it's because he fell on one of his dumbbells and knocked his front teeth out. Happily, the standing biceps curl on the ball is rare. Count yourselves lucky you haven’t witnessed it in person yet. But it does exist — there always seems to be one acrobat/meathead at my gym of choice.

Check dis guy out, for example: www.youtube.com/watch?v=A42YdU2fpxo. Notice how filming stops before he gets down? I’m imagining it’s because he fell on one of his dumbbells and knocked his front teeth out.

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