Some random observations

[benzo]

So I received the latest edition of AHIP, together with 2 other books on trigger point release, as I mentioned here: viewtopic.php?f=37&t=5908#p38441

I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of illustrations that were added to the new version and I would recommend anyone with an old copy to upgrade to version 5. I have an appointment with my PT on Friday and I am taking my copy with me to go over all of the potential tp areas that we haven't covered yet. Up till now we mainly worked on the abs and the internal pelvic muscles. The other 2 books are very good standard works about trigger point therapy in general and how to treat a trigger point but of course do not focus on the pelvic region as AHIP. Also, no mention of internal tp work.

The last half year has been very good in terms of symptoms but I noticed a flare coming up over the last couple of weeks. Then I started to think about it and this thing always seems to hit me hard in December. Maybe it's the cold weather, the stress of the Holiday season coming up, or just coincidence. Still food for thought.

Also, I went to the gym yesterday, I have cut out situps and leg work since I noticed a direct correlation between symptoms and overdoing exercise in those areas, especially leg press and crunches. Trained together with a guy 15 years my junior and he was really cheering me on to go to the max doing bicep exercises. Anyway, I could easily keep up but in the afternoon I had a terrible increase in symptoms around the perineum. I think that squeezing the pelvis and not paying attention to my breathing was a bit too much. Best to train within a 70-80% range and being able to breathe comfortably than to go all-out.

And then a very strange observation, I don't know if any of you guys ever encountered this and it is kind of awkward but after a internal self-treatment session I often end up with a boner. Could this be due to increased blood flow to the pelvic region?

[webslave]

Bicep curls involve very intense contracting of the pelvic floor, for me anyway. Avoid.

[benzo]

Bicep curls involve very intense contracting of the pelvic floor, for me anyway. Avoid.

Hi webslave, it depends on the weight of course. I also think it's safer to do preacher curls http://www.healthstylesexercise.com/cat ... Attach.jpg
That way you are isolating the biceps, which allows you to relax the pelvis and focus on breathing. Also sitting and training with one dumbell at a time, leaning in against the inside of the thigh, is not that hard on the pelvis. When doing it properly you are also stretching the adductors at the same time.

The more you isolate the muscle, the less your other muscles have the chance to compensate, including the pelvic muscles of course.

[webslave]

Yep, some curls are fine. These are the ones that get me (not me in the pic)

[benzo]

From the looks of it, that guy is seriously overreaching, and people that do that tend to compensate with other muscle groups, in this case swinging the dumbells upwards with the pelvis. I see it so often, skinny guys wanting to get big and adding on weights, only to forget to do the exercise properly.

I had the luck to train with a PT for several months and he explained the importance of correct posture and correct execution of an exercise. I had to cut back on weights because I wasn´t properly training the muscles, rather compensating with other muscles.

Anyway, I benefited most from martial arts which is an excellent overall workout, combined with extensive stretching. Hoping to get in the game again soon, but I am still recovering from my achilles tendon rupture.

Are you still working out? I know your son is into bodybuilding...

[graeme]

i found doing bicep curls sitting down did not flare me like standing up :happy:

[webslave]

Are you still working out? I know your son is into bodybuilding...

No, not me. My only exercise is a nightly walk with the wife, which I have been enjoying for 30+ years now!