Questions For Eric Cressey


Hey i was kind of slow and Mr. Cressey probably won’t answer my questions, so i decided to put this here and hope someone says something about the plan i outlined at the bottom of this. If anyone can answer any questions i asked along the way please feel free to help :slight_smile:

Wow perfect answer, thank you for taking the time.

Sry about being so sloppy and saying hips when i really meant the posterior chain. You knew what i was talking about though.

This gives me things to do (alot of the suggested auxiliary stuff i never did) as well as new info on how to get better.

I like the two categories, the problem is you can over time gradually go from one category to the other. I just noticed that i probably did from what you said. Seems even logical a year of powerlifting can put you from category 1 to 2. That’s what happend to me. I used to be in the first category until i got injured very often. I now have a very bad knee. (got tackled with the shoulderblades on the knee and the doc said what happend is that a muscle [would you be so kind to tell me which one it probably was?] got hurt and went into relaxed state) Therefore the muscle on top was pulling my knee cap up and that made my knee swell badly. I still get that effect when squatting heavy, trying to play basketball or even walking up steps).

I read some Dave Tate stuff on here about what to do once you developed a bad knee. I am trying it out and especially the band pull (one end on doorhandle other end behind knee with the purple band) seems to help. Could you take a guess at what else would probably help?

I just want to know one more thing.

What do you think about vertical periodisation (like Waterbury does) to take care of the repeated bout effect?

Seems to me like that’s kind of what westside does too just a little different. Waterbury likes to do more hypertrophy work than what i see in typical westside training parameters, but than again there is so many possibilities within that system that a majority just does a lot of isolation type ht work anyway.

I still got more i am sorry, but you are just too damn good and i need your opinion on this:

Would it be a good idea to address my weak points and use a vertical perio approach with 3 macrocycles each concentrating on one thing and trying to put others on hold like Siff, Verhoshansky and Zatsiorsky and others suggest?
For example during the first 4 weeks something like 20 sessions. (I built up the work capacity for that over the last year and with lots of prehab work i get no problems going at it for 16 out of 20 weeks)

14 of those HT with changing parameters from an easy and short 5X5 or a hard 4 x 12 to an extremely hard 10x3.
Next 4 weeks alot more maximal strength work and some speed work while maintaining ht.

The last 4 weeks a little less sessions, lower volume because of dropping isolation work. Incorparating bands and getting some more speed work done. Still with something like 5-6 maximum strength sessions but ht only like once a week.

Within the 4 weeks i would always try to get started slowly and increase intensity relative volume during week 2 and lowering it a little on week 3, so that i can set some new records. Then the last week ist always tapering off
( because it is easy to underrecover :slight_smile:
) and transition to new phase. I will only do 2 hard sessions during that week on what i want to develope in that phase.

I wasn’t going to ask all this but i much likely won’t get too many chances to talk to coaches like the ones on T-Mag. My coaches over in Germany have always been really bad and so i started educating myself through reading literature and also things all over the internet. This place is mecca though :slight_smile:

I hope i get this answered. I wouldn’t mind if any other coach answerded it either, but Cressey, Tate, Simmons (yeah right like he is ever even on here), CT, CW would be the ones i would kill to get them to answer [guess CP won’t answer since he doesn’t even take the weekend warrior type any longer spreading rumors hehe :-)] and while i’m at it i also love [note: in a nonsexual positive T-Man way] reading JB, Atomic Dog, King, De Franco (now let’s hope he doesn’t sue me for stealing the words vertical periodization) and others i propably forget right now.

Tanks again Coach Cressey, you are the man! I am not saying that to get you to answer by the way because even if you don’t it remains a fact. Hey did you move up the USAPL list? Where can i see it anyways. Oh ok it’s on the USAPL websites.

[quote]23andbeginner wrote:
I used to be in the first category until i got injured very often. I now have a very bad knee. (got tackled with the shoulderblades on the knee and the doc said what happend is that a muscle [would you be so kind to tell me which one it probably was?] got hurt and went into relaxed state) Therefore the muscle on top was pulling my knee cap up and that made my knee swell badly. I still get that effect when squatting heavy, trying to play basketball or even walking up steps).[/quote]

Typically, if a muscle is going to shut down, it’s the vastus medialis. You haven’t given me much information, though. Given the nature of the injury, I’d be willing to bet that you have some issues with ligament laxity.

Honestly, no; I haven’t seen your knee, and you haven’t given me enough information from which to work.

I love the idea of training all qualities in the same phase but with a different amount of focus on each.

That’s just the inherent difference between a conjugated periodization scheme and a scheme that is simply concurrent.

It seems that you’re outlining more of an undulating scheme than a true Westside-influenced conjugated approach. That said, it’s very doable, but in more experienced individuals, it’s going to be very hard to load all your movements (if you have a lot of variety) maximally in single sessions. This is one of the reasons why I never hesitate to hit more than one rep range/motor quality in a single training session.

Your tapering looks good; you should make some good progress.

Hey Eric, I attempted to send you a private message about this but I don’t think it worked on my end, so I apologize if this is a repeat of a message you already received, or if you already replied and I didn’t receive it…

About 5 years ago, after a bone scan, x-rays, and an MRI, I was told that I have three herniated discs in the lumbar region of my back, and that at least one was degenerated. I went through three epidural injections and about 4 months of MacKenzie-style physical therapy, which helped somewhat, but at this point I still have moderate discomfort and a lot of tightness in my lower back and legs.

I’ve continued to lift weights as heavy as possible while focusing on avoiding further injury. I really want to strengthen and stabilize my lower back so that I can continue to work out and be active without having to consider my lower back as a weak point. I’m searching for a program that will allow me to achieve these goals while continuing to lift weights and do cardio. Any help you could offer would be greatly appreciated.

Great thank you

Great that gives me something to look into as far as my injury goes. I really can’t seem to be able get a hold of someone knowledgeable when it comes to knee injuries, so I am glad even if it turns out your guess was not right. I wonder where all the soccer players in Germany go?
Oh and I really would have loved to explain that injury and what the problem ist more accurate, but i just simply don’t know medical terms and phisiology at all. All i know is that i can move the knee cap sideways too much and it seems like it’s not beeing held in the right place and sometimes right underneath the knee cap where the meniscus is it really hurts when i try to accelarate really hard or run upstairs for example. (if meniscus is the same word in America you might be able to understand), yet it is not it. Sorry to bother you again. I will see if i can find a doctor that knows his stuff or just learn what i need to know myself.

Question to anyone:

What would be a good book to read for a engineering student like me in order to learn the correct english terms when it comes to physiology and learn something along the way. A beginners lecture like the Zatsiorsky Strenth Training in the field of training and does anyone know a book like Supertrain on the subject of physiology? Is there a standart book everyone likes?

About my training ideas. Yes, you are right. The only thing Westside about my idea is that i incorporated their Max Squat and Speed Squat Day two days later.

I just found this site:
http://www.rad.washington.edu/atlas2/

But, man, there is so many possibilities…If i were to guess i would think the Plantaris or Popliteus or the insertion point of the muscle mentioned by Mr. Cressey or the gastrocnemious, but i am not sure how i would be able to tell which one it is.
Anyone know how to test for this?

Looking at the mirror i gotta say the vastus medialis is very badly developed especially on the bad leg, so you might be right. Then again it could be genetics 'cause it doesn’t look a lot bigger on the other side either. Damn i hate it when you just can’t get an answer.

[quote]vtkess02 wrote:
Hey Eric, I attempted to send you a private message about this but I don’t think it worked on my end, so I apologize if this is a repeat of a message you already received, or if you already replied and I didn’t receive it…

About 5 years ago, after a bone scan, x-rays, and an MRI, I was told that I have three herniated discs in the lumbar region of my back, and that at least one was degenerated. I went through three epidural injections and about 4 months of MacKenzie-style physical therapy, which helped somewhat, but at this point I still have moderate discomfort and a lot of tightness in my lower back and legs.

I’ve continued to lift weights as heavy as possible while focusing on avoiding further injury. I really want to strengthen and stabilize my lower back so that I can continue to work out and be active without having to consider my lower back as a weak point. I’m searching for a program that will allow me to achieve these goals while continuing to lift weights and do cardio. Any help you could offer would be greatly appreciated.[/quote]

The best program is going to be one that’s customized for you, but if you’re looking for some pre-made templates, I’d encourage you to check out Mike Robertson’s “21st Century Core Training;” he has plenty of options available for you.

Your injury history is pretty significant, so I’d err on the side of caution. With that said, you’d probably see favorable results from incorporating the GPP we outlined in the Neanderthal No More series. I’d also learn to rely extensively on single-leg exercises, and do plenty of activation work for the glutes (see Get Your Butt in Gear parts I and II).

Good luck!

[quote]23andbeginner wrote:
All i know is that i can move the knee cap sideways too much and it seems like it’s not beeing held in the right place and sometimes right underneath the knee cap where the meniscus is it really hurts when i try to accelarate really hard or run upstairs for example. (if meniscus is the same word in America you might be able to understand), yet it is not it. Sorry to bother you again. I will see if i can find a doctor that knows his stuff or just learn what i need to know myself. [/quote]

Does it move medially or laterally?

EC,

In the recent “Old Farts” Think Tank, it was suggested that older lifters should lighten the load to save the joints. Does there come a point where the load is too light to stimulate the fast twitch fibers and therefore impede hypertrophy?

Brian

are high reps, ex: 25 reps, to near failure deleterious to those seeking pure power developement? i ask this because i think it’s possible that 25 reps done as fast as possible to near failure could be of short enough duration to not negatively affect power yet positively affect endurance.

[quote]homer23 wrote:
EC,

In the recent “Old Farts” Think Tank, it was suggested that older lifters should lighten the load to save the joints. Does there come a point where the load is too light to stimulate the fast twitch fibers and therefore impede hypertrophy?

Brian[/quote]

You’re in luck; Coach Poliquin published a great article here at T-Nation tonight that addresses this very topic. It’s going to depend quite a bit on training age, but generally speaking, 70% of 1RM is the lowest you ought to go, and even then, it’s going to take several reps to “get at” the fast twitch fibers.

[quote]wufwugy wrote:
are high reps, ex: 25 reps, to near failure deleterious to those seeking pure power developement? i ask this because i think it’s possible that 25 reps done as fast as possible to near failure could be of short enough duration to not negatively affect power yet positively affect endurance.[/quote]

They would be deleterious (good word, BTW) to PURE power development, but advantageous when it comes to power endurance.