lol not a troll thread, I’ve been hearing things recently such as, Using the V.M. can lead to high blood pressure, or glaucoma. Any thoughts, experiences?
Yes, it leads to high blood pressure - while being performed. Chronically? No, I’m sure you’ll be fine.
I haven’t heard about any link to glaucoma. I doubt it. Again, that’s a matter of acute vs. chronic hypertension. If there were anything to it I’m sure I would have come across it before now.
The acute rise in blood pressure could be an issue for those with a familial history of cardiovascular problems. Look what happened to Jon Pall Sigmarsson.
You’ve been hearing these things where, exactly?
Weightlifting May Increase Glaucoma Risk Ok, just kinda worried because my training partners say I turn bright red, with veins all over my neck, and it looks like I’m going to pop something while performing squats or deads with the v.m.
All those studies say is that there’s an increase in intraocular pressure during the exercise. The most you can do with that study is say that we should do further experiments to help determine if this does or doesn’t increase the chances of getting glaucoma.
Basically, that study at this point tells you a whole bunch of nothing as a weightlifter. I wouldn’t worry about it. I’d be more worried about hurting my back by not doing the Valsalva manoeuvre.
[quote]Fletch1986 wrote:
All those studies say is that there’s an increase in intraocular pressure during the exercise. The most you can do with that study is say that we should do further experiments to help determine if this does or doesn’t increase the chances of getting glaucoma.
Basically, that study at this point tells you a whole bunch of nothing as a weightlifter. I wouldn’t worry about it. I’d be more worried about hurting my back by not doing the Valsalva manoeuvre.[/quote]
This. I’m just saying, I’m pretty sure the danger in high blood pressure is when it’s a chronic thing, not something spiking for a few seconds before returning to normal.
Not sure if it’s safe, but it helps me lift more weight, which is my goal.
[quote]T3hPwnisher wrote:
Not sure if it’s safe, but it helps me lift more weight, which is my goal.[/quote]
Rather be dead than weak.
But really the worst that will happen is maybe a burst eye blood vessel or a bloody nose. and even those are still pretty rare unless you have super high blood pressure/are on steroids
[quote]xneverbackdown wrote:
[quote]T3hPwnisher wrote:
Not sure if it’s safe, but it helps me lift more weight, which is my goal.[/quote]
Rather be dead than weak.[/quote]
Yup. I don’t care if I die, as long as they bury me in a big fucking box.
[quote]xneverbackdown wrote:
But really the worst that will happen is maybe a burst eye blood vessel or a bloody nose. and even those are still pretty rare unless you have super high blood pressure/are on steroids[/quote]
It’s not unheard of. It has happened to me just from straining very hard on a lift. I’m also a natural with good blood pressure.
[quote]xneverbackdown wrote:
[quote]T3hPwnisher wrote:
Not sure if it’s safe, but it helps me lift more weight, which is my goal.[/quote]
Rather be dead than weak.[/quote]
Considering the reference to Jon Paul Sigmarsson, this isn’t a joke. But if you mean it, go for it.
simply, if youre going to lift (which i presume you are as you are here in the first place), its safer to use VM than not
thanks for the feedback guys!
The book “Starting Strength” has a very logical explanation as to why it is not only safe but unsafe not to use the VM.
“Is it safe to deadlift 600lbs?”
Powerlifting itself isn’t even safe. Humans as a race aren’t meant to consistently get under huge loads and perform bends, squats, and press patterns with it.
Now bodybuilding…that’s safe! Lets all build some muscle, shall we?
Compared to football or MMA, and especially soccer, powerlifting is pretty damned safe. I think the main reason is because the lifter has so much more control of what’s going on during training and competition.
I don’t think there’s a more intense sport for how relatively safe it is.
i think the thing is that you work up to it extremely forcefully. your body gets used to doing it safely, weakly, and ineffectively with piddly little weights and then adapts to your being able to do it safely, forcefully, and effectively with massive weights.
whats that thing we do?
training.
not like a fat sedentary person needing to push start the car one day and busting something.
I always let a slow yell come out right around my sticking point. I feel stronger this way and it prevents my head from feeling like it’s going to pop.
In my opinion, once you get out of the hole on the squat and DL and past/around the “sticking point” the valsalva maneuver isn’t doing as much for the spine anyways. I think it helps the best in the bottom of the lifts. Just my experience…it might not be the same for everybody.
[quote]DSSG wrote:
[quote]xneverbackdown wrote:
But really the worst that will happen is maybe a burst eye blood vessel or a bloody nose. and even those are still pretty rare unless you have super high blood pressure/are on steroids[/quote]
It’s not unheard of. It has happened to me just from straining very hard on a lift. I’m also a natural with good blood pressure. [/quote]
Ditto. I’ve managed to do it a number of times, regularly but not often…sort of like sniffing ammonia for comps ;).
I don’t think you’re training hard enough without a few burst blood vessels. Best mark of a lifter ever.
I’m sort of joking. But really not joking either.
I’m an ophthalmologist (an Eye MD). I see and care for glaucoma pts on a daily basis. For the record, I do not worry about the transient increase in IOP caused by weightlifting, and don’t think anyone else should either (unless we’re speaking of an individual with advanced glaucoma).