However I have just come across a marginally informative article by EC from a while ago called Smart from the Start.
It implies that if you are starting from ground zero that rather than lifting heavy imediately that you;
a. start with uni-lateral movement (split stuff, lunges, one limb). to build up motor patterns, ie assume by that he means getting the body to lift correctly :S.
b. do external core training to make sure it is strong enough to take large loads
c.do some bodyweight exercises, which will help develop connective tissue.
d.avoid low reps, the main crux, is that
"…beginners should be encouraged to train at eight reps and above as a means of improving connective tissue strength to prepare the joints for subsequent high force (e.g. heavy lifting)… These “traditional hypertrophy” loading parameters will still allow for increases in maximal strength via neural improvements, but without the potential tissue problems that arise when you expose unprepared tendons and ligaments to heavy loading.
Following 6-8 weeks of introductory loading in the 8-15 rep range, novice trainees can begin to look to heavier loading as long as technique is on the money."
This article was found here
I think EC is right. The only reason I am finding SS relatively simple to execute is that when I started rowing I was put, although wrongly, on to a 4x6 split using maybe 80% of my max. Whereas a SS program uses 90% of your assumed dynamic max, ie the program assumes that your is constantly changing linearly.
I think that a compromise is that since SS operates a warm up schedule of 2x5,1x5,1x3,1x2 then 3x5 that I will just have do reps on 1x2 of 3x6-8 till a point is reached where she is ready to go heavy, ie good mobility and core.
I am waiting on a response from the figureathlete forum about bouncing straight into SS.