[log in to unmask] writes:
<< Like Henry, having studied with Gwen Jull, Julie Hides and Paul Hodges
(here in the UK) - they would decry any attempt to re-train TVA or MTF in
isolation. There goal is to incorporate conscious activation of these muscles
into functional activities as soon as possible. They even have a 'hierarchy'
of functional activities to work through from static functional activities
like sitting to moving activities like walking to highly skilled activities
such as sports-related movement - all functional. >>
*** The continued implication is that many people (yes, some articles even
claim that the vast majority of people, including top athletes, have
defectively functioning TVA or MTF) do not display an involuntary ability to
activate or timeously use these muscles.
As I asked in an earlier letter, does this mean that even the extremely
demanding conditions of competitive weightlifting and powerlifting (as well,
as track and field, wrestling and many other very forceful sports) simply are
unable to produce involuntary, adequately efficient action of TVA and MTF?
Are we to assume that the execution of a heavy squat, clean, snatch, pole
vault, wrestling throw, overhead jerk and similar movements will not activate
TVA and MTF as effectively as the current rather static and low-force
conditions recommended by various therapists? If so, I would be most
interested to see the scientific evidence that shows this. For example, even
the forceful expulsion or forceful holding of breath has been shown by
Basmajian to strongly activate TVA ("Muscles Alive"), and those actions are
common in all of the activities that I have mentioned.
Further to this, is there any evidence to show that the progressive, graded
use of weightlifting and powerlifting derived exercises does not produce
involuntarily the same or greater degree of dynamic TVA and MTF efficiency as
the current regimes of voluntary TVA and MTF exercises combined with more
therapeutic exercise activities? Note, before someone responds by decrying
the use of competitive lifting exercises, I am NOT stating that one has to
learn or use every competitive lift, but to progressively and sensibly use a
variety of the many hundreds of movement variations that may be derived from
the basic weightlifting and powerlifting movements.
However, I am suggesting that future findings may well show that anyone who
regularly trains with weightlifting and powerlifting derived variations will
automatically acquire the ability to efficiently use TVA and MTF (even though
static clinical tests may suggest some 'deficiencies' under non-sporting
conditions). I eagerly await reading more research in this direction.
Dr Mel C Siff
Denver, USA
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Supertraining/
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