Comments on Science of Running: SEARCHING FOR STABILITY: The efficacy of unstable ...

interesting post. i just read your article on the ...

2011-07-08T10:28:46.059-05:00

interesting post. i just read your article on the myths of running, almost all of which i had come across in some shape or form and happened to agree with, but i had been under the impression that UST was beneficial. if i have understood you correctly, you are saying that doing squats, for example, on an unstable surface while recruiting more muscles does not get close enough to RM for it to cause an adaptation. however - and i think you address this to some extent with your comments on surfing - surely there is some benefit to activating the stabilizing muscles in the lower leg and foot for running? you could say that trail running is a more effective way of doing this, but it is harder to control and you run the risk of injury if you are starting out with weak or atrophied muscles. i just use these balance boards for that - to improve my balance.

I definitely understand the importance of debunkin...

2011-02-27T08:31:46.141-06:00

I definitely understand the importance of debunking some of the myths of using stability balls, especially since most of them are driven by commerce more than fact.

Having said that I have used stability balls in my personal training and also with clients for 12 years. I would say from my experience the most useful part of the stability ball is how it can help facilitate movements that could not be performed as easily with other props or equipment. Prone Pike lifts, for example, are easy to set up for myself and clients and is one of my favorite exercises. Squats against the wall using the ball to lean against, allow people new to exercise, a way to feel how extended the spine needs to be. There are many more examples of exercises, but mostly I wanted to state that it may not be the best for all the claims stated in your paper, but there are other useful ways to use the ball during exercise

Hi, I've read your blog previously (love it) ...

2011-01-03T19:04:21.238-06:00

Hi,

I've read your blog previously (love it) but never noticed this post. I am happy to see that you have cited some of my research papers (Lehman GJ) David Behm (Behm DG) has recently published a few reviews and recommendations that you would find interesting. David's work is top notch in this area. He consistently beat me to publishing something and did it better).

I you would like to read my blog or link to it please see it at thebodymechanic.ca

Thanks for your work, I really appreciate the topics you cover.

Best of luck with your research.

Greg

It doesn't look like this paper ever got publ...

2010-10-18T17:49:26.128-05:00

It doesn't look like this paper ever got published?

Are we training the brain or muscles? Sometimes we...

2010-07-25T18:27:46.108-05:00

Are we training the brain or muscles? Sometimes we want to train the nervous system. The force output argument changes when the athlete is stable and skilled at UST. Using non-UST developed athletes in research would likely spoil the data. No serious athlete would scrap heavy weights to do UST. Variety is important.

I don't practice training on unstable surfaces...

2010-07-01T13:43:54.448-05:00

I don't practice training on unstable surfaces, but wouldn't co-contraction of the synergists involved in running be a good thing? (Lower extremity abductors and adductors?)Have you addressed stability training in a frontal plane only? Also, inability of the quadriceps and hamstrings to co-contract upon ground contact is beginning to be thought of as a major cause for ACL injuries in soccer and other "cut and change direction" athletes. Would instability training be beneficial for these athletes? Cross country courses also offer unstable surfaces to run on...Of course, I can also see from your resources that doing a one legged squat on solid ground would probably activate synergists more than UST...and running on grass should be the perferred regimen vs. UST if concerned about the instability factor. Practice where you compete? I love reading this stuff.

Interesting stuff - it's amazing how easy it i...

2010-06-15T19:00:54.314-05:00

Interesting stuff - it's amazing how easy it is to believe what you hear from the so called "experts" when you don't know the relevant scientific literature. Unfortunately, science is all too often ignored when people are trying to sell you something, and marketing can be far more persuasive than a scientific journal article.

Pete