FROM INJURY THAT OCCURRED WEDNESDAY. JAN. 21ST 2015

Each Wednesday morning my workout consists of variations of a Clean or a Snatch, plus Hamstring and direct abdominal work. I enjoy the Olympic lifts mainly because of how they get the metabolic rate going and for the simple enjoyment of the lifts. I am careful not to go heavy, keeping the intensity and volume low. At this point in my life I’m thinking I sure don’t need any injuries, being 59 I have to train smarter, not harder!

This particular morning I am scheduled to do a variation of the snatch (just a power snatch, 2 sets from the hang position and 2 sets from the floor, all sets x 4 reps). And get this with a total on the last 2 sets of only 64 pounds, again just to get my heart rate going! I did my movement prep of stretching both dynamic and static for both the upper and lower extremities, and then moved to the PVC pipe in which I did 4-5 reps of the hang snatch. After that I went to the women’s Olympic bar which is 30 pounds, then finally went over to the men’s Olympic bar which is 44 pounds and did the hang snatch from just below the knees with that.

As you can see I made sure my body was warm and ready to go before adding any weight. When I did put weight on the bar it was only one of the Olympic size 10 pound plate on each end of the bar. Everything felt good, then on the first rep of the last set, after clearing the knee on the way up (the second pull) I exploded up with the bar on my toes trying to get in the scare crow position—then it happened, my right knee exploded! I knew what I had done right when it happen, I had torn my right quadriceps tendon, almost a complete rupture, only a tread of tendon fiber holding it on to the patella or knee cap!

I couldn’t believe what I had done! With so much warm-up and light weight, plus it happened in extension, not at the bottom of a squat, which is knee flexion, but again, extension! The surgery was scheduled for the next day. Dr. Scott O’Neil is my orthopedic surgeon and a good one. A sports doctor with lots of knowledge and someone who has worked on many an athlete (or former one that is)! He said after seeing my MRI there looked like that quadriceps tendon had some calcium deposits built up on the tendon and that my friend can cause the tendon to be weak. Calcium deposits on the tendon are a sure sign of weakness to the tendon, and that particular weakness finally caught up with me. At some point the injury would have happened, it just picked this time to give way and breakdown! Thank God I wasn’t under a heavy Back Squat when it happened!

I will be keeping a Blog / Journal of my journey towards rehab and recovery in hopes maybe helping one or two individuals going down the same path. I’ll share with you my highs and lows, my rehab for that day, plus my supplementation and nutrition to add one more piece to the pie of full recovery.

Jeremy Phipps of OrthoCarolina will be doing my PT, a good friend and great Physical Therapist. I worked with Jeremy when I worked for OC 4 years ago. I will be with him twice a week, each Monday and Thursday at 11:30.

NUTRITION AND SUPPLEMENTATION AT THE START OF REHAB.

· Protein: around 170-180 grams each day in the form of food, shakes and protein bars that are low in sugar

· BCAA’S during my workout ad after / mixed with Creatine Monohydrate 5 grams Daily.

· Joint Formulas: CISSUS by Primaforce / Joint Support by NutaForce (I like because of the Type II Collagen it contains plus the Hyaluronic Acid

Jan. the 30th Friday: 1st appointment with Doctor. Fitted me with a Brace in full extension. Dr. O’Neil told me it was a very serious injury. The tendon when Ruptured pulled also pulled some of the bone of the patella along with it. Could be looking at a 8 month rehab until back to 100%.

Feb. 2nd Monday: First rehab Day!