Inner Selfie (XRay) The Peril of Not Having a Spotter
Here's a different kind of selfie.
Not having a spotter when going heavy:
I started a forum topic earlier in the week about an injury I sustained from doing heavy inclined bench press in which I failed on rep 5. I always at least tap my chest with the bar but in this case it came down under control after failed rep and sat on me for a minute or two until someone without headphones on came over and helped me rack it. The weight of it stretched my shit out enough to slide the end of my clavicle up and out of alignment with the acromion process.
This is the XRay of my separated AC joint.
If you know where to look you can see that where the distal end of the clavicle meets the acromion process the clavicle is offset upward by about 1/2".
Its sore and all that but it's getting better. I did mass sets of declined bench press today with no problem. Inclined is still out of the question for awhile...
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Guys this was not caused by clamps. The weight would've come down without them. Then I'd still have been sitting there with it on my chest until someone came, or I could manage to tip 275 lbs to one side while pushing it up on the other far enough to dump the weights. That isn't as simple as you make it sound. It's actualy one helluva an injurious struggle of its own, especially when one has hit true muscle failure.
Being new to eroids and in the interest of open mindedness and remaining teachable, I took in the comments, which I appreciate. Rather than refute them reflexively, I let them sink in over night. I just joined eroids last month, but I joined my first gym in the late 70's. I AM learning stuff here, but I also have my own long experience with training for strength and building and I will continue to use clamps, but with a spotter.
Thanks!
It sucks you had to learn this rough lesson. There really should be a sign on the benches in bold letters "NO CLAMPS"!!
i would stay away from barbell presses completely bro. the more i read up on it they're just not all that safe. i tore my pec a while back flat benching and will never do that shit ever again. dumbbells is where its at.
Thanks bro! Good input!
AnonOuch!! This happened to me before at least a handful of times and like NWA said I never use clamps either Just for this scenario and I can dump the weights to the side.
Hahahaha when I was younger 18-19 I got in over My head and didn't think to lean to the side so I rolled in down my chest and stock and let it rest on my lap. Sat there for 5 minutes until someone came close enough for me to whisper for help:( fuck that shit hurt
Lol!
When I was 20 years old I worked out alone in my condo with the wife at work at night and the baby asleep. I'd get stuck and roll it down my abdomen till I could sit up and dump it. I got bruises on my pelvis/hip bones!
It's sa trip guys, I know what you're saying about clamps, but I've has problems without them too. If they slide too far and fast the other side whips up and I got injured that way too. Best is to simy have someone at the ready if I'm going inclined at 275 like this time. But you know how it is: the previous set was easy, so... Duh!
I haven't done flat bench in decades from shoulder problems it gave me long ago. Back then we couldn't read up so easily and watch YouTube so I did not know about keeping shoulders packed down and back and I just pushed hard all the time. Lots of behind the neck presses fucked me up too. Since I CAN still do inclined barbell, I work it petty hard--upper pec development is a big deal to me anyway.
I need to get comfortable with dumb bells again but they scare me a bit too. One getting away from me in my left hand could be a career stopper.
All great input from you guys--I appreciate it.
The truth is for me that, after so many years.l in the gym, and life in general, I hardly learn anything new anymore, I just re-learn stuff that I forgot. It's humbling!
(That doesn't apply to gear. I'm learning new stuff fast here!)
Nothing gives me the blues like being injured and not being able to lift. I rarely do any barbell presses, but when I do, I NEVER use clamps. I'd rather look like an idiot dumping the plates than have to look at an x-ray.
Right on and WELL SAID!