Dr Mel Siff Blog

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<This morning I was testing on the 13″ box squat. As I came off the box
about an inch or so? I felt what I believe to be my adductor tear, very
painfull. I dropped the bar on the pins and hit the floor. I thought I might
have to cut the suit off but got it off without ruining it. I had not yet
reached my top set and it did not feel too heavy. I noticed no lapse in
form. It just went. I got a prescription for a muscle relaxer and am taking
Ibupropfen until I can get to the doctor. Also using Ice packs 20 minutes on
and 20 minutes off. So far I do not see any bleeding, bulges or gaps, very
tender to the touch. Have any of you experienced this injury and what might
be ahead. I have not had this particular injury before.>

*** Many years ago, while I was jerking 325lb overhead, my front foot
slipped on baby powder left by a preceding 90kg division lifter on the
platform and I landed in a full ballet splits position. This was one of the
most painful experiences of my life and my adductor magnus was severely
ruptured, as indicated by massive bleeding and bruising that became visible
soon afterwards in all of the area from my groin down the inside of my left
leg and into the hamstring area. I could not adduct my left leg and I
couldn’t do any exercises which involved movement of my left leg for months
afterwards.

Nevertheless, several months later, without surgery, I managed to compete by
using power cleans and push presses (130kg) and power snatches (100kg)
without any sideways movement of my legs – I still don’t know how that was
possible, but you know what one becomes like when the urge to lift overcomes
one’s intelligence! I eventually returned to normal functioning within about
10 months. Since you can still voluntarily move your leg inwards and have no
extensive bleeding into the tissues, it is unlikely that you have
experienced a serious rupture, so you will probably be able to return to
action quite easily.

You may even have experienced a severe spasm, which would be even better news
for you – your medical specialist will have to determine if that is your
problem. Just avoid any loaded or rapid movement for a while, but move
gently over as full a pain-free range as is possible. Continue using ice,
but beware of rubbing DMSO on the inside of your leg, because that area is
easily irritated. Don’t massage the area and don’t use any “hot”
embrocations. You could try large doses of MSM. Vitamin C also plays a role
in connective tissue repair. Remember the old adage: “More haste, less
speed” – don’t try to train with heavier weights too soon, because this
muscle can be very easily reinjured. If you display some intelligent
patience, you will probably return quite happily to where you were before.

Remember, too, that wider powerlifting or sumo squats place great demands on
the leg adductors, so that it would be advisable to use much narrower squats
when you return to leg training. Since adductor magnus also serves as a sort
of adjunct hamstring, be cautious of executing movements which flex the knee
or extend the hip. Whatever you do, simply explore every type of leg
movement in all directions with no added loading and at slow speed before you
even consider adding any weights.

Dr Mel Siff
Denver, USA
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Supertraining/

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Tags: adductor longus, Adductor Magnus, Ballet, Dr Mel Siff, Exercises, Facts And Fallacies Of Fitness, Groin, injury, Mel Siff, Muscle Relaxer, Pins, Snatches, Super Training, Supertraining, Tissues