Last week I was pontificating about trying new things and maintaining a youthful attitude and being as old as you think you are. You might know that I would have to eat my words as soon as they were out of my mouth (or on the page). Back on 10/14 I pulled a quadriceps muscle doing squats. This was the week after I had done the heaviest set of squats of my life (a contest-legal-depth set of three reps @ 275 lb), and this week something in my brain said to back off, even though I had set my mind to going for 4 or 5 reps with the same weight on my way to the gym. So I did a set of 6 reps with 225 lb, after which I decided, instead of adding more weight, to try for 8 reps with the same weight. On rep 4 my right thigh gave up. It felt like someone hit me with a hammer, and I knew I was not going to do squats for some time.

I used all the tricks I know to heal rapidly; applied ice on and off for a day as soon as I got home, followed by frequent use of Traumeel, plenty of protein and rest, avoided any stress whatever and applied heat several times a day while healing. The recovery process went well with stretching to recover flexibility first, followed by slowly building up the stress levels with movements other than squats. After five weeks I had no hint of ever being injured. Until yesterday!

I have been ramping up on inclined leg presses, and last week did 6-plates per side for 6 reps on my last set. Yesterday on my last set I repeated that, but on rep 7 the same spot pulled again. Boy, the expletives were screaming around my in head, and I may have mouthed a few curses – talk about feeling betrayed! Now I have to start again, and get it to heal fully. There is one healing strategy I did not take advantage of last time. Any injury forms scar tissue, and scar tissue is never as strong, and usually has more pain sensors to warn you of stress near failure and remind you that you are less than 100% fixed. There are products available that provide proteolytic and fibrolytic enzyme complexes. Two that I can think of are Wobenzyme and Vitalzyme, and you can find others (search the internet, of course). Taken on an empty stomach between meals and at bedtime, these work their way to any injury or scar tissue and renovate the structure, removing scar tissue and restoring flexibility and full integrity. I will add that approach and give it more time, and give it another go. So much for surrendering the things of youth, without a fight! I’ll keep you posted.

Good Living – Frank