the anabolic solution for powerlifters pdf

During competition, the lifter has to assume an erect, motionless posture with the knees fully extended and the torso in an upright position before receiving the SQUAT signal from the referee to initiate the descent and then return to an upright position. Thereafter, the lifter returns to an upright position by extending the same joints. During training, the lifter then lowers the body by flexing at the hip, knee and ankle joints until the hip crease is lower than the top of the knee. The squat exercise is performed with the barbell held horizontally across the back of the shoulders, and the lifter removes the barbell from the powerlifting rack and steps backwards. However, little is known about the relationship between the powerlifting exercises and injuries among these populations. 9 The squat, bench press and deadlift are also used by athletes in other sports and among recreational athletes when aiming to increase their strength, muscle mass and performance. In this regard, a recent systematic review found the squat, bench press and deadlift are some of the exercises most associated with injury among powerlifters, weightlifters, bodybuilders, CrossFit athletes and strongman athletes. 6 8 It is, however, still unknown whether the injuries occur due to any of the specific demands that the squat, bench press or deadlift exercises place on the musculoskeletal system. Furthermore, it has been described that injuries are of both acute and overload character, but overuse injuries are more frequent. Generally, training for powerlifting is very repetitive as the three lifts, or variations of them, make up most of the exercises.Įarlier studies that have reported injury incidence and prevalence among powerlifters, 3–8 as well as questionnaire studies, 6 8 have shown that many injuries are training related: subelite to elite lifters report that 22%–32% of their injuries are related to the squat, 18%–46% to the bench press and 12%–31% to the deadlift exercise. 2 During training, lifters use submaximal loads but engage in higher volumes of training to stimulate hypertrophy and maximal strength. 1 The powerlifters (hereafter called lifters) compete in classes separated by age, weight and sex. In competition, maximal loads corresponding to up to four times bodyweight are lifted for single repetitions. Powerlifting is a sport consisting of the squat, the bench press and the deadlift exercises. Participation rates in powerlifting are generally rising among both men and women and across all ages, levels of training and/or competition.

The anabolic solution for powerlifters pdf