I don’t think I’ve said this yet so here goes…

Happy July!

It’s summer.

At least I think it is.

You see, up here in the Pacific Northwest, summer comes slowly.

Verrrrrrrrrrry slowly.

Matter of fact, it takes it’s sweet time, much to my discontent.

Funny thing is, it rains on most holidays.

The only major, get-out-of-work holiday it may not rain on is Labor Day.

Then again…you never really know up here.

And, yes…it did rain and drizzle and require a jacket on the grand independence holiday.

If you read that post, you were able to glean from it the fact that I was writing to you from indoors because it was way too cold and rainy to be outdoors.

Even more so, if you read that post you would have realized each small choice you make, conscious or not, accumulates.  Those choices then elicit a reaction.  And each reaction gets you closer or further to something(s).

To understand this further, lets use an example.

So the title of this post is Knee Pain, Arthritis and Dead Lifts.

You may wonder how each of things are related.

Here is a very simplistic relationship from one to the other:

Arthritis=Knee Pain

Dead Lifts=knee joint strength and stability

Knee joint strength and stability=fewer arthritis flare ups

Fewer arthritis flare ups=less knee pain

YAY!

Taking this discussion a bit deeper will give more evidence of the importance of dead lifts if you are an arthritis pain sufferer.  And not just an arthritis pain sufferer, but any kind of knee pain sufferer.

The fact that we sit on our butts so much everyday contributes to more weakness in the posterior chain.

What’s the posterior chain, you say…

Well, those are all the muscles you can’t see in the mirror.  Essentially, everything in the back of your body.

So our hamstrings, glutes, back and calves are really weak because of how much we sit.

Oh great!

Now what?

Dead lift.

The dead lift, as a single exercise will stimulate each of those muscle groups just mentioned above.  That one movement or exercise will strengthen your entire posterior chain when performed correctly with ideal posture.

Don’t know what ideal posture is?

Here’s where you learn ideal posture for the dead lift:

www.KneePainWorkout.com

Right on!

You’re set…well almost.

Problem #2 of sitting too much is that not only do the posterior chain muscles get weak, they also get tight.

Hey, lets have a contest.

Me and you…

K?

I’ll bend over and touch my toes first.

Now you do it.

What do ya mean you can’t touch your toes?

Oh, yeah…

That sitting too much thing again.

You know, I couldn’t touch my toes with a relatively straight leg for the longest time…but I can now.

Know what I did?

Figured it out so you don’t have to.

Here’s a free video with all the stretches that I did and still do that keep me touching my toes.

www.KneePainWorkout.com

And be sure to do all the stretching and muscle activation exercises in the video.  If you just pick and choose the ones you like, you’ll be missing out on some very critical movement patterns and muscle groups that surely need attention.

I’ll bet a box of donuts that the exercises you choose to eliminate if given the chance are the exercises and stretches that are the hardest or bring about the most discomfort.

Know what?

Those are the ones that need the most attention from you.

So do them regularly until you don’t mind doing them at all.

Do we have a deal?

Cool…

Wanna know another reason you should be doing dead lifts if you have symptomatic arthritis in your knee joints?

It’s because the dead lift exercise allows you to place adequate resistance to elicit a positive stimulus in just about every muscle group in your entire body…

without bending your knees!

Yay again!

If your arthritis is advanced enough to be regularly symptomatic, then constantly bending the knees can bring about more painful symptoms.

The dead lift is a hip dominant movement that doesn’t require bending the knees much at all.

Just be sure you never lock your knee joints.

Just isn’t worth the potential hazards to justify the insignificant rewards of another few degrees of movement.

So, what’s the moral of the story?

Better get ta dead liftin’, my friend.

If this will be your first attempt at the dead lift, are unsure of your form or just want a refresher course on how to perform the dead lift exercise…

Go here:

www.KneePainWorkout.com

The video is free and so is the call.

Just joking.

No call, just a free video for you.

OK, are we clear about the importance and significance of the dead lift if you have any kind of knee pain and especially arthritis?

Good.

If you have any questions…

And I mean any questions…

Ask them below in the comments section.

I shall respond.

Then, share with me your favorite dead lift story in the comments section below.

If you don’t have a favorite dead lift story, better get ta dead liftin’ so you have a few.

Talk to you in the comments section.

Until next time…

Get strong and stay strong,

Rochelle Gravance