Ben Johnson and Lordosis

Hey Mr. Francis, I recently read somewhere that you said that Ben Johnson had “classic sprinter lordosis”. What did you do to fix this and did you see lower times after fixing it?

It is classic for sprinters- so there’s nothing to fix. just need to work on flexibility

Was it common for his hips to therefore need more therapy, otherwise his hips would cramp or such and running be affected?

lordosis? lol

what about it?

what does it mean

Charlie,

What do you attribute Ben’s
break at the waist just after block clearance to?

How about looking it up…here’s a great site for you to do this:

www.google.com

It’s a state of mind where all you do is praise the lord. It usually follows what those in the know call ‘being in the zone’ and can often be experienced (or so I am told) when crossing the line first in a 100-meter dash.

why fix the car when its winning everything…
only when u lose, then fix… ciao

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lordosis

Thanks wikipedia :smiley:

Michael Johnson had some nice lordosis going on there too. I don’t know if he even tried to fix it. Haha.

But seriously, the correct positions for squatting and deadlifting promote lordosis of the spine I reckon. You’ve gotta stick your butt out and what happens to your back? It bends. Especially if you’re a lanky prick, like me. Hehe.

I read elsewhere, that posterior pelvic tilt was better for spinters.
But lordosis promotes anterior pelvic tilt (like what i have.)

So which posture is better for sprinting?

anterior for accelerating, posterior for top speed.

So which would be better for a fast 100m sprint?

there’s no “better tilt.” When you accelerate you are going to be in anterior tilt, when you reach top speed you are generally going to be in posterior tilt.

Lordosis is actually a BAD thing. Lordosis most often is NOT genetic but its something you acquire later in life. Its really a symptom. Your PSIS is higher than your ASIS, higher than normal that is. The increase in the lumbosacral angle (lordosis), always happens when the innominates bones rotate anteriorly on the sacrum with a subluxation on the S3 segment, and the line of gravity shifts anteriorly to the acetabula. Now this can lead to A LOT of problems for track athletes. The sacrotuberus ligament can loosen, and because the long head of the b.fermoris originates from that ligament is very susceptible to strains/tears. It can tear for a lot of reasons, one of them is because it will try to stabilize your pelvis (disturbed force closure of the si joint). It will certainly lead to muscle inhibitions.
Inhibited peroneus longus (resulting in functional hallux limitus), maybe TVA and pelvic floor muscles, and gluteus medius.
It may also change your gait pattern. The anterior tilt interferes with the hip flexors , so the patient will compensate by externally rotating the hips and bring the legs forward with the thigh adductors. It can also lead to disc degeneration among other things.

Sprinters LOOK like they have lordosis, but thats not the case. They just have HUGE HIP EXTENSORS, required for powerful locomotion.

I recently went to my team doctor and asked him about some pain that i was having. He ultimately diagnosed me with sacroilitis (spelling). I now have been going to therapy for about two weeks receiving stem, ultra sound, and another medical treatment to try to heal it before the state meet. I can run on it, but i can’t get to full speed. And then my team trainer told me that i should try to improve my pelvic posture. (I don’t know the correct terminology but i stick my but out when i run and she told that i need to have better hip tuck.) Can someone help me with my problem? And tell me this is not the start of lordosis!!!

Everyone’s spine naturally has some lordosis.

Excessive lordosis can cause problems. Google Mike Robertson “Hips don’t lie.”

okay well i forgot to tell that i hurt it working hurdles…i snapped my lead leg down really hard and the doctor said that i stretched the ligaments and muscle