I appreciate what you’ve stated Sharmer and we are much closer in views than we are distant.
I think this discussion would be much more productive, however, if everyone involved had actual experience with using the device AND were to view someone using with with efficient mechanics.
Again, it is unwise to consider the video posted as any sort of model for analysis or discussion nor one to draw meaningful conclusions from.
If one was to consider the video as a meaningful information gathering tool one might just as easily make efforts to disuade anyone from weightlifting if their only model of viewing the lifts was observing the following:
I was referring to AT problems with this exercise. With 60 and 80 sprints, the ankle joint flexes and extends. The contraction work in unison with the body. In the case of the prowler, loading targets the AT because the foot fails to undergo natural dorsi-flexion.
Most training activities have do entail some risk of injury. However there are some activities that have higher risk than others. The prowler places additional mechanical loading on the AT. This increases the risk of injury, especially in comparison to other training activities.
“I don’t like the idea of using it for speed development, but how is it anymore dangerous than speed work (top speed and hills) or plyos for the achilles”? Enough said
My training journal is posted on the other thread, feel free to browse through it.
I 've seen athletes do similar movement using hurdles. They would push the hurdle up the track. Subsequently on of these athletes snapped their AT later that season doing a slow run through.
to be fair, he is talking strictly about the risks to your achillies, while you want to broaden the point of discussion so that you can “win”. The main difference between risking your body doing speed work, olympic lifts, squats ect ect ect, is that they have alot higher reward to risk ratio, and can also be monitored more closely than this whole pushing a sled with partial recovery at the end of your workout when you’re fatigued and while leaving your good mechanics at home as the Defrancos crew seem to be apt to do.
Additionally there are numerous similar devices used in Rugby. Numerous Rugby player have had going AT problems thought out the season when using this equipment.
Keep up us to date with the progress. You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink. You may have to learn through your own experience.
I don’t think I ever advocated use for a track athlete. I am saying that you are not anymore likely to blow up using this device versus sprinting top speed on a mondo track or doing hill sprints like a lot of people here.
edit: looking at the device, it seems hardly any more pushable, or not pushable than a hurdle.
