Sunday, August 15, 2010

Kinetic Chain Part 2: The Valsalva Maneuver - A Side Effect of Sitting on the Toilet

Creating inter-abdominal pressure is a key component of holding a rigid fixed position of the spine while lifting loads. The Valsalva maneuver is an essential breathing technique when lifting heavy. Here is a brief overview of what the Valsalva maneuver is:

The Valsalva Maneuver is any attempt to exhale with the mouth and nose closed. Named after the Italian physician and anatomist, Antonio Maria Valsalva (1666-1723), it is also known as Valsalva's Test and Valsalva's Method.

The maneuver is commonly used during some activities:

* Straining to have a bowel movement

* Blowing a stuffy nose

* Certain medical tests or exams

* As a pressure equalization technique by scuba divers, sky divers and airplane passengers

The effect is a drastic increase in the pressure within the thoracic cavity. The Valsalva maneuver is performed by forcible exhalation against a closed airway, usually done by closing one's mouth and pinching one's nose shut. A modified version is done by expiring against a closed glottis.



Soon we will have commemorative 365 days of squatting tee shirts with a tribute to the memory of Amanda Miller on them (courtesy of Again Faster). The shirts are pretty bad ass and the proceeds will go to the American Melanoma Foundation. A great way to show support and get involved on this. I'll keep you posted with the details as they come.


Day 70
315
405
455

10 rounds of 10 thruster(95)/ 10 ring pushups:
9:56

Day 71
Front Squat
315
405
455
475

Push Jerk
255
275
295
315
325
340

Day 72
315
405
455

weighted pullups
125
135
150
155
160
165

Day 73
315
405
455

Day 74
315
405
455

Rope climb x2
10 clap pushups
10 hang power cleans 155
10 wall ball
10 cal on row

20 min for rounds: 5 rounds

Day 75
315
405
455

Box jumps for height
36"
44"
52"
60"
64"

Read about Amanda at amandaredmiller.com

4 comments:

  1. 64" box jump.... wasnt there a video a little while ago on HQ that said the world record box jump was 54"??

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  2. No, not sure maybe amongst cross fitters. Check it out on YouTube there are a handful of guys in the 60's

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  3. Wow to the box jumps. Is there a method you use? One step, two step, no step?

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  4. There was a Crossfit coach on the Crossfit radio who just got into the Guiness Book with a purposely low box jump, just so that it could be broken. Guiness likes to see competition for the records.

    Ashtanga yoga practitioners use the Ujjayii breathing, with constricted glottis, to build body heat and stay focused and stable during the practice.
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ujjayi_breath

    ReplyDelete