We have a pandemic that\u2019s been plaguing athletes for decades. No, it\u2019s not a virus. It\u2019s an issue that has been widely overlooked, and incomprehensive in the training of athletes for dynamic, explosive sports.<\/p>\n
This problem causes ruptured Achilles tendon, ACL tears, MCL tears, hamstring pulls, torn labrum in hips, and lower back issues particularly in the lumbar region L4 – L5.<\/p>\n
It’s the excessive training with no movement of the ankles such as squats to a bench or box, half or quarter squats, lunges or split squats where the knee does not travel forward past the toes and the hamstrings and gastrocnemius muscle do not touch.<\/p>\n
This type of movement\/training technique is essentially putting a cast around the ankle complex thus mummifying the ligaments, tendons, muscles, and fascia surrounding the ankle complex.<\/p>\n
The Achilles tendons is the strongest tendon or spring in the human body.<\/p>\n
This spring, which is crucial for explosive, dynamic reaction, absorbing, stretching, and releasing of strain energy is being tightened and dried up like an elastic band.<\/p>\n
It snaps when called upon to stretch explosively, quickly, and dynamically if the elastic band is not exposed to those loads for months and even years.<\/p>\n
For example, a 600 lbs squat down to a sitting bench looks impressive<\/a> and especially when done by well-known star athletes. The problem is Saquon and many others like him are cutting their career short and they don\u2019t even know it.<\/p>\n (via @saquon<\/a>) pic.twitter.com\/n82saxoEVb<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 New York Giants (@Giants) May 28, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n