07-31-20 02:19 AM - Post#900886    

Hi all, a bit of a long shot but I wondered if there was anyone out there with any ideas regarding how I could get my Mrs squatting.

She has cervical dystonia which is a neurological condition that affects the nerve in her right arm. Unlike most of us, her muscle fibres develop differently throughout her neck, traps, delts and arms.

She used to be a competitive javelin thrower and dancer and at 47 she wants desperately to find something to enjoy and gain strength and fitness.

We used to dance competitively but stopped a few years ago. I’d promised her we could start again but then coronavirus hit and our dance school and the competition circuit closed down.

She has tried coming to the gym with me and absolutely loves it, especially the deadlift, but sadly it seems to aggravate her condition after a few weeks due to neck and trap and arm involvement. Back squats and front squats the same.

She’s tried yoga, but that seems to do the same. Medical advice is quite vague so it’s hard for her to know what to do other than running.

I’ve found a few examples of front squat / zercher squat harnesses online that hook over the shoulders and seemingly free the wrist and forearm of stress. Has anyone got any experience of these things?

Any ideas for squatting movements or machines that could allow her to squat without massive neck and trap involvement?

Any ideas in general?

'You can throw in the towel or use it to wipe the sweat off your face and keep going' 'Well ain't this place a geographical oddity? Two weeks from everywhere.' Ulysses Everett McGill

Edited by Volumiza on 07-31-20 02:30 AM. Reason for edit: No reason given.

Training with Dystonia
07-31-20 05:30 AM - Post#900892    

How about hip belt squats? Close to zero upper body involvement and it's still a powerful exercise.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LW5cgxxHSAc

"I think we often spend too much time focusing on max fitness and not nearly enough on maintaining our minimums. It seems we need to think sustainable rather than obtainable. Meaning whatever we do today, we can do it again tomorrow. Never taking so much from ourselves that we can't." Dan Martin

Edited by iPood on 07-31-20 05:30 AM. Reason for edit: No reason given.

Re: Training with Dystonia
07-31-20 05:37 AM - Post#900893    

• iPood Said:

Ha, amazing, that’s why I asked on here. I have both a hip belt and a landmine and had not thought of this. Thanks.

'You can throw in the towel or use it to wipe the sweat off your face and keep going' 'Well ain't this place a geographical oddity? Two weeks from everywhere.' Ulysses Everett McGill

Edited by Volumiza on 07-31-20 05:37 AM. Reason for edit: No reason given.

Training with Dystonia
07-31-20 09:59 AM - Post#900903    

The front squat/zercher harness has allowed me to work around similar issues, Spencer, and I think it would work well for your lady, too. Ditto safety squat bar, leg press machine, and seated/lying squat machines.

Be strong. Be in shape. Be a man among men, regardless of your age or circumstances.

Edited by AAnnunz on 07-31-20 10:01 AM. Reason for edit: No reason given.

07-31-20 10:09 AM - Post#900905    

Pulling a weight sled? No spinal compression awesome strength builder. Make sure the pull is a power walk, heel first long stride, the sled jerks with every step. I also skip,lunge, and do side steps, walk backwards, and a bunch of other stuff. I'm 63 and the sled is doing wonders for me. Also, it is very safe way to build strength. Monday heavy, Wednesday medium weight, and Fri light weight. Thus, I mix up volume and speed throughout the week.

07-31-20 10:47 AM - Post#900912    

Goblet Squats...it's the movement, not the load.

Mark it Zero.

Re: Training with Dystonia
08-01-20 01:39 AM - Post#900937    

• AAnnunz Said:

Cheers Al. I’ve ordered her a Baraban Front Squat and Zercher harness. It looks like it might help. Let’s hope. It’s really hard to see her feeling so constrained by this condition, loving lifting but unable to do it.

I would love a Leg Press machine but sadly my gym is full already, I’d have to sacrifice either my double cable machine or leg curl and leg extension machines.

'You can throw in the towel or use it to wipe the sweat off your face and keep going' 'Well ain't this place a geographical oddity? Two weeks from everywhere.' Ulysses Everett McGill

08-01-20 01:41 AM - Post#900938    

• jamej Said:

Yeah, I do have a weight sled that I use (should be using haha) on the grass next to our drive. She has tried it but is too self conscious to use it :)

'You can throw in the towel or use it to wipe the sweat off your face and keep going' 'Well ain't this place a geographical oddity? Two weeks from everywhere.' Ulysses Everett McGill

08-01-20 01:44 AM - Post#900939    

• DanMartin Said:

Thanks Dan, however it is the gripping of the kettlebell itself that is the problem for her, she cannot maintain a strong grip on things, it sends her hand and forearm into spasm. She’s tried it with dumbells too but again, holding it is the problem.

'You can throw in the towel or use it to wipe the sweat off your face and keep going' 'Well ain't this place a geographical oddity? Two weeks from everywhere.' Ulysses Everett McGill

08-01-20 07:41 AM - Post#900944    

I think the hip belt squat or sissy squat holding a plate against her chest. Might be the best options...or just a simple BW squat

08-01-20 10:18 AM - Post#900947    

• Volumiza Said:

That is a challenge.

Mark it Zero.

Training with Dystonia
08-01-20 11:02 AM - Post#900948    

I don’t know if this helps but I’ve done Goblet Squats with a dumbbell so it rests on the lower part of your hands. No grip, one end of the inside of the dumbbell rests on your hands.

If that doesn’t work, maybe squats or Rear Foot Elevated Split Squats with a weighted vest. I’ve got a decent vest that goes up to 20kg, it’s been very useful adding more resistance to these type of squats.

My workout log

08-01-20 06:21 PM - Post#900955    

How is she with pushing movements? (like pressups).

Can she swim? Front crawl sprints certainly work some things, without needing grip.

08-01-20 08:24 PM - Post#900957    

• Old Miler Said:

50-meter repeats on the minute, easy strength deadlifts and military press.

If I were smarter, that's all I'd ever do.

08-02-20 10:56 PM - Post#900976    

Cervical dystonia is pretty rare, and what you describe with the arm symptoms does not fit the classical definition. There are other much-more-common (treatable) conditions that could mimic cervical dystonia or what you describe.

When you say "aggravate her condition", what do you mean? Increased pain, or increase in intensity and frequency of involuntary muscle contractions, or what?

What tests has she had to receive this diagnosis?

08-03-20 01:59 AM - Post#900979    

• Spiller Said:

She’s been under neurological consultation for over 5 years now. It is a fairly rare condition you’re correct but it has been diagnosed.

When I say aggravated I mean the frequency and intensity of the muscular contractions or involuntary twitches. Her symptoms usually manifest in her right wrist and hand. She has particular difficulty holding and controlling pens.

We’ve found that anything where she has to grip tightly or press has, over time, seemed to make things worse.

'You can throw in the towel or use it to wipe the sweat off your face and keep going' 'Well ain't this place a geographical oddity? Two weeks from everywhere.' Ulysses Everett McGill

Training with Dystonia
08-03-20 02:02 AM - Post#900980    

• Old Miler Said:

Yes, she is a good swimmer, unfortunately we live some distance from our closest pool (which is closed anyway) so swimming isn’t something we can do easily.

It is weights and lifting she has enjoyed though so we trying to find a way of allowing her to strengthen without making her condition worse.

Pushing movement is tricky. We don’t know 100% what to do for the best. Her consultation has advised against any training which actively builds muscle in her neck, traps, triceps and forearms but I read conflicting opinions on the internet.

We are going for a second opinion soon, paying for it privately.

'You can throw in the towel or use it to wipe the sweat off your face and keep going' 'Well ain't this place a geographical oddity? Two weeks from everywhere.' Ulysses Everett McGill

Edited by Volumiza on 08-03-20 02:04 AM. Reason for edit: No reason given.

Re: Training with Dystonia
08-03-20 08:07 AM - Post#900984    

It would be great if you had a chance to test the safety squat bar AAnnunz mentioned before purchasing one yourself.

The design of the bar allows the lifter to keep his/her arms and shoulders down, so there's less tension in that area compared to a regular bar (if that's what causing trouble).

Also, if necessary, you could lower the load and do higher reps or some forward and/or backward lunges with the SSB.

If you need a hard leg workout without any additional weight, try a couple of rounds of Scott Abel's "Quad Blast".

"My grandma Olga, a famous Finnish Powerlifter, once told me, 'Little one, take care of your gastrointestinal tract and it'll take care of you.' Then she struck me with some salted herring." - TC Luoma

08-03-20 09:35 AM - Post#900986    

Trap-bar deadlifts with straps? That could approximate a squat if manageable.

Re: Training with Dystonia
08-03-20 10:07 AM - Post#900987    

• The Finn Said:

I've already ordered her one of these ...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Robert-Baraban-Zercher -Harness-Training/dp/B07X DCK9FQ

Seems like a decent idea, front squats are fantastic and if this will allow her to keep her wrists straight and only use her hands and amrs for a little stability it could be a win / win.

'You can throw in the towel or use it to wipe the sweat off your face and keep going' 'Well ain't this place a geographical oddity? Two weeks from everywhere.' Ulysses Everett McGill

08-03-20 10:10 AM - Post#900988    

• JDII Said:

Yeah, I have a sissy squat frame and a weighted vest, this was about my best idea JD. Great minds :)

She does some BW squats but she has really taken to weights and progressive loads. My kind of girl.

'You can throw in the towel or use it to wipe the sweat off your face and keep going' 'Well ain't this place a geographical oddity? Two weeks from everywhere.' Ulysses Everett McGill

08-03-20 10:43 PM - Post#901010    

• Volumiza Said:

Just because it has been diagnosed, doesn't mean that it's correct. Doctors misdiagnose things all the time.

Personally, I would be more interested in treating the condition as best as possible, instead of working around it.

Good luck

08-04-20 01:20 AM - Post#901011    

• Spiller Said:

No I understand that but a few years ago she started getting strange sensations in her neck and right trap area and felt her head was rocking about a bit, I could never notice it but she said it was happening. She went for testing and was put through a whole host of physical tests and scans as they initially suspected early onset Parkinson’s disease and eventually after a good few months they diagnosed Dystonia.

She has put a lot of effort into postural training and her neck has been largely fine but the wrist and hand are
Very weak, she cannot squeeze or control anything for a long time with her right hand.

She is being given Botox treatment in the next 3 months.

We have to work around it to a degree, it’s not safe her holding weights if she can’t control them.

'You can throw in the towel or use it to wipe the sweat off your face and keep going' 'Well ain't this place a geographical oddity? Two weeks from everywhere.' Ulysses Everett McGill