I don't want to bash medical doctors. I think they do wonderful things and I guess it's my fault for seeking a surgeon's opinion before exhausting all other options. Trying on "other options", however can get pretty pricey and in my need-it-fixed-now mind, the "other options" would take weeks or months. I just keep thinking "I don't wanna waste all that time resting when I could be squatting and pressing and lifting!" Yes, I said SQUATTING! It's really a normal position of your body, contrary to popular belief. Try getting a job. I would bet you 100,000% they will make you watch a video about how to pick up things. And that video will tell you to bend at the knees with your back straight and push up through your heels. Huh, that's strange. That's what I do only with weight. It's like modern day medicine expects every single healthy or not individual to walk around in a stiff upright position, because after all, that's the only way to "save" your knees. HOGWASH! Try this. Sit on the floor. Now move to a standing position. What??? You had to bend your knees? Oh wait! And your butt was lower than parallel at one point? Shameful! How dare you squat! That is detrimental to your health. PUHLEASE!
We're all gonna get old, why not be strong when you're old? It is proven that people who remain active and exercise regularly live much healthier lives well into their later years. When coached and given good sound criticism during strenuous physical activity, there is no reason one should not be able to continue to use the full range of motion of every single joint in the body until the day they die unless something is impeding the movement. If something is impeding movement, find it and remove it to restore full range of motion.
My philosophy is disuse leads to dysfunction. Think about that statement. If I stop squatting, at some point I will no longer be able to squat efficiently. Have you ever seen an elderly person in a nursing home who is lying in a bed with knees and elbows flexed into somewhat of a fetal position. These contractures develop because the limbs are not used. In other words, the person is unable to flex and extend and the staff responsible for their care has not done their job by passively moving these joints which prevents contractures. DISUSE LEADS TO DYSFUNCTION! And that's all there is to it.
Oh and by the way, Dr. Hocker, my elbow is hurting like HELL! (He gave me a steroid shot to the lateral epicondylitis...that's long for tennis elbow and said stop squatting.)
