Damaged wrists and effective weight training self spoting systems

[Carl123]

I have two very damaged wrists that have curtailed my ability to handle heavy weights, especially dumbells. I have been reviewing potential self spoting weight training systems that will enable me to continue to workout without overstressing my wrists. Some of the candidates include a system called Prospot, an electronic system that suspends the weight bar with wires from the top of this machine and automatically releases the barbell or dumbells in your hands when you are ready to lift with the same feel as a free weight. For whatever reason or point in the lift you need to let go of the bar it will automatically remain suspended by the attached wires. This is not a Smith Machine which does not come close to the natural feel of this device.

http://www.prospotfitness.com/pages/videos.html#anchor

http://www.prospotfitness.com/pages/p400.html

http://www.prospotfitness.com/pages/p500.html

I have reviewed other systems such as lever assisted weight machines but feel that this will not take any stress off of my wrists. On the other hand the simple power hooks that allow you to suspend a pair of dumbells from a barbell on a rack may be of some value.

I would appreciate any feedback you guys may have regarding the above or any other suggestions. Thanks, Carl

[dbx]

I'm sorry to hear that, Carl. Have you been to see a doctor?

[Carl123]

Originally Posted by dbx

I'm sorry to hear that, Carl. Have you been to see a doctor?

Thanks for the support dbx.

Yes, I have seen six (will explain shortly) orthopedic hand surgeons and was told that I have torn ligaments in the scapholunate joint, carpal instability and severe osteoarthritis in both hands due to very heavy lifting over a period of 35 years as well as from martial arts. The reason for six surgeons was due to three of them advising immediate surgery, a proximal row carpectomy, a significant reconstruction procedure of my wrists, while the other three advised against ANY surgical procedure due to an unpredictable outcome due to my age as well as their perception that I may not need such a radical surgery at this time.

Obviously I am disappointed by this setback. However, after experiencing four other serious orthopedic surgeries for my shoulders and knees as well as having degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis that is causing me a severe sciatica as I am writing this post, I have learned to circumvent these physical limitations and to persist training heavy (I was lifting a pair of 100 pound dumbells prior to my recent wrist injuries). I will do the same again with my current injury although it appears that my excape routes may be hindered by the fact that the wrist joint is so complex and may degenerate further if I continue to lift heavy.

One of the surgeons I spoke with made an interesting point that the torque from lifting free weights will hasten the deterioration of my wrists whereby using a machine such as Bowflex would not create this torque. Unfortunately I would go nuts on a Bowflex and am addicted to training with free weights. Carl

[justtryn]

Carl,

You might look into the maintenance on those things... I'm assuming you are looking for something for your home gym? While traveling one time, the hotel I stayed at gave you a free pass to the gym that was next door. They had some sort of machine that from your description, sound like like the same thing.

I'd never seen one... It looked like a Smith, but had the electronic system, wires, etc in the top of the unit. I asked the owner about it and he said he was thinking about getting rid of it as he was having continual problems with the electronics, as well as the guide wire getting "stuck" up in the aparatus. I'm not sure what he was referring to, exactly, as it wasn't a machine I was really interested in using anyway, lol.

So - for what it's worth... sometimes the bells and whistles become a major pain in the as$ when it comes to maintenance.

If you have room, and for that matter the money, why not looking into Hammer Strength units?

[lukamar]

I have a buddy that has just added proSpot to his product line, but I have not seen it myself. He said the system is very good but takes some getting used to. You have to release the grip to stop movement and that's counter to what you do normally do when the bar is free falling at you.

[Carl123]

Originally Posted by justtryn

Carl,

You might look into the maintenance on those things... I'm assuming you are looking for something for your home gym? While traveling one time, the hotel I stayed at gave you a free pass to the gym that was next door. They had some sort of machine that from your description, sound like like the same thing.

I'd never seen one... It looked like a Smith, but had the electronic system, wires, etc in the top of the unit. I asked the owner about it and he said he was thinking about getting rid of it as he was having continual problems with the electronics, as well as the guide wire getting "stuck" up in the aparatus. I'm not sure what he was referring to, exactly, as it wasn't a machine I was really interested in using anyway, lol.

So - for what it's worth... sometimes the bells and whistles become a major pain in the as$ when it comes to maintenance.

If you have room, and for that matter the money, why not looking into Hammer Strength units?

Thanks for the info Mark. Unfortunately the Hammer Strength Units do not have the same potential benefit of the Prospot that allows the user to cease a lift at any point they are experiencing pain/discomfort. Carl

[Carl123]

Originally Posted by lukamar

I have a buddy that has just added proSpot to his product line, but I have not seen it myself. He said the system is very good but takes some getting used to. You have to release the grip to stop movement and that's counter to what you do normally do when the bar is free falling at you.

Yes it does take time to get accustomed to because as you note its "counter" to what a lifter would ordinarily do when the barbell is "free falling".