San Diego, California: According to the Director of Strength and Conditioning, Director of Rehabilitation Services, and Medical Services Department/ Human Performance Program, much research has been conducted on Boat Team members identifying numerous causes facilitating not only connective tissue failure but chronic low back pain.
“This comprehensive evaluation is the first step in identifying structural weaknesses/deficits that must be addressed first and foremost within a properly designed strength and conditioning program. Learning proper mechanics of all structural resistance training exercises is paramount to strengthening the spine in addition to corrective exercises to decrease weaknesses found in the initial evaluation.
A section of the strength tests include testing the stabilization of the pelvis. These simple procedures include testing upper and lower abdominal firing patterns as well as strength/strength endurance. Currently we use Kendall’s use of manual testing; however, from past testing and usage of the AB-Inforcer with other athletes, the AB-Inforcer is much more “objective” in identifying strength deficits with its feedback mechanisms and electronic readouts. This objective feedback is imperative to identifying deficits as well as motor learning capacity for pelvic stabilization necessary during High-G Impact Forces sustained on the High-Speed Water Craft utilized in the Navy’s Special Operations (SWCC). Within the BUD/S community, high work loads and volume of work increases the risk of low back injury substantially.
We believe the AB-Inforcer is beneficial for use within the SWCC and BUD/S communities in promoting functional capacity of the pelvis while stabilizing the lumbar spine especially considering the nature of impact forces sustained during long mission objectives and high volume work loads.
Identifying these strength deficits, teaching proper motor skills along with using this data for properly designing a strength and conditioning program for all involved is imperative to decreasing the percentage of injury now observed in both communities.
We would appreciate any help in making the lives of these Warriors a little easier.” Tom Delong, MA, CSCS, Director of Navy Seals Strength and Conditioning, 2009
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| Preparing Navy Seals for the rigorous demands on their spine is critical for injury prevention and avoidance of repetitive micro-trauma while subject to high G-Forces in the boats. |
