Things that you would like to do but can't

[Conrad_K]

Pull-ups or chin-ups are harder than they look, particularly if you're not thin. And if you're over 40 you probably have some kind of rotator cuff problems even if you've been a couch potato all your life.

Even if you regularly lift weights or do yoga, the muscles used for pull-ups are different from what are ordinarily used for those, and therefore untrained and relatively weak. They're not a movement that anything else will cross over to.

Pull-ups used to be one of the basic weightlifting exercises, but as their customer population gets older, a lot of coaches and trainers are dropping pull-ups because their customers simply can't do them.

 

[ColinJ]

And if you're over 40 you probably have some kind of rotator cuff problems even if you've been a couch potato all your life.

I had problems with both shoulders years back. I should have taken proactive steps to speed up recovery, but didn't, so they ached for several years.

Now, my right shoulder has gone again. Fortunately, it isn't affecting my cycling but even just using the mouse with this computer is making the joint ache. This time I will try to sort it out!

 

[Conrad_K]

I went for rehab instead of surgery when I got bone spurs in the right shoulder. Bone spurs are fairly soft; if you work the joint (grind the tendons over the spurs) long enough, you can wear the bone spurs down. You have to stop before the tendons get inflamed, of course.

It took more than six months to reach a satisfactory condition - some popping, but no pain or restriction of motion - and then I stopped doing the exercises when winter hit, and I spent most of my time using the treadmill and rowing machine at the gym. When it warmed back up and I could lift at home again, I found my shoulder was almost as bad as it was to start with. Turns out the spurs can grow back if you don't keep up with the rehab exercises.

 

[slow horse]

Pilot an aeroplane.

 

[neilrichardson55]

Pull ups.
I used to be able to do 40 pull ups. I tried in the play park last week. I could not manage one.
I am 66 and can ride 200km days, no problem. Do we lose muscle strength as we get older?

its gets lost very quickly. but if you start to exercise life weights it comes back quickly im in my 40's and i lose muscles very quick 6 months makes a big difference with no work outs.

 

[ColinJ]

I am 66 and can ride 200km days, no problem. Do we lose muscle strength as we get older?

Clearly, we do tend to unless we take steps to avoid it.

Like you, I am well into my 60s, no problem doing decent distances on the bike (including hills).

My upper body strength is conspicuously absent these days though. I used to be able to do 25+ pull-ups These days I can't manage 1! I blamed my weight when I first noticed that but after losing 35+ kg I still can't do them!

When I last visited my sister in Devon she took delivery of building materials to be used on a new garden wall. I volunteered to carry them from the lane up 2 flights of steep steps into her terraced garden. 72 heavy concrete blocks later my upper body was knackered!

I am going to try to do enough upper body exercise to get the missing strength back.It would probably also help reduce the backache that I get on the bike.

 

[Moon bunny]

I climb a 4m long rope into a tree twice a day (when I am uninjured) which probably helped with my quick recovery from my recent accident, grip strength test:- 38kg at the start of physiotherapy, as against the burds’ average of somewhere in the 20s kg.

 

[Profpointy]

pull ups or chin ups ? big difference ,if you could do 40 pull ups i would be very impressed , heck 40 full chin ups is amazing too

What is the difference?

 

[Dogtrousers]

I climb a 4m long rope into a tree twice a day (when I am uninjured) which probably helped with my quick recovery from my recent accident, grip strength test:- 38kg at the start of physiotherapy, as against the burds’ average of somewhere in the 20s kg.

Do you live in a treehouse?

 

[Moon bunny]

Do you live in a treehouse?

Since I stopped boxing training I realised I was keeping my fitness and leg strength with cycling, but my upper body was going down hill, so we installed a climbing rope onto the sycamore in the garden and make good use of it, sometimes going even higher into the tree, 10m or so, where I find the peace and quiet incredibly relaxing.

 

[cyberknight]

What is the difference?

https://www.boostcamp.app/blogs/pull-ups-vs-chin-ups-what-is-the-best-upper-body-builder

 

[Profpointy]

https://www.boostcamp.app/blogs/pull-ups-vs-chin-ups-what-is-the-best-upper-body-builder

I see, it's simply which way round your hands are. For me more strength with palms facing away is more useful eg for climbing

 

[cyberknight]

I see, it's simply which way round your hands are. For me more strength with palms facing away is more useful eg for climbing

palms facing away tend to be harder as you get less bicep activation relying more on the lats etc .

 

[Profpointy]

palms facing away tend to be harder as you get less bicep activation relying more on the lats etc .

Indeed it is, but if you are caving or rock climbing you've no choice in the matter

 

[Cavalol]

Our lovely little dog seems to be near the end of his life. We don't think he's in physical pain, but if there was a way I could take his suffering by God I'd do it and I wish I could