Beyond-Brawn-2nd-Edition

November 1993
HOW A TRAINING NIGHTMARE WAS SILENCED
18.29 In the first week of November 1993 I started to use trigger point therapy
daily on most of my troublesome areas. Toe, knees and shoulders were easy
to treat, but I could not get into therapy for my lower back until December
when I got the right tool.
18.30 Improvement in my right toe was almost immediate—in the first few days.
By now it was close to two years since I injured it playing soccer. And I fixed
it with a few applications of a single toe trigger point exercise that I held for about
ten seconds at a shot. Incredible, but true. Now you can start to see why I am
raving over this therapy.
18.31 ere was substantial shoulder improvement after a few weeks, and noticeable
improvement over a mere few days; but my knees needed a few weeks
before there was clear improvement. After less than a month of trigger point
work lasting about 20 minutes each day I had made far more toe, knee and
shoulder improvement than in the previous sixteen months. While that
might not be a “miracle” in someone else’s book, it is in mine. Much improvement
was still needed.
18.32 From the start of the squatting with a bare Olympic bar in August 1993,
adding 5 pounds a week, I persisted through the ups and downs of soreness
and discomfort. e new squatting style made a big difference, but my knees
remained very sensitive and bothersome. But with the trigger point therapy,
my knees picked up, and I could squat with much less inhibition and discomfort.
18.33 At the end of November 1993 I was squatting 135 pounds for 20 reps, and
experiencing less discomfort and reaction than I was with lighter weights
during the previous three months. Just a few weeks of trigger point therapy
made a noticeable difference. While 135 × 20 is very light squatting, if you
keep in mind that a year earlier I could not do a single freehand squat without
suffering considerable discomfort, then the 135 × 20 was terrific.
18.34 My shoulder was progressing well too. I had not been able to bench press
without discomfort, even with only 135 pounds, since late spring 1992. Now
I was able to bench press with much bigger poundages and without discomfort.
is was tremendous progress.
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