Odd Shin Scraping

"John Hanson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I switched to sumo deadlifts in the late Spring of 2003. After doing
so, I would always scrape my right shin if I were to scrape my shin at
all while deadlifting. Okay, no big deal. So now, in an effort to
keep my arms from putting pressure on my ribcage, I've switched to
conventional deadlifting ( and very mediocre weights at that). Anywho,
I'm ripping the [censored] out of my left shin now (actually "burning" my
left shin). What's up with that? Would the curve in my spine do
that? How about the way the tissue between my ribs is healing and me
not wanting to put more pressure on them?

I had the same issue and asked an old timer at the gym about it,

He said "stop hitting your shin".

No help, but I got a laff out of it. Eventually, as I strengthened,
I was less likely to scrape the flesh off my shin. I haven't had that
happen in quite some time now. I think that you'll get there too.

Wade

John Hanson said:

I switched to sumo deadlifts in the late Spring of 2003. After doing
so, I would always scrape my right shin if I were to scrape my shin at
all while deadlifting. Okay, no big deal. So now, in an effort to
keep my arms from putting pressure on my ribcage, I've switched to
conventional deadlifting ( and very mediocre weights at that). Anywho,
I'm ripping the [censored] out of my left shin now (actually "burning" my
left shin). What's up with that?

The bar should be rubbing on both shins. Not necessarily scrapping them.
Maybe your shoulders aren't square with your feet. Wear some knee
high socks to prevent scrapes and work on it.

On Fri, 23 Dec 2005 10:03:17 -0600, Jeff Finlayson
<[email hidden]> wrote in misc.fitness.weights:

Quoted message said:

John Hanson said:

I switched to sumo deadlifts in the late Spring of 2003. After doing
so, I would always scrape my right shin if I were to scrape my shin at
all while deadlifting. Okay, no big deal. So now, in an effort to
keep my arms from putting pressure on my ribcage, I've switched to
conventional deadlifting ( and very mediocre weights at that). Anywho,
I'm ripping the [censored] out of my left shin now (actually "burning" my
left shin). What's up with that?

The bar should be rubbing on both shins. Not necessarily scrapping them.
Maybe your shoulders aren't square with your feet. Wear some knee
high socks to prevent scrapes and work on it.

Normally I do wear long socks but I didn't have them with that night.
What I found odd was how it switches between shins depending on the
type of deadlift I do. Also, I barely touch my right shin while doing
sumo. The knurling eventually scrapes it open by the time I'm done
with my sets. The scrape I got on my left shin is really a rub burn
from the smooth part of the bar.

I'll be deadlifting again tonight so I'll see what happens this time.
I'll be doing conventional deadlifts working up to somewhere between
365 and 405 depending on my ribs and shoulder. I'll have long socks
with me!

"John Hanson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I switched to sumo deadlifts in the late Spring of 2003. After doing
so, I would always scrape my right shin if I were to scrape my shin at
all while deadlifting. Okay, no big deal. So now, in an effort to
keep my arms from putting pressure on my ribcage, I've switched to
conventional deadlifting ( and very mediocre weights at that). Anywho,
I'm ripping the [censored] out of my left shin now (actually "burning" my
left shin). What's up with that? Would the curve in my spine do
that? How about the way the tissue between my ribs is healing and me
not wanting to put more pressure on them?

Have you tried thinking of shin position in your conventional DL's like
a box squat, i.e., shins vertical or even past vertical? It's tough to
do in terms of flexibility but even just thinking about it might help
your cause.

Another thing to do might be to see if rack pulls from mid-shin give you
the same problem - if they don't, then start with rack pulls and
gradually lower the start. (Unless your grip is weak, I don't think
there's a lot of point to rack pulls higher than mid-shin in terms of
carryover to full ROM.)

I always seem to have a nick or two in one shin or the other and accept
it as part of "the cost of doing business". You can't really DL
conventional without hitting your shins at least some of the time.

Just some semi-random thoughts for you, John. If any of them help or are
totally off the mark, let me know.

-S-
http://www.kbnj.com

On Fri, 23 Dec 2005 16:54:57 -0500, "Steve Freides"
<[email hidden]> wrote in misc.fitness.weights:

Quoted message said:

"John Hanson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I switched to sumo deadlifts in the late Spring of 2003. After doing
so, I would always scrape my right shin if I were to scrape my shin at
all while deadlifting. Okay, no big deal. So now, in an effort to
keep my arms from putting pressure on my ribcage, I've switched to
conventional deadlifting ( and very mediocre weights at that). Anywho,
I'm ripping the [censored] out of my left shin now (actually "burning" my
left shin). What's up with that? Would the curve in my spine do
that? How about the way the tissue between my ribs is healing and me
not wanting to put more pressure on them?

Have you tried thinking of shin position in your conventional DL's like
a box squat, i.e., shins vertical or even past vertical? It's tough to
do in terms of flexibility but even just thinking about it might help
your cause.

Another thing to do might be to see if rack pulls from mid-shin give you
the same problem - if they don't, then start with rack pulls and
gradually lower the start. (Unless your grip is weak, I don't think
there's a lot of point to rack pulls higher than mid-shin in terms of
carryover to full ROM.)

I always seem to have a nick or two in one shin or the other and accept
it as part of "the cost of doing business". You can't really DL
conventional without hitting your shins at least some of the time.

Just some semi-random thoughts for you, John. If any of them help or are
totally off the mark, let me know.

I just thought it was weird that the shin that gets rubbed changes
between sumo and conventional and was wondering if there was an answer
as to why. It's not a big deal but I find it very odd.

"John Hanson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Fri, 23 Dec 2005 16:54:57 -0500, "Steve Freides"
<[email hidden]> wrote in misc.fitness.weights:

Quoted message said:

"John Hanson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I switched to sumo deadlifts in the late Spring of 2003. After doing
so, I would always scrape my right shin if I were to scrape my shin
at
all while deadlifting. Okay, no big deal. So now, in an effort to
keep my arms from putting pressure on my ribcage, I've switched to
conventional deadlifting ( and very mediocre weights at that).
Anywho,
I'm ripping the [censored] out of my left shin now (actually "burning" my
left shin). What's up with that? Would the curve in my spine do
that? How about the way the tissue between my ribs is healing and
me
not wanting to put more pressure on them?

Have you tried thinking of shin position in your conventional DL's
like
a box squat, i.e., shins vertical or even past vertical? It's tough
to
do in terms of flexibility but even just thinking about it might help
your cause.

Another thing to do might be to see if rack pulls from mid-shin give
you
the same problem - if they don't, then start with rack pulls and
gradually lower the start. (Unless your grip is weak, I don't think
there's a lot of point to rack pulls higher than mid-shin in terms of
carryover to full ROM.)

I always seem to have a nick or two in one shin or the other and
accept
it as part of "the cost of doing business". You can't really DL
conventional without hitting your shins at least some of the time.

Just some semi-random thoughts for you, John. If any of them help or
are
totally off the mark, let me know.

I just thought it was weird that the shin that gets rubbed changes
between sumo and conventional and was wondering if there was an answer
as to why. It's not a big deal but I find it very odd.

They're really pretty different lifts. I know some people work them
both but I never work sumo as it does what I don't want and doesn't do
what I do want - totally different. Maybe not as different as squatting
and conventional DL'ing but along those lines, IMHO. Probably something
to do with an asymmetry somewhere - hips, maybe, how much hamstring
flexibility you've got in one side versus the other, etc.

All of which is my way of saying I haven't a clue but I don't find what
you're describing at all surprising.

-S-
http://www.kbnj.com

On Fri, 23 Dec 2005 23:19:36 -0500, "Steve Freides"
<[email hidden]> wrote in misc.fitness.weights:

Quoted message said:

"John Hanson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Fri, 23 Dec 2005 16:54:57 -0500, "Steve Freides"
<[email hidden]> wrote in misc.fitness.weights:

Quoted message said:

"John Hanson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
>I switched to sumo deadlifts in the late Spring of 2003. After doing
> so, I would always scrape my right shin if I were to scrape my shin
> at
> all while deadlifting. Okay, no big deal. So now, in an effort to
> keep my arms from putting pressure on my ribcage, I've switched to
> conventional deadlifting ( and very mediocre weights at that).
> Anywho,
> I'm ripping the [censored] out of my left shin now (actually "burning" my
> left shin). What's up with that? Would the curve in my spine do
> that? How about the way the tissue between my ribs is healing and
> me
> not wanting to put more pressure on them?

Have you tried thinking of shin position in your conventional DL's
like
a box squat, i.e., shins vertical or even past vertical? It's tough
to
do in terms of flexibility but even just thinking about it might help
your cause.

Another thing to do might be to see if rack pulls from mid-shin give
you
the same problem - if they don't, then start with rack pulls and
gradually lower the start. (Unless your grip is weak, I don't think
there's a lot of point to rack pulls higher than mid-shin in terms of
carryover to full ROM.)

I always seem to have a nick or two in one shin or the other and
accept
it as part of "the cost of doing business". You can't really DL
conventional without hitting your shins at least some of the time.

Just some semi-random thoughts for you, John. If any of them help or
are
totally off the mark, let me know.

I just thought it was weird that the shin that gets rubbed changes
between sumo and conventional and was wondering if there was an answer
as to why. It's not a big deal but I find it very odd.

They're really pretty different lifts. I know some people work them
both but I never work sumo as it does what I don't want and doesn't do
what I do want - totally different. Maybe not as different as squatting
and conventional DL'ing but along those lines, IMHO. Probably something
to do with an asymmetry somewhere - hips, maybe, how much hamstring
flexibility you've got in one side versus the other, etc.

All of which is my way of saying I haven't a clue but I don't find what
you're describing at all surprising.

I certainly find it surprising. I would think that one shin scraping
more than another would have more to do with the mixed grip one uses
in the deadlift.

Having said that, tonight, I ripped the scab on my left shin on the
triple I did at 315. I was also using the Ivanko bar which has
knurling at that spot which the old York doesn't. The old York is the
bar I was using last week when I was deadlifting. The smooth part was
rubbing on my left shin and caused a rub burn. Anywho, I paid close
attention to my right shin and it was getting hit about the same
amount but there was no scab to tear open so there was no bloodletting
with that one (I did have the long socks on too). Even the single I
did at 405 nicked both shins equally.

So, in conclusion, I believe it was the bum left shoulder that was
causing the left shin to rub last week. Tonight, I didn't even feel
it while deadlifting and was probably in a more normal deadlifting
position throughout the lift.