Author Topic: THE THORN IN THE SIDE OF USA WEIGHTLIFTING (Read 5233 times)

joedelago · « **Reply #24 on:** Apr 02, 2006, 06:02 PM »

Chris-

It is a pleasure to discuss issues without rancor; for that I thank you.

Again, I concur with you that we seem to be subject to inordinate scrutiny by the AAP, but I doubt that we will be able to change their position with respect to our sport without proof of safety via research they consider conclusive. [Note that the AAP has altered their position statement over time as research they consider valid has come to the fore. There was a time, not that distant ago, when their position opposed weight training in any form.]

With respect to the Hamill study, my problems are several. To recap that study, injury assessments were provided for several sports by surveys of teachers observing students "during school activity" (quote extracted from Hamill's questionnaire, see Hamill, BP: Relative Safety of Weightlifting and Weight Training. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 1994:8.), and compared by the author.

I will hit the major issues I have with the study.

First, this is not a comprehensive compilation of all injuries...it is limited to what the teachers involved were informed about and remembered.

Second, with all due respect, teachers are not highly qualified to assess injuries.

Third, it is possible that the teachers involved in weightlifting may have been observing training, as opposed to competition, whereas those observing other sports may have seen competition to a greater extent. That issue was not addressed in the study.

Third, the injuries with which I am familiar, and those the AAP fears, include injuries caused by conditions precipitated by weightlifting, as opposed to those incurred during the practice of weightlifting itself. If so, the Hamill study would not have identified them.

The realistic bottom line to this study is that an academy of physicians is unlikely to be convinced by research relying upon the assessment and recollection of injuries by untrained third parties.

I wish we could all get together and do this right.

Joe

Chris Ⓐ LeRoux · « **Reply #25 on:** Apr 03, 2006, 04:53 PM »

Joe,

I have also enjoyed this dialogue and thank you for taking the time and effort. I appreciate the statement that the AAP has changed their position as more evidence has developed in contradiction to it. I think this will be helpful in writing a rebuttal- to chart their errors along the way and obvious bias (of protecting their butt above all).

I do agree with your statements about the Hamill study, but, in my eyes, these are merely limitations to the study- not fatal flaws. I also feel any new study on the issue will also have limitations. But, I agree, if we had a true community-team effort, we could do better. I still doubt it would be "conclusive", although it sure couldn't hurt.

I must digress for a second to put my next comment in question. When the swim coaches at my school showed up with the AAP article, I handed them my huge stack of research on the matter thinking education could help alleviate the conflict. At the time, I didn't realize I had already lost the conflict before the meeting ever occurred. But, my copies of the literature I loaned them were never returned (this is the second time the swim coach had not returned articles to me despite promises). So, I am not positive of my next statement as I am also very busy, poor, and my NSCA membership is expired at the moment. But, I thought Dr. Stone did a study examining injury rates at weightlifting competitions. My point is only that all the different articles on the subject each stack up to a mountain of evidence demonstrating weightlifting is as safe as any other sport for adolescents, in my opinion, even if each one of them falls short of perfection.

Again, thank you. This is most helpful and interesting.

joedelago · « **Reply #26 on:** Apr 03, 2006, 05:39 PM »

Chris- Please note that in my responses, I am trying to approximate the AAP's position on things. I don't necessarily share it.

Having said that, here goes. If I recall it correctly, Dr. Stone's paper on injuries suffered during competition contained no control group. Although the injury rate observed was very low, I think that the AAP's assessment of it would be that the absence of a control group renders the study inadequate for drawing medical conclusions about safety.

Medical research is funny. If you read their journals (a real snoozer), you'll find that some of them seem to dedicate their careers to studying things with no obvious relevance (the old publish or perish routine?). BUT...they apply an extreme set of constraints around the protocol employed in conducting the research. So, even though they study things that nobody cares about, they require that the studies be done in such a way as to produce unassailable conclusions...even though most of them will never be referenced.

There is a point to all of this...it is that people outside the realm of the medical gang don't always exercise the same extremism when conducting studies. I guess it all reverts back to the possibility that people could die if medical research conclusions are off-base, whereas the consequence of faulty research related to exercise is that someone might miss his third snatch in the East Coast Classic.

Until someone does a study using the extreme protocols, however, the stuffed shirts at the AAP won't listen. Unfortunate, but the way it works.

Joe

Chris Ⓐ LeRoux · « **Reply #27 on:** Apr 03, 2006, 06:21 PM »

Joe,

Yes. I see your point. Writing a rebuttal amounts to tilting at a windmill. Even if its not published or anyone cares, I might do it, just for me. At least I will post it here, if I can complete something worthy.

Thanks a lot. I appreciate the insight.

joedelago · « **Reply #28 on:** Apr 03, 2006, 06:57 PM »

Chris- Any thoughts on how we might motivate the human assets we have to launch and conduct a study acceptable to the AAP? Cindy can't be the only pediatrician involved in weightlifting...and is certainly not the only physician or researcher. Perhaps if we can form a group of credentialed professionals dedicated to making this happen, and enlist USAW to actively promote participation in it (even require it of schoolage lifters?), we can make progress.

Not that I don't have enough to do already, but I will help try to make that happen, if others are up for it.

Joe

Chris Ⓐ LeRoux · « **Reply #29 on:** Apr 03, 2006, 07:03 PM »

Joe,

Sure, I have an idea. Let's design our own study, right here on this forum (not that email or phone might not also be useful). With our combined effort within the community, I believe we could execute any reasonable plan we can design.

I'm willing.

joedelago · « **Reply #30 on:** Apr 03, 2006, 07:11 PM »

C- sounds like a great plan, and constructive use of time for forum readers. What's the first step? Joe

Chris Ⓐ LeRoux · « **Reply #31 on:** Apr 03, 2006, 07:18 PM »

Joe,

That's very exciting. I think the first steps are to develop a mission statement and recruit other like-minded and experienced researchers to contribute to the project, and coaches of course. But, there is no reason we can't brainstorm on design at any point as far as I can see. It sounds fun.