The Oly Encyclopedia 12

Fallacy #6: Weightlifting muscles make you "musclebound."

The musclebound myth has probably survived long as it has for only one is perspect have never been willing to define clearly what the mean by the term. However, while musclebound Theorists hate to be pinned down in their definition, they would probably have to agree that wrapped up in the vague motion of "muscleboundedness" is the idea that those with large muscles are less flexible, slower moving and more poorly coordinated than the general population. In truth, none of these assumption is supported by the facts. Unfortunately for those who hate, envy or fear those with large muscles resistance trained muscles not only look better they also perform better than untrained ones.

The musclebound myth has been lasing ground on several bases. First, it has slowly been eroded by the millions of athletes worldwide who utiline weight training. They have gotten bigger, stronger and faster by training with weights. For example, most, if not all of the world's top sprinters and jumpers use weight training extensively, it does not seem to be slowing them up! Second, no loss of flexibility has been noted by those athletes who train properly with weights. Quite the contrary, many athletes have experienced improvements in their mobility through weight training. Scientific studies support this empirical finding in that they have generally found no decrease in flexibility as a result of weight training.

Finally, there is the issue of lack of coordination. Surely no one who has trained with weight has noted a diminution in their coordination associated with such training. In many cases, stronger muscles help one to perform a particular skill better because a certain level of strength may be needed in addition to skill. What then is the basis of the accusation that those with larger muscles are less coordinated? Perhaps it stems from the recognition that while a person who trains with weights will tend to have muscles that look athletic" .e, well developed, such persons are not necessarily able to apply their muscle capacity successfully toward a particular activity with any less practice than a person who has not trained with weights. Consequently, while people expect those with an athletic appearance to be more skilled at moving their muscles than people who do not have such an appearance, there is no reason to believe that weight trainers or other athletes are able to dance better or to hit a baseball more skillfully than the average person. Weight training develops skills in performing the weight training activities that the weight trainer practices and it develope muscles that are more fit to perform certain activities, but it does not develop (or hinder the development on the skills necessary to perform a particular activity (other than the aforementioned advantages that stronger muscles can make the performance oc certain skills an easier process.)

What about competetive weightlifters? Is the flexibility of weightlifters hindered by their intense training with weights? Astudy of olympic athletes done in the late 1970's found that weightlifters were second only to gymnasts in all around flexibility. In addition, weightlifters has been found to be among the very fastest athletes in the Olympic Games. Finally, with a respect to coordnation, you have only to observe the sport of weightlifting to realize that snatches and clean and jerks are among the most complex and exacting movements is sport. Weightlifting is hardly a refuge for the uncoordinated. Let us hope that the musclebound myth has finally been put to rest, especially as it pertains to competitive weightlifters.