The Prowler

I WANT ONE!!

Good stuff Alan!

I know exactly what you mean, Jordan! It had exactly that effect on me, too! It's time for some improvisation. I have a steep drive up to my house, about 70 meters long. I am even thinking of loading my wheelbarrow with logs and pushing that up & down! Who needs aerobics with stuff like that? Mmmm . . . . .  aren't I supposed to be at the age where I am getting out the old pipe and slippers?

Anyway, if you search on his name on YouTube it will come up with several videos on exercise performance. Amongst those videos is a group training session on this " thing ", taken outdoors. Must be source of great fun as well as a useful power aid . . . .oh, and pain, of course! Something for Sean to develop further, perhaps?

Sled training is freaky. I've nagged Joe to get us one actually. Far better when you are harnessed into the sled though. What scares me about this thing: The biomechanics. Look at the position his shoulders are in as he pushes. My supraspinatus ruptured just watching that! ;)

We are talking maximal effort with all the force going through your shoulder while its in a very bad position. You can safely push a sled...but if that guy wants to use that thing safely, he needs some metal tubing, a reciprocating saw and an arc welder. LOL

I dont know Sean...he isnt extending the shoulder joint at all, he is simply gripping the handles and letting it all rest against his body for the most part.  If there was any shoulder extension in there I would be cringing right there with you man.

I think that sometimes we get so locked into certain "safe" movements as bodybuilders in the gym that we loose the ability to actually be functional.  Dont mis-read that, I am NOT advocating unsafe practices in the gym, just functionality.

But hey, if you really feel that way I suggest you draft an email to every Pro Lineman in the NFL and save their Rotator.  I am sure they will be nothing but gracious.

Im still getting one of these!!

I seriously like this.  I've mentioned many times that a career highlight of mine was spending a day training with some pro strongmen - one who went on to win the world title.  Freaky.  We didn't have this, but pulling a tire by chain, walking backward (quads/calves) and by dragging with chain (hams/glutes)....and I mean one, grinding step at a time....is similar.  Just can't get that kind of work done in a gym. 

Sigh....okay, I'm asking our property manager if I can store some stuff out back.  Going shopping.....

Loving this thread. Good stuff here guys!

Shoulder extension is fine...to a degree. ;)

Think of a heavy barbell bench press. Where do most of the nasty injuries happen there? At the bottom of the range of motion, when that anterior shoulder capsule is opened up and compromised. Watch the video and when that guy is about half way through one of those pushing runs, note his arm and shoulder position...it's nearly the same as a heavy barbell would be with the exception of the fact that his hands are partially supinated.

Now if the sled has 100 pounds in it and we are talking a fraction of maximal effort, he could likely do that and get away with it for years. Same reason we can bench press and stay injury free most of the time....simply put, its submaximal effort. But as you push the limits on any exercise, you are upping the risk. It's calculated risk, but its still there. I think everybody who has posted on this thread has battled some nasty supraspinatus issues and we all know that once you hurt that, it will never be the same again. So my cautionary approach here is to hopefully keep us healthy and keep those reading who have not yet hurt their shoulder to approach certain motions very very carefully. NFL lineman and other athletes get hurt all the time in training and in games because they force their bodies into positions that are just not biomechanically sound. That is why the teams don't just have a doctor, but a full sports medicine team including an ortho, a PT, strength and conditioning coach and an AT. They treat those guys like throughbreds. LOL.

Now to your point about bodybuilders not performing functional movements: could not agree more. Its not a sport that rewards functional motion. So most of us (me included) don't train like that. However you and I both know there is a lot of value with integrating some functional motion in any kind of training....bodybuilding included.

Joe...let me know what the landlord says. If I show up Monday and find a sled, a couple of huge tires and some rusty iron sitting where I normally park, I will assume the conversation went well.

JC: I am with you though...I want a sled too. Joe...don't make me beg. I'm not above it.

To those that are interested, the " Prowler " can be found at : -

www.elitefts.com

Yep, it's that norwegian Eirik Sandvik again. I found this quite impressive . . . . . . .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpF77UH7gjI

LOL I have the prowler --- a pretty red one! Got it for my birthday almost one year ago.  This is unlike me -- I've barely used it!! Intimidated, confused, not sure how to fit into my already crowded training/cardio schedule.  Seems harder when your in contest prep too -- SO much energy required to do that kind of cardio!!

I couild use some ideas (i don't have a harness for my prowler should i get one?).  I was actually considering selling it  if I don't start putting it  to good use!!

Although I am the one that raised this thread, I have never actually used one and am therefore not qualified to comment.

What intrigued me was . . . . " What have you got for my Birthday this year, honey ? . . . .  the latest IPAD 2 or maybe the Iphone 4 . . . ah, what's this . ..  a Prowler you say . . . . do I like it ? . . . erm, well . . what is it actually for and what does it do . . . is it a car ramp? I jest and apologize, but it did paint some kind of picture for me. A bit like Bob Newhart and the " tobacco sketch ".

Meanwhile, I think that you are possibly right in assuming that using this item would be tough going if you were in the latest stages of contest prep. Fitting this item into a day per week under normal circumstances should be OK, though. One day per week, I do some tyre flipping, hill sprints and shuttles but have found the following day needs to be very easy for recovery purposes. Unlike Sean, I see nothing wrong in the majority of training being at a sub maximal effort. This by the way, does not mean easy. Anything performed at maximum effort ALL the time, will not only become less than enjoyable for the long haul, but will end up with some sort of injury.

Meanwhile, I would love to experiment with one and can only hope that my wife has some vision for my next Birthday!

I have to say, to the post previous to yours, Alan, that I understand it not being something easy to use often.  It's easier to be in the gym doing "normal," linear exercises.  Functional training, event training (strongman), takes more time, the oddity of equipment use, more total energy, often being outside, etc.  But, once you get a taste of the pure, whole-body output, it can keep you coming back.

Be a good boy and maybe Santa will bring you one if you get something less.....useful for your birthday, Alan : )