I’m surprised at the MRI story. But I’m not surprised that a straight arm is easily pushed down compared to a slightly bent arm. I don’t think any recourse to muscle fiber recruitment is needed to explain it.
Since I’m not sure I understand exactly what happened based on your description, I’ll try some variations with a friend. Are you certain that the configuration of the bones was the same in both cases? This is really the most likely explanation.
Also, I can’t believe in anyone holding up 600lbs with anything but the shortest lever arm (roughtly: horizontal distance from the center of support (somewhere between your two feet) to their attachment point. Something has gotten lost in the retellings.
I hadn’t thought of this, but my experience with weights has definitely indicated that slight (and not obviously visible) differences in joint position make a big difference in strength.
I’ve always been fascinated by the fact that, individual bone/muscle length differences aside, there really are far superior techniques for kicking a ball, jumping, lifting a weight overhead, etc. to the ones that I’d improvise on my own.
Learning physical skills is very satisfying. I have no idea if it helps the brain handle more abstract learning, if it interferes, or if it has no effect outside of the obvious physical exercise.
I’m surprised at the MRI story. But I’m not surprised that a straight arm is easily pushed down compared to a slightly bent arm. I don’t think any recourse to muscle fiber recruitment is needed to explain it.
Since I’m not sure I understand exactly what happened based on your description, I’ll try some variations with a friend. Are you certain that the configuration of the bones was the same in both cases? This is really the most likely explanation.
Also, I can’t believe in anyone holding up 600lbs with anything but the shortest lever arm (roughtly: horizontal distance from the center of support (somewhere between your two feet) to their attachment point. Something has gotten lost in the retellings.
I hadn’t thought of this, but my experience with weights has definitely indicated that slight (and not obviously visible) differences in joint position make a big difference in strength.
I’ve always been fascinated by the fact that, individual bone/muscle length differences aside, there really are far superior techniques for kicking a ball, jumping, lifting a weight overhead, etc. to the ones that I’d improvise on my own.
Learning physical skills is very satisfying. I have no idea if it helps the brain handle more abstract learning, if it interferes, or if it has no effect outside of the obvious physical exercise.