Panther players going girlie

[Sackem90]

No, not really. But they are trying something new in the strength and conditioning department:

Panthers loosen up with pilates
March 10, 2005

By Brett Borden
Panthers.com

The next time you are at the health club and you see a sign for a pilates class, don't make the assumption that only soccer moms populate the classes. Because there are 12 professional football players who would like to set you straight.

Terry Shaw, whose brother John is president of the St. Louis Rams, teaches a pilates class once a week at Bank of America Stadium. It's a voluntary class for the players that Panthers strength and conditioning coach Jerry Simmons has incorporated into the team's offseason conditioning program. For one hour, in 80-90 degree temperatures, the players stretch and work their "core" muscles, meaning the back and stomach muscles that so many athletes take for granted.

"Pilates always focuses on the core, so we start with the core and work from there," said Shaw, who owns her own fitness studio in Fort Mill, SC. "The main goal is to stretch out the hamstrings and loosen up the hip area. To stretch the hamstrings, we work a lot with a flexibility band and with lengthening exercises to get the belly of the muscle. The flexibility band also helps in rotation of the hips."

Defensive end Al Wallace is one of the players who attends the classes. He says he is getting results.

"This is the first year I've tried it," he said. "After three or four weeks, I've noticed a difference just in my flexibility and the way my body feels as far as my hips. Even getting on the treadmill to run now, I feel a lot looser in that area.

"I had a couple of problems with my back last year, and I can tell already that my back and my abs are stronger, so that's a plus for me."

Getting athletes such as Wallace, Brentson Buckner, and Colin Branch to try a form of exercise mostly associated with clubs like the YMCA or privately owned clubs like Shaw's might sound like a tough sell. But Wallace says the players see the benefits of the program and are sold completely on it.

"It helps with your core group of muscles, making sure your back and stomach are strong since that is the power point of your body," said Wallace. "As big athletes, with burly muscles, you want to get your hips open. It's crucial for football. I think that flexibility and added core strength is going to help us a lot."

 

[magnus]

Interesting.

I know I was always in favor of them taking martial arts classes, which the 9ers and some of the other west coast teams did at the time. But anything to increase flexibility can't hurt.

 

[Boo]

doing that shit is how barry sanders never blew out his knees.

 

[Rob]

Ought to help in the injury department. Its interesting that football players would try this. Pilates was developed as strength training for classical dancers. They have to be pretty strong to lift partners overhead. Flexibility is never a bad thing.

 

[magnus]

Ought to help in the injury department. Its interesting that football players would try this. Pilates was developed as strength training for classical dancers. They have to be pretty strong to lift partners overhead. Flexibility is never a bad thing.

Stiff players are more likely to be hurt, yes. Looking at some of our over-stuffed players in the past, Jason Peter played too heavy so he could play a 3-4 DE, and he had nerve damage. Matt Campbell never should've been 300, and he was always hurt. Bruce Nelson's had more injuries than snaps from scrimmage it seems.

Overall I'd have to assume it applies to baseball, too - players who suddenly gain tons of muscle mass to hit harder don't, players who are flexible have that ability.

 

[Reznor]

Overall I'd have to assume it applies to baseball, too - players who suddenly gain tons of muscle mass to hit harder don't, players who are flexible have that ability.

Vlad!

 

[Thelt]

Martial arts is to a large degree about how your body interact with another person's body and the various angles and limitations involved. I think that mental aspect of it would be helpful to football players. Of course the flexibility helps too.