I’ve had ongoing elbow, shoulder, hip and back issues over the last several years that have flared up multiple times as a result of old injuries, yardwork and repetitive job duties. After extensive reading and taking the Conjugate Westside Barbell certification course, I was able to understand the impact and importance of using Oscillating Kinetic Energy (OKE) in my workout routines once-a-week to rehab the major joints of my upper/lower regions.
About a year ago, I purchased the Earthquake bar by BandBell ($289) out of Columbus, Ohio. This handmade bar is fashioned out of hardened ash and a durable composite resin. It weighs approximately 5-1/2 pounds, is 80 inches long and can handle weights in excess of 300 pounds. What started out in 2006 as a collaborative effort between Lou Simmons (Westside Barbell) and Jim Seitzer (CEO, BandBell), has evolved through five prototypes to become the incredibly strong and kinetic dynamo it is today. The Earthquake Bar allows you to suspend weights or kettle bells from specialized latex bands that continually move and oscillate while doing any exercise movement.
There are three key functions that the Earthquake Bar will perform for you and your joints. First is the continuous oscillation or movement which allows for perfect balance through stabilizer activation around the joints. The shoulder, hip or back when you perform the movement the joints are all activated. This activation requires focus and complete control through the movement. This activation or recruitment of all muscle groups using accessory muscles to help stabilize the joint.
Second, the Earthquake Bar increases Motor Control and Neuromuscular Innervation. This excited me as a Chiropractor not only because it allows the nervous system to continually adapt and learn better control of the joints and surrounding soft tissues (muscle, ligaments, tendons, cartilage). This adaption process helps create improved range of motion, increased joint stability and overall kinetic function. Motion is energy which is HEALTH.
The third is maximum recovery thru increased blood flow to muscles, joints and ligaments by maximizing healing and muscle growth. This increase blood flow is because it allows for recruitment of all of these necessary soft tissues, joint regions and movement efficiency in the joint regions. This Bar has been a life saver to me as a physician because my joints don’t ache and no longer suffer from continuous stiffness. The Earthquake Bar is not only good for injury prevention, strength training and post injury/surgery rehab, but I feel it will also help bulletproof your joints not only by building strength, balance and overall flexibility like no other piece equipment that I have purchased. I also feel that it is the number one choice/essential equipment for anyone someone recovering from an injury, a young athlete trying to improve his/her skills or just someone of my age (53 years young) trying to keep himself healthy and functioning in my daily active lifestyle world.