Clarence Bass hip replacement

[Nick1974]

Did you know Clarence Bass had hip replacement surgery? Interesting quote here from his site:

Frankly, I don’t know why my hip went bad. No one can say with certainty. Many factors were probably involved. Fifty-five years of steady training may have simply taken a toll on my hip. An unusual curvature of the spine inherited from my mother may have helped the process along. Doing the split snatch, with my right leg extended far to the rear, in my early years of Olympic lifting and later when a shoulder problem prevented me from using the squat style, probably contributed as well. On the other hand, many athletes have their hip or knee replaced decades earlier. For example, a front-page story in The Wall Street Journal, from the Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, reported that 1996 U.S. figure skating champion Rudy Galindo had both hips replaced at age 33. It may be that my hip would've worn out earlier without training. Who knows?

It is interesting that despite his hip problems, he still argues the case for "training to get lean".

My training was clearly a benefit when I needed a hip replacement. Lean, active people are the best candidates for the anterior approach (all approaches actually). Overweight people and those with brittle bones are more problematic. The procedure is not appropriate for deformed hips or when repairing an existing replacement, according to Dr. Kreuzer.

Excess fat makes it more difficult for the surgeon to see the operative field

[Jarlo Ilano]

I like Mr. Bass. I've followed his writing for many years.

Hip replacement surgery for a man his age is very common. Especially in athletes. I treated a man who was ran Ironmans and marathons when he was younger. He was also a big guy, short and stout, over 200 pounds. He needed a hip replacement when he got older, but that was also due to his being a Navy Diver. Femoral head necrosis from diving is common.

It is interesting that despite his hip problems, he still argues the case for "training to get lean".

Well, CST training for Health First will lead to "getting lean"..... Are you implying that we shouldn't be training for decreasing excess body weight?

Coach Sonnon stated wonderfully that no stress is just as bad as too much stress. We need to go to the edge if we are to improve.

[Nick1974]

I certainly wasn't implying we shouldn't be training, I suppose I was implying that we shouldn't define health/fitness just by how lean we are. Mr Bass's training philosophy seemed to focus on methods that would deliver muscle and reduce fat, in the belief that high muscle and low fat means fit and healthy. I am suggesting that perhaps there is more to being fit and healthy than just being lean and muscular.

I would have thought that a health first longevity training mentality would not espouse squatting 300lbs - especially if one was predisposed to hip problems.

[KD Jones]

Um... having had some exchange with Nick, I'm thinking that he was referring to the type of training for which Mr. Bass is known for (at least superficially... my knowledge of him isn't deep)... namely heavy linear. And I know he's fronted a lot of other work, tabata protocol, rowing, and probably much else... but by my experience, he's most popularly known for heavy, linear, squats... that sort of thing.

Also, it's probably easy to confuse "training to get lean" with "training to look Hollywood," given the common mindset.

And though I have NOTHING but respect for someone who has maintained the breadth, depth and duration of discipline that Clarence Bass has done, and is clearly as intelligent as I would ever dream of being... still there's a very heavy cosmetic in his presentation of his work.

"Health first" isn't something we can expect of everyone, it will never be everyone's choice. But it's probably worth noting the direction in which a "system" or "practice" points in that regard - while remembering that such awareness can't ultimately be taken as diagnostic of the conditions of its practitioners... at least not in specific cases.

[Jarlo Ilano]

Well, I had asked the question of what the purpose of your post was because I saw nothing inherently wrong with the quotes of Mr. Bass that you put up.

He does speculate that his condition may have occurred from heavy Olympic split squatting. And his assertion that "lean, active individuals" would fare better than those who are not, is very true. The worse off you are before surgical intervention, the worse the prognosis for after the surgery.

Is Mr. Bass' overall training approach less than Health First? It's difficult to say. And I wouldn't presume to say it.

Personally, I felt the need to respond to your post because it appeared to advocate training at lower levels is needed to be Health First. I disagree with this. As I stated above, it can be just as bad to have not enough training stress as it is to have too much training stress.

I hate to belabor the point. But CST Hierarchy is clearly defined. Of course we are not training specifically for cosmesis. Yet, training correctly along with eating correctly (which should go hand in hand) will have the byproducts of more muscle and less fat.

You said that you are suggesting "there is more to being healthy and fit than just being lean and muscular." Of course. But being healthy and fit usually corresponds to being "lean and muscular". Not meaning we need to drop down to 5% bodyfat as Mr. Bass....

But training correctly and progressing requires training at a level that will eventually lead to decreased excess body fat and improved muscular development.

There are loads of people that have done that with CST. In a Health First manner.

But Health First does not mean that we do not "go to our edge" as Coach Sonnon has stated repeatedly. It is finding that balance in training that is key. And why I wish to emphasize that.

There is no reason why you cannot achieve a lean and muscular physique in the CST system. You just have to work hard and smart.

[Coach Wilson]

There is no reason why you cannot achieve a lean and muscular physique in the CST system. You just have to work hard and smart.
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So, so true!