Duck of Death
09-23-2005, 02:04 PM
......So I am in the gym the other day and one of my buds (real big guy - built like a powerlifter. Not sure about him juicing or not, we dont ask, dont tell) is on the flat bench doing bench presses.
I'm not paying too much attention because I'm doing shoulder and abs, but I do notice him working up to four plates a side. He does one set of five with the four plates, stops and goes for some water. Goes back and gets under it again. All of a sudden, I hear screaming and commotion from the bench area and I run over to see whats up. He is laying on the floor, clutching his left pec area. His spotter luckily got the bar racked so that wasnt an issue. He pulls up his shirt at our urging and sure enough, the bruising has already started and a huge bulge has appeared on his chest, signifying the rolled-up pec. We call 911 and he goes to the ER.
Bottom line: He tore the pec (Duh) and had to have surgery. He has two nice incisions and will be out of the gym for at least six months to a year. His heavy bench days are over, I fear.
All you bros who go crazy on the bench press, please take this to heart. The flat bench press forces the wrists into an unnatural position at the bottom of the lift and shoulder and pec injuries are very common. This is the third one I have personally witnessed.
I'm not paying too much attention because I'm doing shoulder and abs, but I do notice him working up to four plates a side. He does one set of five with the four plates, stops and goes for some water. Goes back and gets under it again. All of a sudden, I hear screaming and commotion from the bench area and I run over to see whats up. He is laying on the floor, clutching his left pec area. His spotter luckily got the bar racked so that wasnt an issue. He pulls up his shirt at our urging and sure enough, the bruising has already started and a huge bulge has appeared on his chest, signifying the rolled-up pec. We call 911 and he goes to the ER.
Bottom line: He tore the pec (Duh) and had to have surgery. He has two nice incisions and will be out of the gym for at least six months to a year. His heavy bench days are over, I fear.
All you bros who go crazy on the bench press, please take this to heart. The flat bench press forces the wrists into an unnatural position at the bottom of the lift and shoulder and pec injuries are very common. This is the third one I have personally witnessed.