50 and switching from Iron to cable machines?

[Brett N]

I'm recovering from shoulder surgery, 2nd one. Torn rotator cuff and bicep tendon, I have been off work for 12 weeks and I go back Monday. I'm a mason by trade so my shoulders are not the best, really my upper body has a lot of wear and tear. I've tried to maintain a balance by lifting, sometimes hard and sometimes taking it easy but I always lifted to some point in my basement. I have 415lbs of plate, squat rack, lat pull down machine with 200lbs of plates, dumbbells up to 65 lbs, treadmill, heavy bag...a decent home gym which I've built up over time.

Everyone is saying that I need to switch to something easier on my body like a cable machine, less weight and more reps and such and such. I have never worked out in a gym really besides a gym I had by my house that was a very small one that had almost exactly what I had. I had a key to it and I went any7 time I wanted and gave him $25 a month. Rarely was anyone there. But, then I moved.

I guess what I'm asking is, where do I start? How do you get a good workout and be easy on yourself at the same time? Do I look at something like a Tonal Gym you see on TV? They seem like gimmicky crap that's overpriced.

[ghettoboyd]

I’ve had a bow flex machine for years it’s great just to get a workout in…obviously not the same feedback you get from real weight but it’s decent enough and has lots of cable type exercises that can be done…anyways it would be pretty tough to hurt yourself using it…and I’m sure you could find one for the cost of the total gym but used…good luck

[wango]

Man, machines (and a good variety of them) are going to be a necessity for a great workout as you get older. During Covid, I bought a lot of resistance bands. You can get in a nice workout & you are only limited by your imagination regarding how many exercise you can come up with. If you’ve been off that long and you’re returning as a Mason, please tell me you have had a lot of physical therapy?

[Iranon]

I have three rotator cuff tears, 1/4 to 1/3 thickness tears. This forced me to re-think how I trained. Long story short the exercises matter way more then the equipment used. You need to understand your injuries, how they happened, how to avoid or train around them. I'm now in my early 50's and in the best shape I have been in since my mid 30's.

[wango]

I have three rotator cuff tears, 1/4 to 1/3 thickness tears. This forced me to re-think how I trained. Long story short the exercises matter way more then the equipment used. You need to understand your injuries, how they happened, how to avoid or train around them. I'm now in my early 50's and in the best shape I have been in since my mid 30's.

Best get them repaired or revise your training, cause those RC won’t hold out. You got 2 tears in just one of the external rotators or a third in subscapularis?

[Brett N]

Man, machines (and a good variety of them) are going to be a necessity for a great workout as you get older. During Covid, I bought a lot of resistance bands. You can get in a nice workout & you are only limited by your imagination regarding how many exercise you can come up with. If you’ve been off that long and you’re returning as a Mason, please tell me you have had a lot of physical therapy?

Honestly I started out with a therapist and the last time I had a therapist too and they were a bit on the pathetic side. This time after the first 6 weeks which was basically stretches and mobility I asked them to set me up with an itinerary and I checked in once a week. I did a lot of research on what sports therapists did, bought me some bands and started ultra light with 2.5 lb bands. Not only working the rotator but also all the muscles surrounding it. I think quite a few therapists are run of the mill. The high quality ones are usually working higher end jobs.

This was not workers comp and was all out of my own pocket and insurance so it worked out to my benefit financially and physically. The Dr. is a very higly sought after doc in the St Louis area and told me 12-16 week recovery and to plan on 16 at consult time because of what I do. At my 12 week visit he was surprised at my progress and I told him I felt good about going back. He told me he would be ok with it but he didn't want me doing any heavy weightlifting like benching or shoulder work for 3 more months. So, everyday is leg day. LMAO

I have thought about looking on Craigslist for a Bowflex, I didn't know how good of a value they were.

[wango]

Honestly I started out with a therapist and the last time I had a therapist too and they were a bit on the pathetic side. This time after the first 6 weeks which was basically stretches and mobility I asked them to set me up with an itinerary and I checked in once a week. I did a lot of research on what sports therapists did, bought me some bands and started ultra light with 2.5 lb bands. Not only working the rotator but also all the muscles surrounding it. I think quite a few therapists are run of the mill. The high quality ones are usually working higher end jobs.

This was not workers comp and was all out of my own pocket and insurance so it worked out to my benefit financially and physically. The Dr. is a very higly sought after doc in the St Louis area and told me 12-16 week recovery and to plan on 16 at consult time because of what I do. At my 12 week visit he was surprised at my progress and I told him I felt good about going back. He told me he would be ok with it but he didn't want me doing any heavy weightlifting like benching or shoulder work for 3 more months. So, everyday is leg day. LMAO

I have thought about looking on Craigslist for a Bowflex, I didn't know how good of a value they were.

Retired PT myself, did a lot of orthopedic stuff. Also I’m 63, one rotator cuff is 90% gone (with the long head of the biceps), the other about 50% gone. Total shoulders when the pain is unbearable.

Agree about finding good PT’s, it’s hit or miss. And yeah, if it’s out of pocket, that ain’t cheap.

Glad you have confidence in your surgeon. I’m thinking as long as he knows exact what you’re doing at work and gives you the ok. Do you do a lot of overhead stuff? What kind of lifting are you doing at work? Definitely watch that biceps if they reattached it (I was too old for them to consider fixing mine and it’s not pretty to look at some time ).

[Brett N]

I lay a lot of stone and brick, some block. Boss said he's got some all brick jobs he's going to put me on and they are all commercial so there should be no lifting above my shoulder height. I do well for him and he treats me good, we have a good relationship and he knows I could have easily gone the workers comp route on him but the final injury was when I was benching and I felt the right thing to do was to take the hit myself. If it happened at work I would have gone comp. My Christmas bonus reflected my choice.

They reattached my bicep by pin, he said at 12 weeks it should be fully healed. He said it with confidence. I told him I felt grinding in my shoulder like sand when I moved it arouond at certain rotations and he didn't beat around the bush. He said that's something that might not ever go away and it just is. He also did some smoothing of my collar bone of arthritis to keep it from rubbing on my rotator. He seems like a pretty blunt Dr and doesn't bullshit you to try to make you feel better so it makes me trust him.

[wango]

I lay a lot of stone and brick, some block. Boss said he's got some all brick jobs he's going to put me on and they are all commercial so there should be no lifting above my shoulder height. I do well for him and he treats me good, we have a good relationship and he knows I could have easily gone the workers comp route on him but the final injury was when I was benching and I felt the right thing to do was to take the hit myself. If it happened at work I would have gone comp. My Christmas bonus reflected my choice.

They reattached my bicep by pin, he said at 12 weeks it should be fully healed. He said it with confidence. I told him I felt grinding in my shoulder like sand when I moved it arouond at certain rotations and he didn't beat around the bush. He said that's something that might not ever go away and it just is. He also did some smoothing of my collar bone of arthritis to keep it from rubbing on my rotator. He seems like a pretty blunt Dr and doesn't bullshit you to try to make you feel better so it makes me trust him.

Yup, at your /our age the grinding is going to be there, if there ain’t arthritis at this stage, consider yourself very fortunate.

That was very admirable that you took the hit & didn’t blame it on work, you don’t see a lot of honesty these days. That’s a good doc, I hate docs that are vague.

Just a word of caution, it’s healed, but if doesn’t mean it’s ready for long hours of continual work. Gradually break it in. Tendons need time to adapt to the work & volume. Are you returning to full-time immediately or can your boss let you acclimate more slowly?

[Iranon]

Honestly I started out with a therapist and the last time I had a therapist too and they were a bit on the pathetic side. This time after the first 6 weeks which was basically stretches and mobility I asked them to set me up with an itinerary and I checked in once a week. I did a lot of research on what sports therapists did, bought me some bands and started ultra light with 2.5 lb bands. Not only working the rotator but also all the muscles surrounding it. I think quite a few therapists are run of the mill. The high quality ones are usually working higher end jobs.

That is fine but it wont save you, it is just putting a band-aid on and not adressing the reason you are where you are. Like I said, you need to understand the shoulder joint and your injurys and then make a plan to prevent further damage and a PT will only help a tiny bit.

[almostgone]

I'm recovering from shoulder surgery, 2nd one. Torn rotator cuff and bicep tendon, I have been off work for 12 weeks and I go back Monday. I'm a mason by trade so my shoulders are not the best, really my upper body has a lot of wear and tear. I've tried to maintain a balance by lifting, sometimes hard and sometimes taking it easy but I always lifted to some point in my basement. I have 415lbs of plate, squat rack, lat pull down machine with 200lbs of plates, dumbbells up to 65 lbs, treadmill, heavy bag...a decent home gym which I've built up over time.

Everyone is saying that I need to switch to something easier on my body like a cable machine, less weight and more reps and such and such. I have never worked out in a gym really besides a gym I had by my house that was a very small one that had almost exactly what I had. I had a key to it and I went any7 time I wanted and gave him $25 a month. Rarely was anyone there. But, then I moved.

I guess what I'm asking is, where do I start? How do you get a good workout and be easy on yourself at the same time? Do I look at something like a Tonal Gym you see on TV? They seem like gimmicky crap that's overpriced.

You've gotten some great advice from from 2 different viewpoints. About all I can add is that cable machines typically afford your more control over free weights, hence they tend to be somewhat easier on your joints.

I'm assuming you're still in PT, so I would continue to incorporate the stretches they are giving you and whatever type of resistance exercises they have prescribed.

Also, I agree that a change in training style may be necessary.....at least in the near future.

I would definitely consider having significant tears/ damage repaired. Like Wango pointed out, as we age crepitus/grinding goes along with our age/odometer reading; particularly shoulders, knees, hips, and occasionally spinal issues.

One of the things we can do to minimize this is listen to our body, get damage repaired, and at least in the near term, avoid explosive movements. At least for now, I would stick to resistance bands and if you can tolerate it, really emphasize the negative portion of band exercises.


After you are fully cleared for weights and have found which exercises are suitable for you, I would definitely lean towards volume vs. grinding out higher weight/low rep sets. Later on, things may change. For now, I'd go at training in a "baby step" approach instead of overdoing and end up losing more ground.

Best of luck.

[Test Monsterone]

https://www.titan.fitness/strength/s...yABEgJDmfD_BwE

XMARK Functional Trainer Cable Machine with Dual 200 lb Weight Stacks, 19 Adjustments, and Accessory Package XM-7626

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00823OQHU...ing=UTF8&psc=1

These are both excellent. I have the Xmark, it’s phenomenal. Nothing like the crap in infomercials.

[wango]

https://www.titan.fitness/strength/s...yABEgJDmfD_BwE

XMARK Functional Trainer Cable Machine with Dual 200 lb Weight Stacks, 19 Adjustments, and Accessory Package XM-7626

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00823OQHU...ing=UTF8&psc=1

These are both excellent. I have the Xmark, it’s phenomenal. Nothing like the crap in infomercials.

That would definitely be the primary piece of equipment. There’s very few things that you can’t do with those. I think there’s another similar machine called Freemotion?

[Cylon357]

https://www.titan.fitness/strength/s...yABEgJDmfD_BwE

XMARK Functional Trainer Cable Machine with Dual 200 lb Weight Stacks, 19 Adjustments, and Accessory Package XM-7626

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00823OQHU...ing=UTF8&psc=1

These are both excellent. I have the Xmark, it’s phenomenal. Nothing like the crap in infomercials.

I like Titans equipment. No, the welds aren't always the cleanest but we aren't building show quality choppers here. Solid, functional equipment.

[wango]

I like Titans equipment. No, the welds aren't always the cleanest but we aren't building show quality choppers here. Solid, functional equipment.

Like Titan as well. Donated some equipment to my school. Great price & as you said, solid stuff.

[Brett N]

https://www.titan.fitness/strength/s...yABEgJDmfD_BwE

XMARK Functional Trainer Cable Machine with Dual 200 lb Weight Stacks, 19 Adjustments, and Accessory Package XM-7626

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00823OQHU...ing=UTF8&psc=1

These are both excellent. I have the Xmark, it’s phenomenal. Nothing like the crap in infomercials.

Thanks, that is more what I was looking for as far as a long term investment.

[Brett N]

That is fine but it wont save you, it is just putting a band-aid on and not adressing the reason you are where you are. Like I said, you need to understand the shoulder joint and your injurys and then make a plan to prevent further damage and a PT will only help a tiny bit.

I guess I'm not fully understanding what you are getting at?? I totally get the reason I am where I am, it started back in high school when I decided to smoke weed and not pay attention. I was a smart ass and thought I knew more than my teachers. I ended up joining the military instead of college and eventually entered a construction trade that I've spent 26 years tearing my body up. I have 26 invested into multiple pensions that I don't plan on dropping out of. The earliest I can leave is 55 with heavy penalties. Realistically, 59 is when I can retire with minimal penalties.

On any given day I lay about 3.5-4 tons of brick each day going by the weight of 7-8 pounds each. Thats not including mortar. It's all on my right shoulder. When I'm laying stone it's probably more but it also includes swinging a 3 pound stone hammer with a carbide chisel on the end to shape the stone. The stone gets lifted and turned multiple times to shape it to fit and then laid. They can weigh between 2 pounds and 80+ pounds that need to guys to lay them precisely.

I enjoy lifting but most of it is out of necessity to stay in shape for my career.

So, what do I change to avoid further injury that is a possibility?? If you say career change, point me in the direction of someone that's hiring someone with no education past HS that pays $75k+ with excellent insurance and retirement because my Dr. suggested the same thing.

[wango]

I guess I'm not fully understanding what you are getting at?? I totally get the reason I am where I am, it started back in high school when I decided to smoke weed and not pay attention. I was a smart ass and thought I knew more than my teachers. I ended up joining the military instead of college and eventually entered a construction trade that I've spent 26 years tearing my body up. I have 26 invested into multiple pensions that I don't plan on dropping out of. The earliest I can leave is 55 with heavy penalties. Realistically, 59 is when I can retire with minimal penalties.

On any given day I lay about 3.5-4 tons of brick each day going by the weight of 7-8 pounds each. Thats not including mortar. It's all on my right shoulder. When I'm laying stone it's probably more but it also includes swinging a 3 pound stone hammer with a carbide chisel on the end to shape the stone. The stone gets lifted and turned multiple times to shape it to fit and then laid. They can weigh between 2 pounds and 80+ pounds that need to guys to lay them precisely.

I enjoy lifting but most of it is out of necessity to stay in shape for my career.

So, what do I change to avoid further injury that is a possibility?? If you say career change, point me in the direction of someone that's hiring someone with no education past HS that pays $75k+ with excellent insurance and retirement because my Dr. suggested the same thing.

Once a person is fortunate enough to find a great craftsman like yourself (painter, carpenter, plumber, stone worker, electrician), you found a best friend for life. I have decades old relationships with all, and all, like yourself are suffering physically because of the tole you’re job takes on your body. I wish you all the best. Is there anything you can arrange with your employer to allow you time to adjust to your return from surgery? I just started enjoying that light at the end of the tunnel (retirement) and hope you get there. Can you cut your hours even a bit, to give you added recovery time?

As this is a steroid forum, how’s your testosterone levels? At 56 I started TRT and physically, it really gave me a boost.

BTW, really work at your scapular muscles, like rhomboids & middle, lower traps. Also, watch that posture and stretch, stretch, stretch.

Sorry, once a PT, always a PT. As you are aware, ice will be your friend. Also you might find the compression sleeve helpful for work.

[JaneDoe]

Avoid pressing exercises (example instead of bench press, do machines, peck-deck, train shoulders only with rubber bands,... I recommend that you do CODMAN pendulum exercises to strengthen the shoulder.

[JaneDoe]

[Brett N]

Definitely wango, If I go in this week and everyday I feel like leaving at noon he won't have any issues with it. I'm sure there will be a point where enough is enough but he will understand until I build up. I'd say for the first 2-3 weeks he would definitely be ok, especially because I told him the Dr said initally it would be 12- 16 weeks.

I didn't know they were called Codman's Pendulum Exercise but I have been doing those since week 6 with my stretches.

These are pretty much the only band exercises I have been doing with ultra light bands. I haven't been doing the shoulder press at the end though.

[wango]

Definitely wango, If I go in this week and everyday I feel like leaving at noon he won't have any issues with it. I'm sure there will be a point where enough is enough but he will understand until I build up. I'd say for the first 2-3 weeks he would definitely be ok, especially because I told him the Dr said initally it would be 12- 16 weeks.

I didn't know they were called Codman's Pendulum Exercise but I have been doing those since week 6 with my stretches.

These are pretty much the only band exercises I have been doing with ultra light bands. I haven't been doing the shoulder press at the end though.

You’ve got one hell of a nice employer. You must do some great work.

Give me a moment to check the vid. What strengthening did your PT have you on?

[Brett N]

Fairlly close to the video, pendulum exercises, wall walks and bands instead of weights with arms at a 90 and a towel under armpits. 3 setsx15 pull inside and same amount pushing outside. Then thumb up pulling bands up at a slight angle. he recommended this video for me to continue on my own.

[wango]

Fairlly close to the video, pendulum exercises, wall walks and bands instead of weights with arms at a 90 and a towel under armpits. 3 setsx15 pull inside and same amount pushing outside. Then thumb up pulling bands up at a slight angle. he recommended this video for me to continue on my own.

They look good, but were not really designed for post op rehab, but for the guy in the gym to prevent issues in the future. I’d definitely be careful with the last one as there is a LOT of tendon/bone contact when the arm is held at your side at 90 degrees. Actually from 70 -120 degrees.

Definitely keep progressing as long as the motion is smooth/pure & there isn’t pain.

That said, any movement that you have to do at work (particularly as you are moving at or above the shoulder) has to be prepared for and strengthened well ahead of time. In PT we referred to at as “work hardening”. It’s a progression from simple movements (like from the vid) to complex movements you’ll be expected do at work.

[Brett N]

Thats the one reason my boss is putting me on the brick commercial jobs. We work off of hydraulic scaffold that always keeps you working in the money making sweet spot. That's between the thigh and the nipple which is perfect for my shoulder. I think I will be in good shape with it, I've built up to laying about 450 brick in my basement. I have them set up and I grab them for therapy and lay them on a sawhorse like it's mortar. I do 10 sets of 45. lol It feels silly doing it but it's helping me feel confident and getting used to that twisting and moving motion.

[wango]

Thats the one reason my boss is putting me on the brick commercial jobs. We work off of hydraulic scaffold that always keeps you working in the money making sweet spot. That's between the thigh and the nipple which is perfect for my shoulder. I think I will be in good shape with it, I've built up to laying about 450 brick in my basement. I have them set up and I grab them for therapy and lay them on a sawhorse like it's mortar. I do 10 sets of 45. lol It feels silly doing it but it's helping me feel confident and getting used to that twisting and moving motion.

Had I had patients like yourself I never would have been bitter. What you have described in your basement is damn BRILLIANT. At work, the scaffolding between thigh & nipple, perfect.

Damn, I’m smiling ear to ear.

[Brett N]

Boss has actually been cooler than I thought he'd be. Monday and Tuesday I laid brick on both days for about 5 hours each and I spent the rest of the day laying out walls and basically doing Foremen shit. I used to run work but I didn't like dealing with all the people interaction bs with the workers and the Superintendents. If they'd all just do their jobs and leave you alone I'd love it. Anyways, Mon and Tues. were a good test and then h told me to sit home and rest today with pay. Thursday I will go back and even if I work all day, it looks like weather is going to give us Friday off so it will be a 3 day weekend.

I guess the boss's wife had a knee replacement done not too long ago so he is well aware of therapy and the return process being a gradual thing. He didn't even ask me to take today off, just told me to.

All that being said, shoulder felt good the whole time with no discomfort. The only thing that bothered me was my right hand and I guess that's because I haven't really worked up the muscles well enough of pushing down on mortar with the brick. I forgot what that was like but I'm sure that strength will come back quick enough.

[Cylon357]

OP, just to mention this if it hasn't already been: you don't have to switch entirely from free weights to cables. Lighter weight with higher reps will be less stressful on joints and connective tissue (though maybe a bit more taxing on cardiovascular system if done to an extreme ). In addition, if you have a rack, you can adapt cable add ons to it. I have pieced together a few odds and ends for my rack from off the shelf parts.

Just my 2 cents, and probably over priced at that!

[wango]

Boss has actually been cooler than I thought he'd be. Monday and Tuesday I laid brick on both days for about 5 hours each and I spent the rest of the day laying out walls and basically doing Foremen shit. I used to run work but I didn't like dealing with all the people interaction bs with the workers and the Superintendents. If they'd all just do their jobs and leave you alone I'd love it. Anyways, Mon and Tues. were a good test and then h told me to sit home and rest today with pay. Thursday I will go back and even if I work all day, it looks like weather is going to give us Friday off so it will be a 3 day weekend.

I guess the boss's wife had a knee replacement done not too long ago so he is well aware of therapy and the return process being a gradual thing. He didn't even ask me to take today off, just told me to.

All that being said, shoulder felt good the whole time with no discomfort. The only thing that bothered me was my right hand and I guess that's because I haven't really worked up the muscles well enough of pushing down on mortar with the brick. I forgot what that was like but I'm sure that strength will come back quick enough.

After reading this, I told my wife about your story. She’s a retired PT as well. I told her about your brick rehab in your basement and she too smiled and said “brilliant”. So very happy your first couple of days went smoothly. Your boss KICKS ASS! man, that is just how you ideally make a return to work, regrettably it doesn’t always happen that way. Use that rest/days off wisely & be patient. Can you find any YouTube footage of what someone does similar to you. I want to look at the biomechanics & see where things can go iffy. Thank you and continued good fortune.

[Brett N]

Not a bunch of videos that actually show working conditions in real life. Here's one we had taken at a competition a couple years ago, I'm not in it but I work with a guy that is. They get an hour to lay as much as they can. Brick is not done at this fast of a rate for 8 hours ever. these guys are laying 400-700 in 60 minutes. Second video shows pretty much the type of chiseling we do on a stone, before we get a chance to lay it.


The pile of stone in the foreground is what we started with. There were about 8 dumptrucks full of that stone and we built the wall that was behind it as a privacy wall for a church near Washington University in St Louis. Not in the best part of the city but a beautiful church. There's a lot of work that goes into real stone work. Not that man made stone that just sticks on the wall.



This one is a stone house we built for some younger guy in his 30's that takes old trucks and rebuilds them with modern technology and drops big motors in them and sells them down at Barretts auctions. He does pretty well for himself for being a mechanic and teaming up with a body man.

[Brett N]

Here is a video of what it takes to shape the stone to lay it. Not all stone is this hard, only the more expensive stone in the states is.

[wango]

Not a bunch of videos that actually show working conditions in real life. Here's one we had taken at a competition a couple years ago, I'm not in it but I work with a guy that is. They get an hour to lay as much as they can. Brick is not done at this fast of a rate for 8 hours ever. these guys are laying 400-700 in 60 minutes. Second video shows pretty much the type of chiseling we do on a stone, before we get a chance to lay it.


The pile of stone in the foreground is what we started with. There were about 8 dumptrucks full of that stone and we built the wall that was behind it as a privacy wall for a church near Washington University in St Louis. Not in the best part of the city but a beautiful church. There's a lot of work that goes into real stone work. Not that man made stone that just sticks on the wall.



This one is a stone house we built for some younger guy in his 30's that takes old trucks and rebuilds them with modern technology and drops big motors in them and sells them down at Barretts auctions. He does pretty well for himself for being a mechanic and teaming up with a body man.

Thank you those vids helped a lot!

Which shoulder did you have surgery on? Is that the hand you personally use the trowel on? How large/ hard is typically the stone that you have to break up & carry? A lot of cinder block or all brick?

Amazing stone work on that fence and house, out here in earthquake land you don’t see much of it, lol.

My great grandfather was from Sicily. He was a bricklayer. He helped build the family large family home in Chicago, that he, my grandfather and father grew up in. And as a kid, we’d go there every Sunday. We almost moved into it as well. I still dream about that place and miss it.

Wow, you’re right about the sweet spot of thigh to nipple. Even with that I’m shocked you don’t have back or neck issues. It’s not the brute strength, it’s the posture, the repetition & volume. I did short stints of physical labor in my teens and early 20’s and there’s no way I could maintain that for a lifetime, damn.

Sweet gig for that guy resto-modding those trucks!

[Brett N]

The stone on that big house was really soft, we loved it and made a lot of money. That was a side job six of us did during the summer all cash. You could break it with the chisel end of a 16oz brick hammer. The stone on that church was very hard and we used 2lb hammers with carbide chisels. Those chisels are $100+ just because they're so hard. That took a crew of 12-14 guys over 4 weeks working 40 hour weeks. The wall is a lot bigger than the picture shows but it was time consuming for sure.

Surgery was on my laying shoulder, its mostly from laying stone above shoulder height and laying block. Heavier block and stone you have to hold for a little bit longer period of time so it doesn't just push all the mortar out. It's not long but, it's not like we can just throw it up on the bed of mortar and drop it either. Laborers talk about all the material they handle but thy never have surgery. They can use the momentum of the weight to carry it and release it. We have to stop the momentum and hold it.

Laying a concrete block is 38 pounds. Essentially, you're muscling up 38 from a center handhold in front of you and taking it to shoulder height beside you into a bennt elbow lateral raise and holding it for a spit second until you get it to set in mortar to your desired height. Then, you repeat that about 200 more times in 8 hours. Stone is usually done with 2 hands but same idea.

[wango]

The stone on that big house was really soft, we loved it and made a lot of money. That was a side job six of us did during the summer all cash. You could break it with the chisel end of a 16oz brick hammer. The stone on that church was very hard and we used 2lb hammers with carbide chisels. Those chisels are $100+ just because they're so hard. That took a crew of 12-14 guys over 4 weeks working 40 hour weeks. The wall is a lot bigger than the picture shows but it was time consuming for sure.

Surgery was on my laying shoulder, its mostly from laying stone above shoulder height and laying block. Heavier block and stone you have to hold for a little bit longer period of time so it doesn't just push all the mortar out. It's not long but, it's not like we can just throw it up on the bed of mortar and drop it either. Laborers talk about all the material they handle but thy never have surgery. They can use the momentum of the weight to carry it and release it. We have to stop the momentum and hold it.

Laying a concrete block is 38 pounds. Essentially, you're muscling up 38 from a center handhold in front of you and taking it to shoulder height beside you into a bennt elbow lateral raise and holding it for a spit second until you get it to set in mortar to your desired height. Then, you repeat that about 200 more times in 8 hours. Stone is usually done with 2 hands but same idea.

Man, count me in for laying concrete block all day! I’ve been thinking about resistance training & exercise routines to lengthen your career. Still computing in my mind just a bit. You definitely can move away from the Olympic bar & bench. The cable set up that TM posted would easily be the first peace that I would buy for myself if I did a home gym. Also, Dumbbells up to and just exceeding the max poundage of stone you need to move.

That said, there is a time when you really have to work your core, the spinal muscles and definitely your scapular stabilizers. Your routine really needs to be more wholistic & away from just a bodybuilding approach.

The TRT (from your other thread) is going to definitely help.