September 29, 2009--University of Southern California’s Trojan tailback Stafon Johnson is in critical but stable condition after a weightlifting accident Monday night caused serious injuries to his neck and larynx.
Media accounts say Johnson had an assistant strength trainer and coach spotting him when his hands slipped from the bar he was bench pressing. The bar, rumored to have weighed around 275 pounds, fell directly onto his throat.
California Hospital Medical Center, where Johnson is recovering from his seven hour surgery, released a statement from saying that while it’s unlikely he will play again this season, his prognosis is good and he is expected to make a full recovery.
Weightlifting Accidents Not Uncommon
Football fans may remember a similar incident in 2005 when Steelers Pro Bowl linebacker David Little died after a barbell fell on his neck. Teens can be at risk too, like the 16 year old high school football player from Texas who died the same way while weightlifting alone in his home. In a study published in the Journal of Forensic Sciences, researchers found that between 1999 and 2002 there were eleven similar deaths reported.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, there were over 400,000 injuries related to exercise and exercise equipment in 2008. Weightlifting machines accounted for 79,000 of these.
Non-fatal injuries that can occur when lifting improperly include elbow strain, rotator cuff damage, lower back strain and torn muscles.
Do’s and Don’ts
If you love to lift, don’t let these stories keep you out of the gym, but do make safety a priority when you are working out.
Stafon Johnson seemingly had all the proper safeguards in place including experienced trainers and proper spotting. So while it may not be possible to prevent all accidents, there are some important things to keep in mind before you lift.
Safety Check for Benchers
• Position Lie on a flat bench with your feet flat on the floor and the barbell lined up directly over your nose. Keep your core tight and your back flat on the bench.
• Grasp Hold the barbell with an overhand grip wider than shoulder width apart (usually about 21-28 inches) and keep the bar lower in your palm. Allow your hands bend back in order to achieve the right cupping grip, but never bend them too far back. Allowing the bar to rest on or near your fingers is dangerous.
• Breath Holding your breath can be a bad habit for some lifters and can increase blood pressure. Exhale as you lift the weight and inhale as you lower it.
Safety Check for Spotters
• Weight Make sure you can safely handle the amount of weight being used by your bencher.
• Assisting Help with un-racking the weight, being careful not too use excessive force. Unbalanced or rapid un-racking could throw your bencher off balance.
• Communication Agree on a signal for the hand-off, so you don’t catch your bencher off-guard. Watch your bencher carefully and give them technique and mechanics reminders.
• Use Assisted Reps Sparingly While these can help your bencher make progress, they should only be used for modest gains, like a few extra reps per set. Doing more than that can be dangerous because as a spotter, you will be doing a lot of the lifting from an awkward position. Spotters have tired and fallen onto their bencher when overdoing assisted reps.
Smith Machines
Designed with stoppers to make lifting safer, many people like to use these at home.
• Remember to always check and adjust the stoppers for your size, especially if you share this machine with family or friends. A good guideline is to position the stoppers so that the bar rests approximately two inches from your chest.
• Never let children use this equipment without supervision.
MuscleDog will keep you updated on Stafon’s recovery. Happy and Safe Lifting!