"How Long Does It Take?"

Categories: Blog Sep 23, 2015

That's one of the questions people want to know when they start doing the RESETs.

Our answer?

"As long as it takes, but not as long as you may expect."

The truth is, some people see instantaneous results - changes in how their bodies move, decreases in tension, increases in ranges of motion (in many cases for years), and often, even an alleviation in pain, although that's not what we're going for.

(SIDE NOTE: We don't treat pain since we're not licensed medical professionals. We have licensed medical professionals as part of our team, and they treat pain, but the goal of Original Strength is to restore our natural movement abilities. Pain alleviation is a "side effect" of eliminating muscle compensations that result from movement dysfunctions. The body moves the way it was designed and things are no longer getting in the way or moving incorrectly.)

There was a theory floating around in the late 90's that was, if I'm not mistaken, attributed to the great Physical Therapist, Shirley Sahrmann, that for every 100 reps you do incorrectly, it takes 300 to 500 reps to "override" those bad reps and re-establish good movement. (My apologies for not being able to properly document that quote - my VHS is no longer hooked up to dig through the tape series where I first heard that and I surprisingly, I can't seem to find it on the interwebz. So I'm willing to be wrong here.) The upside is you now have something to go on - a goal to shoot for. The downside is if you've been doing something wrong for 10 years, it may take you the rest of your life to fix it. That is, if you use traditional models of movement restoration.

Not so with the Original Strength RESETs.

I first hurt my lower back in early 1999. Then again in early 2002. And as a result, I tore the labrum in my right hip in early 2005, and then the labrum in my left hip, along with damaging the articular cartilage, in September 2005. Unfortunately, the corrective exercises I was doing from late 2002 on failed to prevent the hip injuries. From January 2006 through December 2009, I spent playing "whack-a-mole" - chasing movement dysfunctions using a mobility-based system. And it wasn't until early 2010 that I started using the RESETs. Intermittently at first. Why? Because I saw immediate changes, which then produced hope to keep on doing what was on my heart - Olympic Weightlifting.

But the "intermittent" wasn't enough to make the long term changes my body needed. In late September of 2010 through April of 2012 I did nothing but large volumes of OS and some bodyweight gymnastic type exercises. And that was the ticket. I emerged from that period asymptomatic, resilient, and surprisingly stronger. Just for kicks, I remember power snatching (with a barbell) from above the knee (the hang) 100kg weighing approximately 90kg, after not training any of the Olympic lifts for almost 2 years. Not bad.

So what's my point here?

My body was a mess - at least the lower half. My first real injuries were in 1989 (dislocated right patella - zero rehab). I walked around almost 22 years with faulty movement. I restored my natural movement, by using the RESETs, in approximately 18 months. So instead of a 1:3-5 ratio for restoration, I experienced a 1:0.068 ratio for restoration of movement.

I think you'll agree, that's a much better ratio.

So, how long will it take you using the RESETs?

As long as it takes.

However, I think you'll be surprised at how quickly you start restoring your natural movement and regaining your movement birthright.

CAVEATS:

1. RESETs should be done daily.

For better results, multiple times per day. The number of RESETs you do at a time are completely up to you. Pick the ones that work best for you.

2. RESETs should be done for the rest of your life.

"What?? Are you kidding me?"

Well as long as there is entropy - the gradual decline of life from order to disorder - you'll need to keep your system - your body - up and running and sharp. And as long as you are daily engaging in activities that degrade your natural movement - like sitting - you'll need to reset.

Now here's the cool part - remember that walking is your Automatic RESET. And sprinting is the Ultimate RESET.

And what that means is that, eventually, you can get to where Tim is - wake up, drink a cup of coffee, walk with a chain attached to you for about a 1/2 mile to a hill of your choice, then do 10 sprints uphill. And then walk back home with the chain. Done. (That was a workout he and I did about 2 years ago at 530am. Well, he sprinted uphill, I just dragged chain uphill.)

Imagine doing that.

Stay focused, do your RESETs, and you'll no longer imagine.

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