Santa is not the only one to use a sled! The weighted sled can be used in rehab for lower extremity strength, endurance and makes a great core activator. Every patient suffering a significant injury to the lower extremity needs to restore integrated movement, strength, endurance and power. With the sled fastened around the waist and the sled towed behind leg drive and posterior chain strength can be developed for gait and transition into running. It simulates walking up hill without the hill. In addition it will get that heart rate jacked in a hurry! Walking backward will really fire up the quads. Now to use the sled for core strength and activation, I just put handles on the ends of the ropes where the waist band attaches. We can now repeat our walks holding the arms chest level or outstretched in front.
The resistance is now pulling back through the arms that have to be stabilized by the core as your legs are still driving forward, not to mention an even greater metabolic demand! Walking forward activates more of the abdominals and walking backwards (holding the handles) will activate more of the posterior core muscles. It also give you some additional bonus shoulder and arm work. A shoulder harness is a great alternative to the handles although not as demanding.
I am a big fan of asymmetrical loading due to the increased demand for stability and its relation to "real life" activity/movement. So, here are just a few of many tweaks to the sled I use.
1 arm push 1 arm pull over shld pull
So, as you can see (hopefully) these exercises can be used in rehab for the upper extremity, core or lower extremity.
Get Strong! Stay Strong!
Chris
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