clean and jerk with Dupuytren's

Medical Q&A [Moderated]
1

Hello BBM,

Re-posting from the Rehab forum, hopefully someone will have some advice on this:

I have Dupuytren’s contracture on one hand. Currently I can still press most/all of my palm against a surface. One difficulty I have though is catching the bar on my chest/shoulders with an extended wrist (e.g. for a clean). This causes enough pain to stop me from being able to do it.

I don’t compete, I exercise for general health and I’m not currently doing Olympic movements. When I have I simply dropped the clean and practised the snatch only.

I’m well aware of its progressive nature, treatment options, etc. but would like to get the most out of it. I’ve started stretching for example (wrist and finger extensions), but otherwise can’t think of anything that would help me in that position. I’m also aware of the possibility of making it worse with any minor repeated trauma and/or sudden forceful extension.

  • Any suggestions on what I can try in order to be able to catch the bar in the clean (other than stretching)?
  • If in future I want try out one of the templates with clean and jerk (Super Total or Titan I for instance), what could I substitute the clean with?

Any advice you might have would be great.

Many thanks in advance,
Antonio​

2

Hi,

This is a tough situation. Unfortunately I do not have additional specific suggestions here outside of consultation with a surgeon who has expertise in this condition. I think focusing on the snatch (assuming it is more well-tolerated) is reasonable for now, since catching a clean in the front rack position may not be feasible. You could certainly still do clean pulls or clean high pulls (stopping short of the rack), and the jerk could potentially be substituted with training a push press.

3

Hi Austin,
Thanks. Yes, I doubt there is much that can be done other than to modify the lifts in some way. After posting this I remembered a couple of Alan Thrall videos with an extended arm catch for the clean (‘zombie’ catch?):

axle clean and press:

zombie clean and jerk:

I can do the snatch without problems, and I guess (assuming I can catch the bar like this), that these would also be good substitutes.

Many thanks again and best wishes,
Antonio