The Role of Assistance Exercises in Strength Training | Mark Rippetoe

[stef]

[T]he critical question is simply, what is the purpose of assistance exercises? Are they necessary, and if so, when?

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[Nate Mielke]

I haven't seen much mention of sled walks by Starting Strength. There can't be a more normal human movement pattern than walking. These can be easily loaded by a sled and I imagine you can progress these incrementally for quite some time. By the definition in the article then, they are strength training. Why aren't these talked about more?

[Mark Rippetoe]

Done with max weight for 5 strides, they might be considered "strength training." But that's not what you mean, is it?

[Chiaki Nitya]

I haven't seen much mention of sled walks by Starting Strength. There can't be a more normal human movement pattern than walking. These can be easily loaded by a sled and I imagine you can progress these incrementally for quite some time. By the definition in the article then, they are strength training. Why aren't these talked about more?

Because they're redundant. Squats, deadlifts, presses, and rows do everything sled drags do, but better, and with better results. Try sled dragging only for 6 months and then do a max sled drag, then just squat and pull for 6 months and do another max sled drag. I bet you'll sled drag more after 6 months of no sled dragging than 6 months of only sled dragging.