Power Cleans for 51 year old novice

[madhopper]

Rip,

I started your program about a month ago. I did a couple of weeks with of squats, bench, press, and dead lifts as outlined in PPII. I then started to introduce power cleans and at that point started to experience more joint pain in my knees and shoulders and some lower back discomfort. Also one of the trainers said I am not getting a good jump at the start and that I am having some flexibility issues as far as getting the bar racked.( As of Friday I was cleaning 75 pounds.) He then mentioned that at my age (51) and the fact that I am a novice lifter that I may want to think about leaving the power cleans out of the program so as not to injure myself. Right now they have not interfered with my progress on the other lifts so I am going to keep working at them for awhile to see if I can master them but I wanted to know if the trainer is giving sound advice.

Thanks for your time.

[Mark Rippetoe]

He is. SEARCH FUNCTION will too.