Babe Ruth and the Valsalva Maneuver

[BHerreid]

Ran across this article today:
Classics in the History of Psychology -- Fullerton (1921)

The whole thing is pretty interesting, but the relevant part is this paragraph:

Before proceeding to the psychological tests, however, we tried another in physics to satisfy my curiosity. A harness composed of rubber tubing was strapped around Ruth's chest and shoulders and attached by hollow tubes to a recording cylinder. By this means his breathing was recorded on a revolving disk. He was then placed in position to bat, an imaginary pitcher pitched an imaginary ball, and he went through the motions of hitting a home run. The test proved that, as a ball is pitched to him, Babe draws in his breath sharply as he makes the back-swing with his bat, and really "holds his breath" or suspends the operation of his breathing until after the ball is hit. But for that fact, he would hit the ball much harder and more effectively than he now does. It has been discovered that the act of drawing in the breath and holding it results in a sharp tension of the muscles and a consequent loss of striking power. If Ruth expelled his breath before striking the ball, the muscles would not become tense and his swing would have greater strength and rhythm.

So there you have it, proof that Babe Ruth used the Valsalva Maneuver to hit all his home runs, and even in 1921, scientists advocate against it. I guess some things never change.

[Mark Rippetoe]

Amazing that Exercise Scientists have been unable to ask the right questions and perform a correct analysis for the past Century.

[Brian Harlin]

I have started incorporating the valsalva when bowling. It's hard to tell how effective it is though. My first game is always the worst because there is no warm up. My second game is always much better, but I've also had 2-3 pints of "Aiming fluid" by that point as well. I will keep experimenting with the valsalva and maybe introducing aiming fluid and a warm up earlier and report back.

[Jacobnorton]

I have started incorporating the valsalva when bowling. It's hard to tell how effective it is though. My first game is always the worst because there is no warm up. My second game is always much better, but I've also had 2-3 pints of "Aiming fluid" by that point as well. I will keep experimenting with the valsalva and maybe introducing aiming fluid and a warm up earlier and report back.

I do it when I swing my golf club as well. Feels much more solid and my back never aches after golfing anymore.

[Bill Been]

I have started incorporating the valsalva when bowling. It's hard to tell how effective it is though. My first game is always the worst because there is no warm up. My second game is always much better, but I've also had 2-3 pints of "Aiming fluid" by that point as well. I will keep experimenting with the valsalva and maybe introducing aiming fluid and a warm up earlier and report back.

Ironically, as the Anchor Man for the All-KSU Champion Chugging Team in 1984, I can attest that very rapid intake of aiming fluid demands exactly the opposite from your glottis, requiring an ability to volitionally relax it and keep it relaxed as approximately a quart of aiming fluid flows by. At this time, the efficacy of such bi-directionally skilled glottis control during the lifting of weights is unknown.

[Brian Harlin]

Ironically, as the Anchor Man for the All-KSU Champion Chugging Team in 1984, I can attest that very rapid intake of aiming fluid demands exactly the opposite from your glottis, requiring an ability to volitionally relax it and keep it relaxed as approximately a quart of aiming fluid flows by. At this time, the efficacy of such bi-directionally skilled glottis control during the lifting of weights is unknown.

I submit that alternating sets of relaxed Glotis for intake of aiming fluid with contracted Glotis for application of the valsalva is the appropriate prescription for addressing Glotis amnesia resulting in the Glotis not firing. This will be addressed in my upcoming book "Functional training for non-sports."

[Jay Mund]

If Ruth expelled his breath before striking the ball, the muscles would not become tense

They had the correct analysis. They just didn't know it.

[DirtyRed]

I do it when I swing my golf club as well. Feels much more solid and my back never aches after golfing anymore.

PROTIP: When playing money games with your friends, ask them if they inhale or exhale when they swing. Stand back and watch them shank it.

Asking which dimple they look at also works. Both even work on the putting green.