Tony’s Injury
For those of you who I coach and who get my weekly emails, you already know about Tony Horton’s recent injury. For those of you who just lurk on this site without making me your coach … you are missing out LOL! I’m always disseminating helpful information and great tips to my team. Come join us!
Anyways, more about Tony and his injury. He was explaining on a call yesterday how he got hurt, and what he’s doing now about it, so let me fill you in. It gives us some insight into what makes Tony tick, and why he is so successful at what he does – ATTITUDE! It’s all about having the right attitude, despite our circumstances.
Tony tore his bicep muscle completely from the bone last Sunday (a little over a week ago). While I initially didn’t know how, I figured it was doing some difficult exercise move. He likes climbing ropes, using peg boards, and doing all sorts of challenging feats of his upper body strength and balance. He shared yesterday that he injured himself while doing “iron cross flys on rings with my feet on a stability ball”. **Mental note — don’t try that! While executing the exercise, his right bicep muscle tore completely loose from the bone and he knew it was serious. He had surgery that Wednesday to repair it.
Bicep tears take a long time to heal, and rehab will take several months. At age 52, a normal guy might think this is a sign to hang it up. But would that be the kind of attitude that you’d expect from Tony? Of course not! He’s an inspiration to millions because he doesn’t let excuses get in the way of being healthy and fit. Here’s his take:
He says that this injury has taught him one of the greatest lessons in life. He recalled Eric from the PlyoX videos (they guy with the prosthetic leg). Tony remembers that Eric couldn’t do any of the exercises at first, but he KEPT SHOWING UP. It was hard for him, but he KEPT SHOWING UP. Eric didn’t make excuses that he couldn’t do Plyo with a prosthetic leg. He KEPT SHOWING UP! And we have all seen Eric in the PlyoX video, putting everyone to shame on one leg!
As a side note, I still remember the first time I did PlyoX, I was certain that Tony was kidding about Eric having a prosthetic leg, because I figured there is no way he could really be doing all of those exercises with a prosthetic. I learned a good lesson from that! Excuses are for quitters! Stop making excuses and KEEP SHOWING UP!
Tony says that this injury will force him to take a break from his bread and butter Upper Body Lift Workouts — his favorite thing to do. And as a result, he will have more time to build other areas of his fitness that aren’t as “fun” for him — cardio, core, lower body, and plyo. He sees this as an OPPORTUNITY to work on other areas and get better!
Here’s a great quote from Tony:
“If the top is broken, work on the bottom”
“If the bottom is broken, work on the top”
“If both the top and the bottom are broken, work on the core!”
So if Tony, age 52 with a serious injury and surgery, doesn’t plan on slowing down and letting it derail his fitness, why should any of us let anything stand in our way! How inspiring!
Tony also spent several minutes talking about how excited he is for the future of Beachbody and the products / workout programs that are available now as well as what’s coming in the future. As Tony says, Beachbody is the world leader in fitness programs and supplements because their stuff WORKS! The proof is in the pudding! It’s one thing to market and give sales pitches about why a workout program or supplement will help you. But Beachbody’s approach is entirely different. They don’t “sell” anything. They simply show RESULTS! Everyone who uses their workout programs and uses their supplements becomes a walking advertisement because their results speak for themselves. Those of you who are committed to the workouts and supplements know exactly what I’m talking about. We ARE the advertising, because everyone sees what Beachbody has done for our health and fitness.
No gimmicks — just hard workouts, top of the line supplements like Shakeology and Results/Recovery Formula, and a community for support, motivation, and accountability. Beachbody has really found a winning combination, and Tony has been an integral part of that combination from the start. It’s only getting stronger with the addition of new star-trainers like Shaun T, the expansion of workout programs to suit multiple fitness levels, the pipeline of new workout programs coming in the future, and the network of coaches (like me!) that are fostering a groundswell of passion and commitment to get results and inspire others to join this revolution. I can’t help but get even more excited to be a Beachbody coach after hearing Tony Horton talk about the future of this organization!
I have no doubt that Tony will be back, stronger than ever, in a few months. The doctors said the surgery went great, and every sign is that Tony is mentally and physically ready to rehab with 100% passion. And we will be even more inspired to see him overcome what seemed like a big setback because he attacks life with the right ATTITUDE!
Do you have that same attitude? Do you look for what you CAN do instead of focusing on what you CAN’T? Do you find excuses to quit or reasons to keep going?
Tony is the definition of “Bring It!”. No excuses! Bring it!!
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I know that he will back stronger tha before.we only have to follow his leadership and keep pushing every day and never be a quitter.keep bring it.my praises are with him.thanks coach for this post.now l have one more reason to bring it.
Thanks for the update. I was waiting to hear about it. I have no idea what the workout he was doing looks like. Very sorry to hear he’ll be out for awhile but I think he should track his progress and make a rehab dvd that can encourage others.
Did he mention if he is still going to run the 5k in D.C. on June 11th?
Hey Paula, he didn’t mention that, so I don’t know. I remember seeing that scheduled, and as far as I know they haven’t changed, so I would suspect that he will.
Thanks for the update Coach!
I am so relieved to hear that Tony’s surgery was successful and that he is already on the road to recovery!
I hope ( and know ) that Tony will have a full and speedy recovery.
“he kept showing up” – what a great message to us all. That is indeed all it takes.
I tried to google ““iron cross flys on rings with my feet on a stability ball”” and this is the best I could come up with.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rings_%28gymnastics%29
Picture in the top right is an iron cross. no idea what an “iron cross FLY” is however.
This is a awesome post CW, I was on the call also…his motivation got me so pumped, that I plan on signing up to coach in a week. He’s a true living legend and great motivator. =-)
Great post coach pure Motivation!!!
That injury will only make him stronger and it will be a quick recovery do to the great condition he is in already, All my prayer’s to Tony that he will be back soon and stronger then ever for the next fabulous workout programs.. Thanks for the update Coach Wayne good inspiration.. No Excuses! just bring it!
awesome post coach! Love the quote about if the bottom is broke work the top. Successful people succeed for a reason. What an amazing outlook on life he has
Ahh coach, I don’t think the proof of the superiority of Beachbody’s products can be found in the pudding. I think we more correctly find our proof in the Shakeology, in the Asylum, in the ChaLean Fire, in the X, in the . . . well you get the point :)
Haha Deanna, good point! I shouldn’t use the word “pudding”, since that’s not in our vocabularies anymore!!
ooch poor tony… glad he is ok now and gonna get back on the horse as soon as possible! I cant wait to do P90X MC2
So this means I might have a chance to catch up and hang with Tony during the workouts? I doubt it! All kidding aside, I’m sure Tony will come back and still kick the pants off of me! I wish “The Man” nothing but good luck on his recovery and look forward to someday working out with him in person.
Get Some!
Thanks wayne for that article. Tony is the man. I had never thought about Eric in the videos the way you explained. That makes perfect sense. If he can do it, I had better do it.
Coach,
I take exception with the way you talk about Tony being “52″, and most 52 year olds would take this as a sign to “hang it up.” I’m 53 and in the best shape of my life for a couple of years now and I would not consider letting a serious injury change that.
Twenty years ago 60 was the new 40. So now I think 52 is the new 30. That about how old I feel and I’m in way better shape than most 30 year olds.
Anyway, I’m just kidding. I haven’t check in for quite a while but still bringing it everyday
Tim
This also shows how extreme exercise can cause injury if not done properly or too often. Tony is in great shape and still got hurt. It’s important to eat good food to fuel your body, get good sleep and use your recovery weeks as a time to rest. Your body will talk to you and let you know when it’s time to ease up. I don’t agree with the whole concept that you need to go 110% all the time. Your body will eventually break down no mater who you are.
Hey Jordan, while I agree that we news to know the limits of our bodies and take needed rest, I don’t think we should equate a specific athletic injury with our “bodies breaking down”. Tonys body clearly didn’t break down — he sustained an injury.
An iron cross in gymnastics is when the gymnast is balancing on the rings with their arms straight out to the sides, making a cross shape with their body. Beginner move…. :)
I dont think I said Tony’s body broke down did I? I mentioned that doing extreme exercise too frequently or not properly will result in an injury, which I think was Tony’s case. When your body runs out of Glycogen it cannot repair muscle tissue. I then mentioned that it was important to replenish your body during and after workouts. For instance, even Steve Edwards in his blog mentions that it is important to take time of from P90X even because your body will break down.
Just had to make a comment about Tim52 saying 60 being the new 40, and 52 being the new 30. I will be honest with you. I am 35, and two weeks ago was doing the same old eating crappy foods, and not really working out. I felt horrible. Two weeks back into P90X, and an extremely healthy diet…Maybe 35 will being the new 21! LOL
Rehabilitation. Right after surgery, your arm may be immobilized in a cast or splint.
Your doctor will soon begin having you move your arm, often with the protection of a brace. He or she may prescribe physical therapy to help you regain range of motion and strength.
Resistance exercises, such as lightly contracting the biceps or using elastic bands, may be gradually added to your rehabilitation plan.
Be sure to follow your doctor’s treatment plan. Since the biceps tendon takes 2 to 3 months to fully heal, it is important to protect the repair by restricting your activities.
Light work activities can begin soon after surgery. But heavy lifting and vigorous activity should be avoided for several months.
Although it is a slow process, your commitment to your rehabilitation plan is the most important factor in returning to all the activities you enjoy.
Surgical Outcome. Almost all patients have full range of motion at the final follow-up doctor visit.
After time, return to heavy activities and jobs involving manual labor is a reasonable expectation.
Tony Horton is a man we can all learn from. His dedication and perseverance with his fitness is a benchmark we should all aspire to reach! Thanks Coach!
My favorite quote from the call was still TH throwing out the “it’s better than selling crack” comment. Cant remember the exact topic but I think he was discussing MaryKay cosmetics.
Next time you get him on the phone let him know that all of Washington, D.C. is EAGER to see him at the NPC 5K. It will NOT be the same without him. We are all just running so we can get to meet him after the race :)
If there is anyone who is going to get through this it’s Mr. Horton. Tony! Tony! Tony!
I think in the Legs and Back video, Tony also talks about how he shattered his knee as a kid and as a result, some days he has to modify his moves. I also like the quote that he said, “Get out of your head about it, man. Just show up.” I suffered a freak injury to my right shoulder and as a result, my lifting amount went way down. I was curling 25′s with good form, but since the injury (which I have no idea what happened – no pain or numbness, just weak…), my right lat, bicep, and deltoid have gone weak. As a result, I was challenged while curling 10 and 15 lbs. I was bummed about it, but decided to just “Do my best, and forget the rest!” I may not be gaining like I was, but I’m on the P-Lifetime-X journey. So, this won’t dereail me from pushing play, doing my best, and eating healthy everyday! Once I regain my strength… you better believe I’m gonna BRING IT!!
Great post Wayne! I got so much from that call as well especially the part you mentioned about “showing up”. When I started, that’s about all I could do because P90X was so hard. But little by little, I got stronger and stronger. You have to start somewhere and once you do, just don’t ever quit!
As Has already mentioned several times, C/W. Thanks for “our Tony” updates We all care so much for him and for everything he stands for in this world of fitness and nutrition. And although i have never met him I have invited him into our home everyday for the passed six months and he has become a part of our extended family. With all his one liners and antics, we love-em. We wish and pray for a full and speedy recovery,Tony Horton :@}
Hello Coach. So it may sound sorta dumb, but I would just assume that this is going to delay the coming out date of P90X MC2??
Hey RH, not at all. All filming is already complete, so this shouldn’t affect that at all.
This is good to hear I broke my foot at work and I had to have a screw put in 2 weeks ago. I was finishing 9 months of working out so to have this happen really sucked..
A week and a half into rd 2 my appendix decides it wants to come out. As soon as the Dr. Confirmed my first though was ‘how soon until I can workout.?’ Actually that was my first thought when I felt the pain in my side. H well. I can’t lift for a while, but the Dr. Said I CAN run. I guess we gotta do what our bodies allow us. Once healthy again I’ll start pushing the body to limit and beyond. Hat’s how you change!
One of Tony’s elbows/biceps was tighter than the other, he couldn’t straighten it out like the other. Evident in his last one on one DVD where he asks Mason to step on the elbow as he stretched it. I’m going to assume that this was the one that tore.
I just ordered Insanity. I completed round one of P90X, but didn’t do the nutrition well enough–gained mass and didn’t really loose a lot of body fat percentage. How do I make you my coach?
Hey Jeremy, just click the “join our team” link at the top of the screen, and then follow the directions to either make me your coach or to do a coach switch if you already have a coach. Looking forward to it man!
I love it. What an encouragement to know that if I keep showing up i will see results. I’m grateful for p90x and what it’s doing for me.
I will see Tony this Thursday at a book signing and work out in DC. I wonder how scaled back the workout will be…..
Good question! Let us know Chris!
Coach Wayne and TeamRIPPED,
I wanted to share some info with yall… On this message board, you can read how I had a freak shoulder injury that has derailed my P90X workouts for a while. After a lot of investigating, I think I’ve narrowed down what exercise possibly caused my shoulder to become weak.
Dumbbell Upright Rows
Apparently, if you use too much weight and don’t really focus on your form, you can really hurt your shoulder, namely the deltoid and shoulder stabilizers. Now, everyone’s body is different, but from different weight lifting/body building forums and other fitness websites/blogs I’ve seen, this is not an uncommon problem. So, I wanted to share some of the common solutions I’ve found in hopes to help others not make my mistake.
1.) Form and Flexibility – Elbows should be pointed straight to the side.
Be careful about lifting the elbows really high. I know Tony says to lift the elbows to the ears, but some folks are more flexible in their shoulders than others, so listen to your shoulders and how they react.
2.) Weight – Use light weights (5-10lbs) and high reps when first starting this exercise to build up the stabilizer muscles in the shoulder. When doing heavy weights (15-20lbs) and lower reps, don’t lift the weights past your lower chest (nipple height), and keep elbows at or below shoulder level.
Based on my symptoms, this is what I think possibly caused my injury. My shoulder is slowly getting stronger, but I’m still not where I was so I’m lifting less weight and modifying EVERYTHING! lol. Fact is, the shoulder is the one body part that I think Tony should have stressed more about building the stabilizer muscles by using low weights/high reps before trying to bulk. By nature, the shoulder is the weakest joint of the body, but it is also one of the most important. This joint is just a ball and socket held together by a complex network of tendons and muscles. Take care of your joints and listen to your body!
BRING IT!!
What a bummer. One of the best things about P90X is working so hard, without getting hurt. Knock on wood. :)
I notice that Tony had his right elbow wrapped in the last of the 1 on 1 videos. Diamond Delts?
After coming back from blowing up my knee 10 years ago, I wish everyone with injury well. I lost 4″ around my hurt leg’s thigh. Took me years and years to come back. Now I always, always hold the door for people on crutches.
Thanks for the update.
Injury: Coach I’ve got a strained gastroc (calf). I can basically do all minus some leg excercises and I cannot touch plyo (too much pain). What do you think I can sub in for plyo? This week I subbed in core syn and did all minus the halfback move at the end. I’m pretty content right now with weight and body fat %. I’m currently looking to keep body fat % in line and continue to build mass. I’m 5’6 – 142 lb. Would you recommend continue w/ core in place of plyo, or add in another weight day? I’m currently in week #9 of classic. If an added weight day, would I be overworking and not giving the muscles time to recover? I had been subbing core in for yoga and was running on Kenpo X day…kicker: Strained calf while running, not P90X.
Tuesday: Core or your rec. weight day
Thursday: Yoga (arghh) or core or weight day
Sat: Kenpo X
Hey Tyler, sorry to hear about your calf. Hopefully it’ll heal up quickly. Don’t do extra lift days (your muscles need the day of recovery from heavy lifting). Using Core Syn is a great substitution for Plyo. And yes you’ll have to do the Yoga LOL! If you can handle Kenpo without making the calf worse, then stick with that as well.
Hey Coach,
Any word on how Tony is doing in regards to recovery, I know you have the “In” with Beach body news!
Tony is doing great. While the bicep will take a while to heal, he’s still been leading the congressional workouts and just this weekend did a workout in LA with thousands of coaches. The dude is a machine!
Goes to tell that you also need to use that muscle inside of your scull. LISTEN to Your body not just dvds.
Hey Level99! I’m not sure what you are implying, but in any sport there is always a risk of injury. Tony has worked out every day (sometimes multiple times per day) and held up quite amazingly. Injuries happen to the best athletes though. I’d say Tony is a brilliant trainer and he’s the one that coined the phrase “listen to your body”, btw!
I’ve just registered to work out with Tony at one of his appearances on 9/17/11 in Connecticut, so I’ll be able to see first hand how he’s doing. I’m sure he’ll be “Bringing It” (even with an injured arm).
Awesome Joe! Have a blast! Tony will definitely be bringing it full force!