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Showing posts from March, 2018

Can You Do Weight Lifting If You Have Keratoconus?

Many patients are asking if they can still do weight lifting since they have keratoconus.   During weight lifting, in order to carry tons of weight, a powerlifter may utilise a breathing pattern which involves  Valsalva manoeuvre.  According to wikipedia, t he V alsalva  manoeuvre  is performed by moderately forceful attempted exhalation against closed airway,  usually done by closing one's mouth, pinching one's nose shut while pressing out as if blowing up a balloon. Other situations where Valsava manoeuvre is done are during  diving, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, air travel and sometimes even going to the restroom doing your number 1.   According to Findley, Keating and Toscano (2003), the Valsalva manoeuvre is commonly used in powerlifting  to stabilise the trunk during activities such as squat, deadlift, and bench press.    So what happens to the cornea when Valsalva manoeuvre is done?   A study by Drun et al (2017) recorded the measurements of the corneal curvature,