Powerlifting doesn’t just make your legs stronger; it might give your brain a workout, too

Researchers have preliminary evidence that powerlifting might provide additional brain stimulation for young brain trauma patients.Josh Goblowsky was in a serious car accident when he was a toddler and remained for a coma for weeks. Doctors didn't think he'd survive."Once they figured out he would survive, none of them believed he would ever recover," said Mark Goblowsky, Josh's dad. "They thought he’d be kind of in a vegetative state."Now 17 years old, Josh began powerlifting three times a week. After eight weeks of training, he could lift more than 500 pounds.Max Kurz, a researcher at the University of Nebraska Medical Center Munroe-Meyers Institute in Omaha, believes that pathways to the brain are stronger and work better after powerlifting.He's studying Josh's progress through brain scans and has been studying other young brain trauma patients."We’re training him like a Nebraska football player would and we’re seeing some dramatic changes, which are very, very exciting to have," Kurz said.Watch the video above to learn about Josh's story and see how far he's come since his life-changing accident.

Researchers have preliminary evidence that powerlifting might provide additional brain stimulation for young brain trauma patients.


Josh Goblowsky was in a serious car accident when he was a toddler and remained for a coma for weeks. Doctors didn't think he'd survive.

"Once they figured out he would survive, none of them believed he would ever recover," said Mark Goblowsky, Josh's dad. "They thought he’d be kind of in a vegetative state."

Now 17 years old, Josh began powerlifting three times a week. After eight weeks of training, he could lift more than 500 pounds.

Max Kurz, a researcher at the University of Nebraska Medical Center Munroe-Meyers Institute in Omaha, believes that pathways to the brain are stronger and work better after powerlifting.

He's studying Josh's progress through brain scans and has been studying other young brain trauma patients.

"We’re training him like a Nebraska football player would and we’re seeing some dramatic changes, which are very, very exciting to have," Kurz said.

Watch the video above to learn about Josh's story and see how far he's come since his life-changing accident.