What happened to Markus Ruhl's Chest?

Towards the end of his career Markus Ruhl has developed a significant sized gap between his pecs. What could be the cause of this?
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[@TubetakerBHV]

Markus Rühl himself explained in interviews that he torn his breast muscle during the offseason but didnt realize this injury (because it didnt hurt or was noticeable) until the diat phase before some competition. And because of that he ended his career as a pro bodybuilder. He never made a secret out of this issue.

[@fauxyer3687]

Thunfischproteinshake

[@iTheRazor]

sonst funktionierts ned alda

[@johannesschaf1301]

dem bedarfs!

[@wildanS]

Dayum (srs)

[@yugiohhustler5466]

fauxyer schmeckt wie ne kalte Fidchsuppe. Rischtisch geil

[@fd-pj3uk]

Isch protal

[@felixgay409]

Markus rühl had a problem with his chest. He had an injury this is also one of the reasons he stoped competing (sry for bad english im from germany)

[@TheNYgolfer]

Felix Gay As a fellow German speaking Austrian I have to say you write very well

[@Exekutioncro]

Hi (sorry for my bad english)

[@TheMd1975]

Felix Gay I heard that he had a minor tear and didn't have it repaired. And if you look at some pictures of Markus, you see his right side shows the weird gap first. You also see that his right side pec is shaped oddly about half way down. It seems like a non repaired minor tear. Over the next 2-3 years I would guess (seeing it was not repaired) that he kept training and over time the nerves just got more damaged. Causing it to spread across to the nerves and connection with the left side. Or for a really simple way to understand. His right side was hurt and like killing a tree 1 root at a time. It slowly cut blood and nerve control to the left...the tissue atrophy caused the gap look.

[@bletwort2920]

Are you gay? (Sorry for bad Chinese I am Russian)

[@Marco-gi7ks]

Wie kommst du auf op? Eine seite ist beim training über und das ging auf die andere über und er sagte man kann es nicht operieren kann, sagte er glaub vor 1 oder 2 jahren indem video bei sportnahrung engel shop eröffnung

[@adsasdsdasdasd3079]

In a lot of german videos markus rühl said that he tore his whole chest due to his heavy training which was the reason for the gap. Thats the reason he stopped competing. He also has his own youtube chanel but its unfortunately only in german

[@Reece29287]

adsasd sdasdasd no more heavy chest movements for me then

[@ep9144]

Inyourhouse He used tl warm up with your max, so no need to worry

[@spodergibbs5088]

ReeceIsInYourHouse you will never lift heavy

[@sukmadek8626]

Comment percentages: 20% bodybuilding memes 40% people complaining about Vince's comment 30% could "blank" have been a bodybuilder 1% Vince 9% random shit

[@EnteKross123]

*30% Nick`s Power and Fitness

[@madbear3512]

25 % responsing and bitching to Vince comments

[@madbear3512]

5 % hedge

[@papichagra3333]

SukMa Dek lets modify it, 0.000001% your commentary :)

[@VerisimilitudeDude]

100% anal penetration.

[@Egal339]

Markus rühl Said in a Videos on his yt Channel that he haf an Issue with his chest caused to the "too"Heavy weights he trained with for a too Long time

[@sandro1017]

Fynn Breidbach Yes... chest muscle demolition

[@madbear3512]

So why deanzt arolnd have it

[@VerisimilitudeDude]

Fynn Breidbach That's the problem with ego lifting... too many injuries.

[@MrKid351]

Robert Reid They don't do all of the same exercises. They are building strength, not muscle mass.

[@phillipmartinez2436]

they also usually use shoulders more than chest. and do low volume more rest between exercises and more days off. They use more mechanically advantageous techniques rather than isolation. Better leverage, techniques and even equipment allows them to lift heavier weights.

[@Mer134]

"Nick's Power and Fitness" Yup, you got it right boi..

[@AFCAWorldBodybuildingArchive]

Imagine what a mutant a guy would be who could achieve Palumboism/Lennyism and Steinerism at the same time. Instant Mr. O!

[@IronWarrior86]

The ultimate anathema, lol.

[@streetrider2487]

Literally....One Huge O hahahaha

[@proteineggfart29]

Don't forget Pianaism and the penguin walk

[@usmilitary280]

Would love to see such a thing

[@bradcastlebury3310]

I love Markus, trained with him but we didn't get on, I lifted more than him of course and he didn't like it, well I lift more than everyone, so get used to it!

[@madbear3512]

Brad Castlebury So we're you using fake or real plates

[@ramo650]

Brad Castlebury Boooommm right babe?

[@arnepolli5871]

madbear3512 its a Joke

[@ericvandeboogaard4196]

Good for you ...And how many olympia s you did???

[@VerisimilitudeDude]

You also have more dingleberries than everyone, and I'm used to it!

[@officefishwatch]

Markus actually talked about that in several videos, and that this was the reason why he retired.

[@ViralKiller]

Nick's Power and CrossFit is the correct term

[@ShoNuffKMW]

Everybody's watching these videos, Nick, because they're terrified that it's gonna happen to them, LOL🤣

[@luckyprincecc6860]

Krys well I'm scared of mine too I'm 17 and I see a space on my upper chest kinda same as mark ruhl

[@salthe21st47]

albaniangamer Albaniangamer you may just have ugly pecs genetically

[@phillipmartinez2436]

I had that too I used to over work my chest. I worked flat bench everyday from 15 to 18 years old. My chest looked uneven and small, it also looked like I had a gap. I learned proper lifting and avoided flat bench and started using dumbbells. I used to put more weight on one side of the bar and would unevenly lift the weight, this caused one pec to get bigger along with over training, my chest looked bad and undeveloped.

[@Goremachine]

My theory is that it's caused by bouncing heavy barbells off of the chest during bench press. The gap seems to always be where the bar would touch the chest.

[@nebelschwadenbilder]

Markus mentions his breast injury in his retirement statement. It was a right pec tear, which happened silently without any pain or whatsoever. He didnt even notice it in the off season and was even more surprised when it started showing during cutting.

[@Crashtechs]

I’ve had mine since birth. I have always had a small gap there. In my case, it was genetic. I have never injured my chest and have only been lifting for 2 years

[@bicepslave8549]

“Nicks Power and Fitness” ya close enough buddy lol

[@bobdoyle5945]

it's without a doubt a training injury, when you push yourself to the extreme often enough you will suffer some of these injuries.. sadly this one is disfiguring.

[@ViTIRoXgamingTV]

Markus actually talked about it in an old video together with Matthias Botthoff. He said that it also came over time as a product of very heavy training. He said that it just seperated out as the muscle resolved from the tendon. He also claimed that it didn't really hurt at all. It's been a lingering process. Her's the video I'm talking about: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y3bCfWWVg7CBfpom40s

[@soggy_popcorn]

Das passiert, wenn man zu viele Thunfischproteinshakes trinkt 😂

[@ACE-zf6do]

David K. 😂😂

[@hendrik2989]

I think you´re right on that, as I occasionally watch Markus Rühl´s yt channel and he once mentioned that he had a chest injury which also is at least one of the reasons or even the main reason he stopped competing.

[@hendrik2989]

sorry I just saw someone already mentioned that

[@Nvsliftss]

In one seminar he told the viewers that he got a torn pectoralis in the end of his career maybe that's the reason

[@goated1015]

Nicks power and fitness*

[@EnteKross123]

4:35 "Nick's Power and Fitness" IS BACK LMAOOOO hahahaha wtf why cant nobody pronounce that name correctly

[@keyboardwarrior0082]

It was his main point why he end his career. Edit: he said before that it comes from a injury in a viedeo on his channel here.

[@krmass24]

Appears to be muscle attachment points under stress and peeling back slowly internally. See if you can figure out if the muscle has peeled back or atrophied and that will tell you if it is nerve damage or more of a spreading action like a pallet spreader / seperator. With overly tight muscle groups there could be a lot of stress on the sternum and the pulling might actually create scar tissue in between the joint in the chest. It should be one or the other.

[@thurgrum]

He talked about this it was a Inner Pec tear increasing over time and he had surgery to stop it prior to his come back at the night of champions and Olympia I believe 2008.

[@tomschubert8550]

If you look at the left side of his chest, it looks disformed (perhaps torn) on the right, however, it looks normal, so a tear or sudden injury would make sense being that only one side seems affected.

[@VoltaGhost]

Scott Steiner damn near died after a kick to the throat in the ring...they had to crack open his chest to save his life which caused the damage you see now.

[@estelombo]

Finally someone actually researches!!!!

[@ramoncruz1007]

It looks like he had a right pec tear, his left pec still looks ok In the one image.

[@sandro1017]

Ramon Cruz you got it.... Injury From Training... chest muscle demolition

[@finchy015]

Partial muscle death

[@sbFreakinxRican]

Nerve damage at the neuromuscular junction causing muscular atrophy

[@chudy-ko5jb]

I think the cause of that kind of damage could be the way how Marcus was doing the super heavy bench presses, as hi stated in one of his videos this was when it started appearing. VERY POSSIBLE AND MOST LIKELY BY BOUNCING THE BAR OF OFF HIS CHEST WHILE DOING SUPER HEAVY CHEST PRESSES . Muscle fibers would be under the stretch as it usually is, but bouncing heavy weight on the bar could cause micro damage to the muscle fiber by CRUSHING it and to the nerves at the same time. This would be like micro CRUSHING the muscle fibers while its under tension and stretch at the same time. At the early phase of Marcus chest damage we can see it started showing only on one side so there is no reason to the other side be damaged at the same time. Later it got evenly spread on the other side and i think its because he was continuing doing the same thing over and over without knowing and realizing it. This would have to be analyzed how every individual is working out especially in early phase when damage is starting showing up? Every single one of this bodybuilders have damage to the both sides and looking pretty even on both sides so it could not be like big muscle tear at a single occasion plus i never seen how somebody got injured ,mean tore chis chest from middle of it. Only happening by weakest and most stretched spot and most likely its the tendon where it is attached by the shoulder. Experienced that shit myself :(... All that its only my opinion, I'm not a doctor but been working out many years so got some experience how Human muscles are working but i could also be wrong about it...

[@abejavadi235]

One of my friends is a pro power lifter. When I see Scott Steiner's chest, I think about the videos my buddy posts of doing bench press with his teammates holding the board on his chest and I think, that's the exact spot a board would go. I wonder if he didn't cause never damage by doing a lot of very heavy bench press with a 2×4 on his chest.

[@LowEnd31st]

Not likely, pro bodybuilders really don't do board presses.

[@Hambone3773]

Agreed. Boards are a powerlifting technique and particularly a technique for geared lifters using bench shirts holding ultra heavy weight.

[@BuzzLightyeear]

He suffered a pec tear towards the end of his career which ultimately led to him retiring. He explains it all in his german youtube channel (which has a lot of followers too)

[@themadeguy7523]

Ok everybody, here is my input on the chest gap. I am a 32 yo 170 lbs , 175 cm guy. I always been pretty lean, with good genetics for building muscles. I started training at 17 y/o , with some breaks from lifting sometimes for a couple of months, but always kept a good overall shape. On the last videos on ``stenerism`` , i felt self concerned because my chest gap is not ``perfect``. I don t have a straight line with pectoral muscles touching each others. On the center of the line, i have a small separation that open and close(3 cm). And on the lower part of that ``line/gap``, i can see a separation of my pectoral muscles , making a small triangle where i can see my sternum(where the pectoral muscles goes to both sides to the ribs). I clearly remember , 10 years ago, fooling around when i first had big pectoral muscles because i would say it was a perfect size to put a beer bottle cap to open it (the 3cm gap openning and closing in the middle of my chest line). So i can say for sure i had this chest line/gap in my early 20s . Did it become worse over time? Hard to say. I have a picture of me at 20 y/o where i can see my chest, but its hard to say because my pecs where a lot smaller than now so its hard to see this condition which is obvious when pumped and with bigger muscles. I will take pictures of my chest and for sure watch if it changes with time. I never took anything other than whey protein , never even took creatine, and never insanely pushed in the gym, and never had pectoral injury, tare or even pain other than soreness. I can say though, when my pectoral muscles are sore after a workout, i am sore a little bit more near that chest line. Seems like this part of the muscle (where its attached to the sternum) is solicited a lot in training. Probably everybody feels the same but the last videos about this phenomena made me more aware and i noticed that. PS: English being my second language, i hope i explained it well. Feel free to comment if you also have a chest gap . I feel like genetics is a big part of it and i am sure a lots of people are kinda paranoid since they saw those videos. I can't imagine how much i would be worried if i was using steroids and didn't remember to have that gap when i was younger.......!

[@MrBossoTrosso]

TheMadeGuy I am identical to you, I'm 176cm, 80kg, I'm 19 i have a gap at the lower point of my chest, i can put my thumb there comfortably. I started to lift weights when i was 15 and i can remember trying to do flies constantly to grow the gap as I thought the muscle could just magically grow there, it's only noticeable when i flex and I'm lean, otherwise you wouldn't think it was there. I am 100% sure that is the way I was born. One last thing my right peck is perfect in terms of shape, but my left peck is the one missing muscle

[@JEspo83]

@@MrBossoTrosso I'm identical.

[@richpotatothebestg.m.ovegg2599]

Gotta make a wall to separate the pecs, right Trump babe?

[@KevinCummingsFitness]

Lol

[@user-xb6dk4zl7l]

Separating pecs. Trump wants to build a wall that separates Mexico from USA. I think you tried too hard for this one

[@djsb5760]

haha right babe

[@mullerhun]

Epic

[@xIEnerGy1]

Well actually Markus explained in one of his videos that he suffered an injury in chest muscle tendon because he was training with heavy weights, so his tendon was slowly torn apart by benchpressing more than 240 Kg of weight regulary.

[@darko3126]

stabil

[@SukhiBalboa]

Why didn't you play the video of the Doc transforming and morphing? Most hilarious thing I've ever seen 😂😂😂

[@dolphziggler-lundgren6711]

A NSP video over 10 minutes long? Yes please!!

[@madbear3512]

So you like it hum

[@alanheyes694]

NSP is a comedy synth rock band that writes songs about fucking chicks and saving the world. What are we talkin' about here?

[@JamesB976]

Rick Flair's chops did it to Steiner lol

[@ramiznisar4534]

Think of it this way, these people lift too heavy at their size, and probably the technique of bench press involves touching the bar at the chest, so at those weights it would cause considerable damage when you are bouncing the weights off your chest and it becomes a huge muscle tear at the point of impact. Thats a very reasonable explanation leaving out the complexities the docs explaining.

[@BabyKobeeee]

anyone else scared about getting the chest gap from lifting heavy

[@kraven4016]

Didn't Scott have his chest opened up after his throat was almost fully crushed from a kick during a match? That's why he has that tat to cover the scares I'm pretty sure. Couldn't that be the reason for the chest gap? I could be wrong but I thought that is what happened to him.

[@Exekutioncro]

He tore his chest several times ... nowadays he still cant (or dont want to) go heavy

[@evanyunck2576]

He has stated many times it was/is an irreparable fissure in the right pec. Left pec was/is normal. Its from an injury

[@NashHazzard]

It happened to a friend of mine ,Its because the tendon and ligaments that are attached to the sternum can not cope with the rapid growth of muscle caused by extreme steroid use this increases the risk of injury causing tendon detachment, when this happened his nerves died and could not be reversed. We see a lot of issues such as tendon detachment in biceps and knees as well this is because tendons and ligaments take longer to strengthen up than muscles and using steroids as we know has a mass effect on increasing muscle mass fast potentially weakening tendons and muscles not to mention making the heart larger and potentially causing death.This can happen after a very long period of time years and years but eventually as you get older it is inevitable that you will suffer a serious injury or poor health and we can all see that in many cases now from some of the great body builders of the 80s and 90s.

[@allthesesnitches4465]

Hey Nick- Markus actually said in one of his videos that he had a pec tear. Probably due to his "viel hilft viel" (alot helps alot) or "leg dich hin und drück" (lay down and push) mentality.

[@JorgeSantos-cc5vw]

Nick's bath and body works is my favorite youtuber

[@thewag86]

Kofi Kingston chest tear is from throwing his arms out to high when he lands on his back to try break his fall. this is the first thing learnt at wrestling school

[@RVBOY2]

60 percent of the time this happens all the time.

[@abc456f]

John Punt The other 40% happens all of the rest of the time.

[@AndyAttrition]

Markus had a muscle rip off during a heavy training session and had surgery to reattach the muscle.

[@hellothere5855]

You can see that its only one side of Markus chest. Its not a 'gap'. Its an injury to one side. The other side is still there.

[@veganbigboy4279]

How much would these gaps affect their bench press numbers?

[@chriscarter7196]

shoutout for Nick's Power and Fitness

[@turdmuffin1207]

"Gotta keep'm separated"

[@MrBoywonder1985]

Didn't Steiner explain why? He had emergency surgery in Puerto Rico I believe; he had a blockage in his sternum. That huge gap is just complications from surgery.

[@SykoManix]

I have met Markus ruhl in Munich this year and I understood it like that: That the chest muscle got so big that it detached from his bone

[@mcopanzan]

yes ur right, Markus at one pint even said he had a pec tear. I know there's a video of it somewhere.

[@hualni]

I think the tendons and ligaments have been stretched beyond their rebound point. No tears, just stretched. Like an old pair of underwear that won't grip you like it used to.

[@Hummy100]

There is a video by Markus Ruehl, in which he explains, what caused this change. Its from 2015, its in German, but find a way. Start at minute 3. And you know, what he himself thinks about it.

[@shabanak391]

Saw no one given the right answer So its true that he Tore his Chest but it was Not like usual that the muscle Tore from 1 repeat of a set. His Chest slowly tore over a Long Time and its inoperable. He always wanted to be one of the worlds best BB as long as he was competing and with that inoperable Injury he was Not Able to keep up with the other guys anymore so he decided to stop competing. He also admitted that the reason was Training with Heavy weights over a Long period of Time and its still getting worse. All Informations taken from his Official German KZbin Channel.

[@mikthe2004]

Markus Ruhl's chest gap did happen gradually. It got progressively worse over the years. It's unusual for pecs to tear off the sternum, as most pec tears happen towards the arm insertion. It certainly wrecked Markus's physique. Markus actually had his surgically repaired before one of his comebacks, and it did look better - although not as good as before. The doctor's explanation is too long, and to me in Markus's case, it looks fairly simply a case of the right pec tearing off the sternum.

[@felixgay409]

On his youtube channel markus talks about his problem with his chest

[@47aloha]

bad german engineering

[@weltenmonarch1891]

rühl said he kept on training after noticing sth was wrong but he states that he could see it when he was prepping for a show

[@veganbigboy4279]

The picture of Ruhl makes it look like it is more in his right pec than in the left.

[@tommyjones1891]

I love how the doctor messed up the name of your channel just like Palumbo does lol

[@paulhenryernestoklein9184]

Markus Said in some of his youtube Videos That this gap is caused By Heavy benchpress . The muscle is cut off The bone

[@hungarianbeast]

Markus was full of injuries at the end of his career. That's just a massive tore on his pecs.

[@ivandiakonu8575]

Just another reason for everyone to be careful when they lift, and to watch their form! There is definitely risk in lifting wrong. Be safe guys. Lift with your muscles, not your ego.!

[@houmanzandizadeh9159]

Nick, that’s cool to have an expert talking about these issues rather than Dave P who thinks he knows anything and everything.

[@Schmeck88]

Video on branch warren’s career please

[@devfree4117]

Thank you nick

[@mikeJones-zo8si]

Noticed lots of older guys have trouble keeping larger brachioradialis and outer quad

[@onemoresi]

Was this ever seen in the golden era bodybuilders?

[@ironman2326]

@I’m a fat piece of shit Who?

[@spodergibbs5088]

I’m a fat piece of shit incorrect.

[@GidoSpirit]

Markus had an injury. He said that in one Video on his youtube channel. He doens‘t benchpress very high weights anymore

[@alexandervonhumboldt6183]

Markus Ruhl and also Matthias Botthof, both IFBB PROs, have endet their career because of this damaged chest, caused by extremely heavy training.

[@paulnobel13]

I really didn't know, that he is famous outside of germany

[@gadigadigadigadi]

I wonder if their chest hurts during workouts

[@kanagawayarichin]

No pain no gain

[@Tobi_1957]

I think he once told he had a torn right chest. Also he had a torn quad.

[@ncy614]

I think it’s small clogged arteries like mini strokes the nerves die and no nutrients goes to the muscle because there is no or minimal blood flow .

[@Kevin_Odero]

Hi Nick, make a video on Kali Muscle. 👍👍👍

[@dds_pt]

No. I personally have Pectus...not even close. Anecdotally mine has actually closed. I'm a CSCS, PES, TPI, Pn1, CES, RKC, these chest gaps are NOT to blamed on Pectus. Nerve damage yes. Pectus absolutley not. Would have had poor insertions and origins to begin with, let alone nerve damage.

[@samcooper8793]

Seems like some of the worst/longest lasting injuries are due to repetitive actions. Be it in the weight room or in your lifestyle.

[@InHisName999]

I've always had a light gap but I also have a really large rib cage.Especially being only 5'10 and not even 170lbs.

[@ashton7845]

Nick. These chest gap vids are killing my life, I'm actually really enjoying the video but it's scaring me. How do I build more thickness in the chest?

[@dantrusty1259]

I have seen quite a few semi built guys that have a pretty big gap, and no way are they monsters on steroids.

[@JamesCarmichael]

Markus smokes and judging by some of the weight he used to push for high reps I reckon it could well be nerve damage. Such a damn shame because he was a sight and a half.

[@jacksinclair6524]

Interesting, thanks nick

[@cattycats4]

Could Vince McMahon have been a bodybuilder?

[@jenidu9642]

Please do a video about the biggest mass monsters that were ever on the Olympia stage

[@SoSolidPride]

So Nick, should the average natty gym goer be afraid of this type of damage over time?

[@theyoutubeofmyname]

Nick's Strength and Anatomy & Physiology

[@bernhardmichaelfux308]

So, Marcus Rühl himself told about this, that the Musclefibers of his Pecs slowly detached from the Bone in the middle of his chest. So he wasn`t able to work out anymore the equal intensity - and he worked out hard back then, with Bench Press more than 550lbs and so on... And, unfortunately, NOTHING can fix this issue! It is what it is, and it was the carrier - end of this lovely tender-tempered Beast that he actually is... Bytheway - Mathias Botthoff, a close Friend of Rühl, and Overall - Winner of the Arnold Classic Amateur Competition Columbus/Ohio 2011, suffers the same issue with his pecs, and also his carrier ended... Shit happens...

[@heinzbecker691]

markus said he was training to heavy over a long time of his life...now he knows that this massive heavy training isn that good for the body.

[@gmaer-sw3wh]

The line is the best for the chest muscle. Looks better.

[@mazdysoraya6121]

In my gym, there was a guy born with just one chest muscle, flat, with no nipple lol.. but he looked good.

[@ЕвгенийАртюхов-щ2в]

Is there any medical term for this phenomenon?

[@Jam-gk3kv]

I have a chest gap and not from a chest injury, literally like a 1/2 inch gap !!!

[@michaeltavares2690]

I swear if I ever get this I would never take my shirt off and it sux aboutSteiner he was my fav wrestler