Bicep work---why are my elbows sore?

[kellymom]

Hi, Cathe!

I hope I'm catching you while you're on here, but if not, I hope you'll see this!

I've noticed lately that when I'm doing heavy bicep work (currently using the Gym Styles) my elbows start feeling sore and achey. It's particularly on the inside where the arm bends. It's not a muscle pain, I know that. Is this just par for the course when trying to increase strength, or am I harming something? It seems worse with a barbell than with dumbbells of the same weight. It was bad enough today during the slow count barbell curls that I had to skip some exercises even though my biceps weren't at failure yet. Any thoughts would be appreciated!

Thanks, and have a great New Year!

Kelly

 

[Juice]

I have the same problem. Looking forward to seeing the responses.

 

[Cathe Friedrich]

Hi Kelly! You are not alone. This happens to others too. Check to make sure that your wrists are strong and straight during the entire portion of the curl. Be sure that you don't lift too much, too soon, and or too frequently. Be sure that your forearms are well conditioned (you can do additional forearm exercises once a week to condition them).

For now while they are extremely sore to the touch, take a few days off of any exercise that causes discomfort. Ice your sore spot a few times a day and after a few days begin doing light forearm exercises three times per week to strengthen this area. If you feel no discomfort then start with light weight for your usual bicep exercises for a couple of weeks before advancing with gradual weight increments. If you start back and still feel quite tender, you may have the start of what is known as golfers elbow (pain and tenderness on the inner side of the elbow....tennis elbow would be pain on the outer side of the elbow).

If possibly so, it is best to continue to take days off of exercises that aggravate the area and continue to ice, stretch, strengthen and take an advil or something of that nature. If after two more weeks, the pain persists, I recommend seeing your doc for treatment and or a therapy program.

 

[normandy]

> ... Be sure
>that your forearms are well conditioned (you can do additional
>forearm exercises once a week to condition them).
>
Have most of (and absolutely love) your heavy weight workouts, but don't really see any exercises devoted to forearms. What would be good for developing forearm strength? Thanks!