Elbow pains with tricep workouts

[John.from.VT]

Hey all, I'm trying to pinpoint a cause and solution to a recurring problem I have when performing triceps exercises. It seems that towards the end of my workouts I start to have slight pain under arm/above my elbow, normally by the time I'm doing standing tricep extensions, which is usually one of my last exercises.

It feels like a tendon or muscle "popping" on the way back up, sometimes it's a show stopper for the day. It's not the joint. Only happens with one arm. Never had any arm injuries or anything. What could this be??

[Arnold]

i dunno but maybe youre doing it too fast, ive heard you should do triceps slowly

[J-Rock]

Do you do chest on the same day with triceps? I see you have 1-2years experience, but how long have you been lifting consistently? It could be that you are going heavier than your tendons can handle, your overtraining, or your form is incorrect while performing the exercise.

[Eric3237]

It sounds like, the way you worded it that you are dong a whole bunch of different tricep extensions. That's the problem. The triceps are fairly big and, as J-Rock said is is possble for the strength and the volume you can handle to outstrip what the tendons and joint can handle. You need to stop doing so many tricep extensions, if that is what you are doing. Do more pressing.

Also, are you doing bicep curls? Hammer curls and regular curls (dfferent kinds) can help balance this problem.

You should probably stay off it for a while and then re-evaluate your routine.

[Hilton]

i had a similar problem with my elbow but it was more of a tingling sensation in my elbow when i got to the last few reps of my bench press, dose anyone have any ideas on what it may be?

[Eric3237]

A nerve being tweaked. Not necessarily in your elbow since if it was the ulnar nerve it would probably cause a tingling sensation down your arm and into your hand. So if it's just isolated to the elbow I guess it could come from a nerve being entrapped somewhere above that...but I don't know which one.

[MONSTAFACE]

and honestly, if you get any joint pain at all my advice is to take off immediatly. i say if it happens anywhere between 2 and 3 workouts take off. because if you dont the problem gets worst and worst and takes longer to get heal. take off without doing anything for a week or 2, then before you get back on to any heavy chest workouts get some pushups in.


i know yo umay not want to take any time off but you dont want it to get worst.

[widdoes2504]

Originally Posted by MONSTAFACE

and honestly, if you get any joint pain at all my advice is to take off immediatly. i say if it happens anywhere between 2 and 3 workouts take off. because if you dont the problem gets worst and worst and takes longer to get heal. take off without doing anything for a week or 2, then before you get back on to any heavy chest workouts get some pushups in.


i know yo umay not want to take any time off but you dont want it to get worst.

Good point. You need to make sure your ego does not get in your way. What I mean is that it is understandable that you would want to "work through" the pain and continue to make gains. The down side of this is that in the long run you are probably going to be worse off, pain wise, than you are now and will stop progressing and start falling back, training wise.

You have to know your body and what it is telling you. Pain is there for a reason, to let you know something is wrong. It is better to figure it out now rather than develop serious problems later. Good luck.

[MONSTAFACE]

great minds think alike widdoes

[John.from.VT]

Thanks for the input guys. Usually I do chest a day or two before triceps workouts, and yes, I probably do more extensions than presses. I do do bicep curls and others as well on other days.

I have been going to the gym regularly for 1 to 2 years, but more so in the last year. I travel a lot for work, like 50% of the year and sometimes I do have access to facilities and sometimes I don't. I'll take some time off on the triceps and let that elbow heal itself a bit.