str8 bar curls?

[psyko1]

Alright, I think I've read this here before but I can't find it. I do bar curls with an curling bar and not with a straight bar. The reason being, when I use a straight my wrists hurt with heavier weight. The positioning on a curl bar helps and I can go heavier. Why is it straight bars are better for mass? Should I just say fuck it and tough it out? Am I limiting my gains?

[Racer814]

same here...straight bar hurts my wrists...but I believe the straight bar hits the peak better....I usually can get by with straight bar every 3rd workout without pain

[Stonecold54]

Originally posted by psyko1
Alright, I think I've read this here before but I can't find it. I do bar curls with an curling bar and not with a straight bar. The reason being, when I use a straight my wrists hurt with heavier weight. The positioning on a curl bar helps and I can go heavier. Why is it straight bars are better for mass? Should I just say fuck it and tough it out? Am I limiting my gains?

straight bars are not better for mass, people think they are because they can "throw" more weight around with a nice rocking motion. Most likely you are doing too much with the straight bar. how often do you do it and how many total sets and reps do you do? sometimes it is a forearm problem too with an imbalance in the muscles in the forearms and biceps.

the only reason I am against cambered (curling) bars is that the main function of the bicep is supination of the lower arm (turning the thumbs away from the body) not flexion of the arm as many people believe. The curling bar puts your arm in a position between a hammer curl and a regular curl and that will not achieve a full contraction at the peak of the movement. you are better off doing barbell curls every third workout or so and use dumbells and cables for the rest of your bicep work.

[psyko1]

Interesting Stone, I might switch up my routine. Thanks guys.

[InjectMe]

My wrists hurt also when im straight bar curling, but i really like how they hit my peak (its the only naturally gifted part of my body) so i fight through it. The only time i use curl bars are for preachers/spyder curls.

[hlcn8]

interesting about the biceps being for supination of arm and not curling, i've never heard that before... is it then the front deltoids responsible for flexion of the arm?!? i've found the best way to hit the peaks of my bi's is to use a high-row machine, one arm at a time, w/ the other arm holding my elbow in towards the middle of my body so as to not be curling towards my other shoulder. i hold the elbow of the arm i'm working at shoulder level, and can feel the muscles groan on even the first set. unfortunately, i sometimes feel my shoulder joint groan too, so i play it by ear. cambered bars never really hurt my wrist, but rather the bones of my forearms, and trust me, i've got forearms that'd make popeye envious (too much spanking j/k) so i don't believe it's from not enough muscle mass there, it feels more like a stress on the bones. anyone else ever have this problem?!? or should i just shave my palms and deal w/ it?!?

[speedracer59]

I dont think the bar matters as much as form. I hardly see anyone do curls right with either bar. Most people hardly hinge at the elbow,they move mostly at the shoulder.. and like SC54 said they rock. Try this and dont worry about if the bar is straight.First lean aginst a wall with your knees slightly bent. Concentrate on keeping your elbows pointing to the floor.hinge at your elbow. Get the full range of motion(go all the way down. The bar probably will hit around mid chest(most people come to the shoulders. Dumbells are the sameway. After the first set I cant come up all the way from the pump. Bottom line form is where it is at IMO.

[rodman9866]

another tip to add to what speedracer said is i like to try and focus on keepin gmy shoulder down or sagging almost if you wish. you really feel it in the lower part of your bicep when you shoulder is hanging rather than in a shrugged position.

[LARGELI]

Originally posted by hlcn8
interesting about the biceps being for supination of arm and not curling, i've never heard that before... is it then the front deltoids responsible for flexion of the arm?!? i've found the best way to hit the peaks of my bi's is to use a high-row machine, one arm at a time, w/ the other arm holding my elbow in towards the middle of my body so as to not be curling towards my other shoulder. i hold the elbow of the arm i'm working at shoulder level, and can feel the muscles groan on even the first set. unfortunately, i sometimes feel my shoulder joint groan too, so i play it by ear. cambered bars never really hurt my wrist, but rather the bones of my forearms, and trust me, i've got forearms that'd make popeye envious (too much spanking j/k) so i don't believe it's from not enough muscle mass there, it feels more like a stress on the bones. anyone else ever have this problem?!? or should i just shave my palms and deal w/ it?!?

i get the same pain in my forearms, and have tried to work through it to the point whrere it caused a lot of pain just to do my job.....i shit you not i have tried to work through it to the point where they are tender to the touch and i have woken myself up in the middle of the night in pain because my arm touched the wall or something.......
i stick with curling excercises that allow my wrists free motion, mostly dumbells and cable work. i figure if your body is trying to tell you something then listen to it.

[goliath]

Originally posted by stonecold54
straight bars are not better for mass, people think they are because they can "throw" more weight around with a nice rocking motion. Most likely you are doing too much with the straight bar. how often do you do it and how many total sets and reps do you do? sometimes it is a forearm problem too with an imbalance in the muscles in the forearms and biceps.

the only reason I am against cambered (curling) bars is that the main function of the bicep is supination of the lower arm (turning the thumbs away from the body) not flexion of the arm as many people believe. The curling bar puts your arm in a position between a hammer curl and a regular curl and that will not achieve a full contraction at the peak of the movement. you are better off doing barbell curls every third workout or so and use dumbells and cables for the rest of your bicep work.

lol - sorry bro - but you are way off here. i think you need to go back to anatomy 101. the biceps will assist in supination but the main function is flexion of the elbow. if the insertion is fixed it flexes the elbow pulling the humerus toward the forearm as in chin ups. the reason that straight bar curls are the 'king' of biceps exercises is because they target both the long and short heads with minimal assistance from the brachiallis and brachioradialis. thus forcing the biceps to work as close to unassisted as possible.

...so psyko, keep doing straight bar curls. if it is hurting your wrist, widen the grip a little.

[Stonecold54]

I will amend my postion because I looked it up again. the bicep muscle does both equally in flexion and supination.

[psyko1]

Originally posted by goliath
...so psyko, keep doing straight bar curls. if it is hurting your wrist, widen the grip a little.

I'll give it a try -G.