Forearm problems

[Raider80]

Been working out for years and now I have a place to ask some questions.

I did biceps tonight and my forearms where killing me at every rep. Last time I had this problem I would take about 1000 mgs of aspirn before I would lift. My forearms only seem to bother me when I do my forarm work out. They bother a little when I do tricep push downs as well. I am thinking I need to do forearm workout once a week to help get them stronger.

Any ideas or solutions you may have tried would be great.

Thanks

[Gort]

Never had forearm problems when doing pressdowns but curls, yes.

This seems to occur when too much weight is used and the wrists are not kept straight. Wrist straps may help but form is the key.

Only the brachioradialis is used in hammer type bicep exercises. Other than that the forearm muscles just have to keep the wrist from flexing. The problem is usually that the forearm muscles clench as if that would help the lift. Concentrate on using only the upper arms and keeping the wrists straight.

[YellowJacket]

From the anatomical position, is the pain medial or lateral? A very common problem in bodybuilding (and in any job where heavy weight is gripped and lifted), there's a condition thats comparable to shin splints, but occurs in the ulna. The best way to treat it is rest and an ice massage. Avoid aspirin at all costs as its a COX-2 Inhibitor and prevents protein synthesis.

[Raider80]

I would say it is on the outside and bottom of my forearms.

The pain was so bad I had to cut workout short.

I will work on posture next week and see if that helps.

Also will strap em up.

Thanks.

[njlovehandles]

be careful with any precher curls, those are what do it to me. Super strict form will help, but i wouls lay off all preacher curls for a week or two. And ice massages will help a lot, as yj said.

[Raider80]

As I rack my brain what else can I do for biceps. In 3rd week of a cycle and really dont want to back off of biceps for 2 weeks. I have seen great improvement.

I have read on here for the last 30 or 40 minutes and wonder if I am not overtraining in the bicep depart ment.

Here is what I do:

Tuesdays:
standing bar curls(inside grip) 3 sets of 10
preacher curls (1 arm d bells) 3 sets of 10
prone curls 3 sets of 10
concentration 3 sets of 10

Saturdays:

Standing bar curls (wide grip) 3 sets of 10
21's 3 sets of 10
preacher curls (1 arm d bells) 3 sets of 10


I take Sunday's off and of course work other body parts during week. This is just bicep stuff. I work with a guy who has been working out for about 15 years, myself about 6 now. He says I could use some more potassium but I take my pot. Not sure just wondering if I may be overtraining.

Thanks for any help.

[MuGGsy]

hitting your biceps twice a week at that volume is going to be overtraining bro, that's a total of 21 sets per week!!

[jack152]

Raider,

I had the same problem last year, I switched from barbell to dumbell curls, and that took care of the problem.

[YellowJacket]

Originally posted by jack152
Raider,

I had the same problem last year, I switched from barbell to dumbell curls, and that took care of the problem.

Of course it did, as these are not comparable in their efficacy on hypertrophy of the biceps. Different mechanics.

[Pumpdogg]

If you are training biceps twice a week plus you use them in your back workout extensively, then I would venture a guess of overtraining in the least. A body can only take soo much b4 it crys out for you to stop, that is when most of us push on through the pain because we dont want to stop.... and usally do more harm. Because of the type of work I do, forearms are not in my workouts. Everytime I try to do them I am out of the gym for a couple of months while they heal up. I do not know what type of work you do, but that could be causing a problem as well. Good luck

PD

[Raider80]

Stopped working arms as much in a week and started taking pottassium every day. I am running AHHH OK with no more pain.

I have had friends lifting for a long time and always had gathered from them you needed to work out 5 or 6 days a week. I am now working out 3 maybe 4 times and seing same results.

I am just concentrating alot more when I have my workouts. It feels great. That and I am eating everything in site :)

Thanks for help.

Peace

[shortz]

Gotta go with YJ here. It is a pretty common injury. The Ulner nerve runs through the bicep and through the forearm. This nerve can become inflamed with excessive use. With little to no rest, it won't heal. Bump your volume down to once a week and do movements that do not cause your palms to be facing you. Try hammer curls and reverse curls for a while, better yet, stop all bicep exercises for atleast a week. Nerves take longer than muscles to heal and "settle" down.

COX2 inhibitors seem to be a pretty common script for this type of injury. It is not to say that other NSAIDs, like Ibuprofin, won't work though.