Elbow pain

[Lifter]

Rip,

My elbows are hurting from racking the bar in the press and power clean. The pain feels like it's in my tendons or ligaments.

I've been doing your course of novice programs for about six months now, and can rack the bar with reasonable flexibility.

Any idea on how to fix the pain?

Cheers

[Mark Rippetoe]

Have the NSAIDs not worked, not that your flexibility is apparently adequate?

[Lifter]

I haven't tried any. I was hoping there was some way I could tweak my technique, so that I wouldn't need to take any.

[Mark Rippetoe]

Well, okay.

[Vader]

Hi Rip,
Very briefly: Same sort of deal - sore elbows. I widened my grip on my back squats and straighten my wrists, fixed the rack in my cleans, and it seems now chins are the biggest exacerbater of the problem. Now, I haven't done the NSAIDs thing either. I understand the protocol (4x800mg x 5 days), so is it appropriate to give it a try, and if I do so, am I wise to take a break from chins for a while and ease back into them over time or what? Thanks!

[Mark Rippetoe]

It is obviously appropriate to try it, since you have what it is for. If chins don't aggravate it, and they probably don't, of course keep doing them.

[wal]

"RICE" then perhaps doing some exercises to stretch the tendons, there is plenty of info on the web about overuse injuries, the ones the golfers use are good.

[Vader]

It is obviously appropriate to try it, since you have what it is for. If chins don't aggravate it, and they probably don't, of course keep doing them.

OK, thanks Rip. I've just started the NAIDs protocol and am already getting relief... Doh! And here's probably a dumb adjunct to all this - if I'm feeling great after 3 days should I stop, or still go the full 5 days? Cheers!

[Mark Rippetoe]

"RICE" then perhaps doing some exercises to stretch the tendons, there is plenty of info on the web about overuse injuries, the ones the golfers use are good.

Tendons do not stretch. If they did, they'd be pretty damned ineffective connections between muscles and bones. And yes, golfers are widely known for their steely-eyed determination when training through injuries acquired during heavy exercise.

OK, thanks Rip. I've just started the NAIDs protocol and am already getting relief... Doh! And here's probably a dumb adjunct to all this - if I'm feeling great after 3 days should I stop, or still go the full 5 days? Cheers!

Finish the 5 days. It won't hurt you, and just because you don't feel it as acutely does not mean the inflammation is not still there.

[wal]

http://bjsportmed.com/content/41/4/224.abstract