Tennis elbow: Trying to determine the root cause

[BobPage2052]

Hello Mark,

I am currently dealing with tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis). Since you have commented at great length about how to resolve the issue by using the pin firing method via chin-ups, I won't be asking about how to fix the problem. What I'm more interested in is what caused it in the first place. I think this information could be important because it could be a sign of bad form, bad programming, or both. You mentioned once that you believe incorrect low bar squat hand placement/elbow position can lead to golfer's elbow(which I don't have at all interestingly), but would not lead to tennis elbow. While I'm positive that my squat bar grip is in need of improvement, I'm wondering if you might be able to comment on what other factors could be causing the tennis elbow.

I'm 41 years old, 185 pounds, 5'9". I tend to stick to the big lifts (squat, deadlift, bench press, overhead press, weighted chin-ups) but will throw in small amounts of accessory work for biceps and triceps (usually via pushdowns/skullcrushers for tris and cheat curls for bis). I lift weights three days a week, using an alternating "A" and "B" workout system, performing bench, deadlift, and OHP on the "A" day and Squat and Weighted Chin-Ups on the "B" day. For the last few months I've been hitting max's at every workout, which allowed me to progress for a while but has now plateaued. If you need more information, I'll be happy to provide it. Really appreciate your time sir!

[Mark Rippetoe]

It could be something not happening in the weight room, some repetitive movement pattern affecting the wrist extensors that exceeds their capacity. The chinups should fix it anyway.

[BobPage2052]

That's a good point, thanks for your reply! I've identified a few things outside of the gym that could be doing it and I'm altering those behaviors as needed.

I'm excited to try the pin firing; it's refreshing to know that just because I'm inflicting pain doesn't mean that I'm causing injury to the tissues.